Description: How to make rice sacks for yourself or to give as gifts.

Cut a piece of material 14-in. by 18-in.  Use a piece of flannel, fleece, or any tightly woven material.  Sew the long sides, right sides of the material together, then turn tube right side out.  Make two loop handles out of wide shoe strings, webbing, or macrame cord melted together.  Zig zag one end of the tube shut and fold over a handle and sew down.  Fill with about 2 pounds of dry rice (about 4 cups).  Sew the other end shut and fold over handle to complete.

Heat in microwave 2-3 minutes, and relax!  Remember to use a permanent marker to write "microwave 2-3 minutes" on material before sewing or attach heating instructions when giving them away or selling them.

These rice sacks sell commercially for $10, and you can make them for less than $1 from scraps and sell them for $3 to $4.  If you don't like to sew, use a wool sock with no holes.  These are simple little projects that are great pain and stress relievers.  Heat and place around your neck for sinus headaches or tension.  Wrap around arm or neck for pain relief from muscle and arthritis pain.

Reprinted with permission.