Microwavable (Rice-Filled) Heating Scarf

I am always cold. While the rest of my family sits comfortably in our home, I require comfort from heated rice bags, a flannel shirt, and slippers to be comfortable. As you can imagine, I'm also generally colder than my family when we are outside, which is probably why my kids suggested that I make myself a microwavable, rice-filled scarf as well.

If you happen to be cold like me, this Instructable is for you and will show you how to make a functional and fashionable, rice-filled scarf that you can whip up in less than an hour.

• About 2 cups of rice (any type)
• Around 1 1/2 yards of microwavable fabric (such as cotton, flannel, wool, or linen)**
• Sewing machine and thread (or hand-sewing supplies)
• Funnel (optional)

**Fabric choice is important. You need to opt for a natural fabric for this project. Synthetic fabrics (like polyester) are not microwavable and could melt when heated.

Note: I like the look of a fabric that has a contrast between the front and back for scarves, but if you don't, make sure you select a fabric that looks the same on both sides.

Lay your fabric out flat and doubled so that you will cut two pieces at one time. Cut the fabric into an 18" wide strip that is at least 42" long. (The scarf created in this instructable is 42" long, but feel free to use this cutting strategy with a shorter or longer length if that is your preference.) At one end, put a pin halfway across the fabric (9" from the edge). Then, from the other end, cut from one corner of the bottom edge toward the pin in a straight line (as shown). Repeat on the other side until you have two triangular pieces of fabric.

First, pin the "right sides" together along the bases of the triangular pieces and stitch along the edge to create one long (~83") scarf.

Then, stitch along the complete perimeter of the scarf (about 1/4 - 1/2" from the edge). This stitch is there primarily to make sure the fabric won't be able to fray too far. (I prefer a little fraying and distressing along the edges of a scarf - see Step 4 - but not too much. I like to add this stitch to control that fraying.)

Once you have sewn the perimeter, fold the scarf in half (longways, as shown in the picture) and pin an inner triangle that will become a pocket for rice later. To pin off this inner triangle, start by placing a pin approximately 3 inches from the fold (at the largest part of the triangle, the middle of the scarf) and then taper back toward the fold parallel to the edge of the scarf (as shown). Once you have pinned off the pocket, sew along these lines almost all the way,* but make sure to leave at least 2 inches unsewn at the end to allow space to fill the pocket with rice.

*Note: Make sure your stitch length is small enough so that rice won't be able to sneak through your sewn edges. Having a big, open stitch would likely result in you leaving a trail of rice the first time you wear your scarf. :)

If you have a funnel, this is a good time to break it out. If you don't, simply roll up a piece of paper into a cone shape and that should do the trick as well. Make sure the end of your funnel is inserted fully into the end of the pocket that was left open and begin pouring in the rice. This scarf holds approximately two cups of rice in the pocket, but keep filling until the pocket at least 3/4 full. (If you fill it too full, it will be very challenging to stitch closed with a sewing machine.) When you are finished adding rice, stitch the last few inches of the rice pocket closed.

I wanted my scarf to look a little less "perfect", so I took my seam ripper and roughed up the edges of my fabric a bit. You can also simply pull on the fabric with your hands along the edges to make it appear slightly worn. This step is purely a personal preference for how you want it to look, so feel free to skip this if you are happy with the way it looks without distressing it.

And that's it! You're done!

Depending on how much rice you end up filling your scarf with and what sort of microwave you have, you may need to test different amounts of time in the microwave, but for my design one minute was just the right amount of time to make it super cozy and warm to wear.

Now all that's left to do is to think of all the ways you'll want to enjoy your new, functional accessory. If you are like me, that might mean you get to enjoy sitting through a meeting in a cold space with a secret neck heater that makes you so, so happy...or that you don't dread the wait for the bus to come for your kids on a cold day...or that you just can't stop wearing it because you had forgotten what it feels like to be warm in the winter and you have become obsessed...

However you choose to use it, I hope you stay warm :)