How to Flaxseed Foot Warmers
This is about a 4-hour project for an intermediate sewer. You could buy something on Amazon that might work similarly and allow you to lower the thermostat and save on heating, but if you have a donation pile of clothes that could be put to use then this might be a good project for you. If you try it let me know how it works out for you. The commercial warmers I’ve tried don’t keep my feet as warm, so I think it’s worth the effort every few years.
Pattern pieces for one large foot warmer that both feet fit in:
Inserts – cut 4 for sturdy polyester fabric & cut 2 of lining
Exterior- cut 2 (square end of pattern and add 1 ½” for drawstring) cut 2 of lining plus 1 ½” for
To make your pattern cut 2 rectangles. The larger one should be 17” long and 13” and is for the outside fabric. The smaller one should be 14 ½” long and 13” wide. Fold the smaller one in half and cut the top into a curved shape. The smaller one will be used for inner tubes and lining.
Steps:
1) Cut 4 thicknesses of the inner section and notch at each of the tube guides.
2) Mark sewing guides by drawing lines between notches.
3) Sew outside edge using a 1 1/2” seam allowance. This is so that when the inserts are filled there will be enough fabric to reach so the pieces can be sewn together with the lining. I taped a piece of paper to my machine, so I have an easy to see guide.
4) Sew along guides to make tubes for flaxseed.
5) Fill the tubes with flax seed. I used a bin to catch the ones that spill and a long oil funnel. Leave the last inch and a half of the tubes empty.
6) Baste the end closed to keep flaxseeds out of your sewing machine. Then sew the end shut at 5/8” seam allowance.
7) Cut two layers of the lining fabric using the same pattern.
8) Sandwich the lining fabric between the tube layers. Pin in place and sew at 5/8” around the outside edge.
9) Cut the fabric for the outside making sure to mark the center notches for lining up.
10) With right sides together sew with 5/8” seam allowance along the two long edges making a big tube. Then press the seam allowance open. ( The extra angled seams aren’t part of the process. I used a discarded skirt for fabric and had to retain some of its seams to get a large enough rectangle of fabric.)
11) Press the hem end under ¼” and fold over again to 3/8” and press so you can edge stitch from the inside.
12) Add buttonholes in the seam allowance on either side of one of the seams at the hem end. Clip them open.
13) Press the hem over another ¾” and edge stitch it in place so that there is room for a drawstring that can be fed in one buttonhole and go around to come out the other.
14) Put the outside into the fabric tubes with the hem going in first into the tube section. Inside the right sides will be together. Match and pin at notches and side seams. Sew at 5/8”.
15)When you open it out it should look something like this.
Then you can fold the outside up over the tube side. I like this design because over time I’m easily able to get to the inside and sew together any parts that burn or start to leak flaxseeds.
16) Insert a draw string.
17) Optional. Press the area where the outside and inside connect and top stitch.
18) Try it out by starting at 1:30 min in the microwave and adding on 10 seconds until you find a temperature where it comes out hot. The important thing is not to burn a hole in it by going too hot. 2 minutes works great for us in our microwave.
