NZ can get pretty cold in the winter but nothing like some parts of the USA. Where I live, It rarely snows, just rains in the winter, mixed with wind and some heavy frosts. When it starts getting colder, the electric blankets are switched on right across the country. To save costs, some folk do not use electric blankets or the traditional hot water bottle which looks like this.
(Used to warm your bed. It has a rubber plug that you unscrew at one end. Fill with hot water. Placed under the sheets) They can be dangerous if your water is too hot and bursts or it leaks.
Another option, which has not caught on yet, is wheat bags, which is an alternative to a hot water bottle...
I have decided to make a wheat bag today (*hand-sewn*) filled with rice. It is easy to make and most folk have all the items to make them, at home. I will give a pic by pic demonstration but this was my first attempt so no pic available atm...
Here is a pic of a wheat bag. (not mine) It can either contain wheat or rice. (I have used rice on my first attempt)
1. You can make these bags out of thick cotton, wool or blankets. Some people have made them from curtain material (without the rubber backing)
2. Next, cut 2 pieces of material and sew together (right sides together) to form a square or rectangle (my bag is 5 by 10 inches.) Add an inch on all sides for sewing together.
3. Turn right-side out
3. Leave an opening at least a quarter of the way at the narrowest end of the square or triangle so that you can fill it with rice or wheat.
4. Fill with dry rice. I added lavender oil to the rice to give it a lovely lavender fragrance. You can add any oil or try dry flower petals, vanilla ect:
5. Sew the remaining, open end up.
Test Time:
Place it in a microwave along with half a glass of water for about 1.30minutes to 2. minutes (depending on how long or big you make your bag.) Mine took about 2 mins to heat.
Place under the sheets. The heated bag should last for about an hour.
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Here is a pic of my wheat/rice/heating bag. (First attempt) It is made from a 100% NZ wool blanket that once belonged to my little sister when she was very young. The blanket is old now and falling apart but these specific blankets are sort after in NZ because they are well made and are repurposed to make jackets, vests, children's coats, boots and a myriad of other things. It would have been so much quicker and easier if I had a sewing machine but "someone" (not saying who it was) borrowed the bobbin section of my machine because theirs didn't work, then they sold it in a garage sale. Forgetting to return that part. So I had to throw the rest of my machine away.
It will improve as I go along.....
(Used to warm your bed. It has a rubber plug that you unscrew at one end. Fill with hot water. Placed under the sheets) They can be dangerous if your water is too hot and bursts or it leaks.Another option, which has not caught on yet, is wheat bags, which is an alternative to a hot water bottle...
I have decided to make a wheat bag today (*hand-sewn*) filled with rice. It is easy to make and most folk have all the items to make them, at home. I will give a pic by pic demonstration but this was my first attempt so no pic available atm...
Here is a pic of a wheat bag. (not mine) It can either contain wheat or rice. (I have used rice on my first attempt)
1. You can make these bags out of thick cotton, wool or blankets. Some people have made them from curtain material (without the rubber backing)
2. Next, cut 2 pieces of material and sew together (right sides together) to form a square or rectangle (my bag is 5 by 10 inches.) Add an inch on all sides for sewing together.
3. Turn right-side out
3. Leave an opening at least a quarter of the way at the narrowest end of the square or triangle so that you can fill it with rice or wheat.
4. Fill with dry rice. I added lavender oil to the rice to give it a lovely lavender fragrance. You can add any oil or try dry flower petals, vanilla ect:
5. Sew the remaining, open end up.
Test Time:
Place it in a microwave along with half a glass of water for about 1.30minutes to 2. minutes (depending on how long or big you make your bag.) Mine took about 2 mins to heat.
Place under the sheets. The heated bag should last for about an hour.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a pic of my wheat/rice/heating bag. (First attempt) It is made from a 100% NZ wool blanket that once belonged to my little sister when she was very young. The blanket is old now and falling apart but these specific blankets are sort after in NZ because they are well made and are repurposed to make jackets, vests, children's coats, boots and a myriad of other things. It would have been so much quicker and easier if I had a sewing machine but "someone" (not saying who it was) borrowed the bobbin section of my machine because theirs didn't work, then they sold it in a garage sale. Forgetting to return that part. So I had to throw the rest of my machine away.
It will improve as I go along.....
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