Lavender Rice Pillows

Materials Needed:

• half a yard of fabric
• 1 bag of rice 2-5 pounds
• several drops of essential oil

*I used lavender and orange oil.

Directions for Adding Essential Oil:

1. Dump rice into a large bowl. 
2. Add about 10 drops of lavender and 5 drops of orange oil onto the rice. 
3. Mix thoroughly with your hands.
4. Smell the rice and add more oil as needed.  I added 2 drops lavender and 1 drop orange oil until I was satisfied.
5. Allow rice to dry before using.

Directions for Rice Pillow:

1. Fold fabric in half.
2. Cut out a long slender rectangle approximately 5 1/2 by 12... I did not measure.  I also cut the fabric with the fold intact, so I would only need to sew 3 sides instead of 4.
3. Turn the fabric with both of the right sides facing in.  Using a sewing machine, stitch together 2 of the remaining 3 sides.  One of the smaller sides should be the one left open.
4. You will need to flip the fabric right side out.  I usually use a chop stick or bamboo skewer to do this.  Begin my flipping the fabric like you would turning a shirt right side out.  Then, use the chop stick to poke into the corners to ensure they are as square as possible.
5. Now, you are able to pour rice into the pillow.  You may want to make a paper funnel to make this process easier.  Once I used a funnel I had no problems.
6. Finally, use the machine to stitch the opened end closed.  I folded the material inward to make the edge look finished and the stitched through both pieces of fabric.  This end will look a bit different, but it was alot easier than hand sewing the end closed.

How to Use a Rice Pillow:
Microwave for 30 seconds.  Check temperature and reheat in 10 second increments until desired temperature is met. 

*My pillow stayed hot for over 30 minutes.*

For a cold pillow, place in the freezer for about an hour.  Check every 10 minutes there after until desired temperature is reached.