How to make a Rice Bag

Christmas in July with
The Quilt Ladies

Rice Bag

This is one of the things you think you will NEVER need or want  ! ! 

I need it and I want it. 

Make one for everyone and for yourself. 

It's simple white non-cooked rice in a bag, warm it in the Microwave and you have a heating pad. I use it all year around.

I like to use Flannel, but cotton and fleece work too

Cut  8 Flannel Squares - 2 7/8" x 2 7/8"
Cut 2 Cotton Squares 2 7/8' x 2 7/8"

Make Triangles - How to HERE

You will have 16 squares

Piece them into 4 rows, 4 in each row.

Sew the rows together.

The Quilt Ladies Patterns

For the Rice Bag

Cut a piece of fabric 9" x 28" 

Fold in half and press

Sew both of the long sides together,

Using a 5/8" seam allowance

Turn the bag right side out, pull corners out and press

Top Stitch 1/4" around sides, and bottom.

Fill bag with rice. (I use the cheapest I can find)

I put 6 Cuts of White right in mine (try it and add what you like)

Turn in the top edge and pin and top stitch across the top.

Mine is turned in about 2 inches. I like it firm.

Cut 2 Flannel pieced 12" x 8 1/2" 

(if you didn't make you bag as firm add fabric to length here)

Sew one to each side

Press the edge under and fold over, press.

Top Stitch both sides.

Fold one of the edges, right side to right side over to the center of the patchwork.

Fold the other edge over 1 1/4" and sew both of the sides closed.

Turn bag right side out.

Fill Flannel bag with Rice Bag

You can add a Velcro here to hold closed, BUT I leave it open,

so my foot can get inside of it in.... NOTHING better.

The Finished Rice Bag.

HAPPY Christmas IN July

I am the Author of The Quilt Ladies Book Collection

and Little Quilt Ladies Quilt Patterns

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Photography by Beth Ann  

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How to make a Tote Bag by The Quilt Ladies

Happy Christmas in July

 Years ago I worked at the public library in Sioux City, Iowa. They had wonderful canvas bags for the home delivery patrons and I based my pattern on what I remember about them. bethanndoing.com

The Quilt Ladies Bag

Cut 18 squares  assortment of colors – 2 ½” x 2 ½”

Lay fabric and sew into 2, 9-patch squares

Cut 2 lining fabrics for pockets – 6 ½” x 6 ½”

Put patchwork and lining good side to good side and sew with a 1/4” seam allowance across the top of the patch work.

Fold lining back press, and

Top stitch along the edge just sewn.

Cut 1 piece of fabric -  35” x 14”

Cut 1 piece of fabric – 35” x 3”

Sew together to form the bag.

Cut 1 Batting 35” x 17”

Layer, batting and bag. Lay flat and press if needed. This is the time to quilt your bag, by hand or by machine.

I machine straight stitched mine.

Trim bag to = 34” x 16”

Cut 2 strips for the handles – 3” x 54”

Cut 2 strips of batting for handles – 1” x 54”

Press one edge of the handle in ¼” and the other edge press down 1” .

Insert batting and fold fabric over, add top stitching.

Lay the bag out and place pockets, measure as shown above,

Measure pockets in place, fold the pocket down and pin, sew with ¼” seam allowance.

Fold back up and press.

Add handles, making sure they do not cross, pin and top stitch. Stop stitch about 2 inches from the top. Do both pockets.

Extend handles out of the bag and fold the bag in half. Sew along the bottom and side seam.

Fold the bottom edge over to form a triangle, Sew side to side, trim. Do both sides.

Cut lining, 34” x 16” and fold lining in half and sew along the bottom and side, leaving 2-3 inches open to turn bag right side out.

Fold the bottom edge over to form a triangle, Sew side to side, trim. Do both sides.

Turn bag with the batting on the outside, insert lining good side to good side. Sew to the top edge using ¼” seam allowance.

Pull bag right side out,

Press top edge and top stitch.  Hand sew the lining opening closed.

Add top stitching across the handles to hold them secure.

The Quilt Ladies Finished Tote bag.

Christmas in July 

re-post from 2011

The Quilt Ladies Home Page

Pine Tree Quilt Hand Quilting

 I've started quilting on a lap quilt, a gift and I'm doing it by hand.

I love triangles and the look of them as leaves is very nice. They are cut 2 7/8" x 2 7/8" and the quilt is simple and very attractive. All fabric from my scrap closet and the closet fabric is not going down??

As a gift, I do the stitches a bit bigger than usual and this time I'm using pearl cotton thread. The stitches are not toe nail size but bigger than 12 stitches per inch.

Sew Happy, Beth

bethanndoing.com