Thursday, December 13, 2007

DIY Therapy sacks - Tutorials

(Be sure to upload your photos from trying this project into the Brassy Apple Projects Flickr group!)

This a fun, easy and quick project that is great to give a gifts anytime of the year! and easier on the figure than a plate of sweets. ;)

Wheat Sack

supplies needed:
sewing machine thread
fabric - at least a fat quarter
wheat (You can use rice too. I have been told that the Wheat holds heat better longer)
essential oil - you pick the scent

Step 1: Pick the fabric you like. You can create a pattern using paper for future/multiple use or just measure your piece and cut. I usually cut my fabric to be about 14 x10 inches.


Step 2: Fold your fabric, right sides together so you piece will now measure about 7x10. Sew down 2 sides together leaving one of the short ends open. You can trim your corner or any excess fabric if you want to.

Step 3: Turn your fabric inside out so the right side of the fabric is showing. Give it a quick press with a hot iron to press out your seams and make the fabric looks crisp.



Step 4: Pour your wheat into a large bowl. (this can be purchased in the bulk section of your grocery store for very cheap) Add a few drops of essential oil (optional). This creates a nice aroma as the wheat is heated up. Some of the favorites are lavendar, vanilla, lilac, etc. Stir the wheat to help distribute the oil.

Step 5: Fill your sack with wheat. If you are making a sack this size, I like to use about 3 1/2 cups. Anywhere between 3 -4 cups is a good amount.

Step 6: Turn under the top (open) edge about a 1/2 inch. I just hold both sides of the open edge and turn it under lining up the to seams at the top. It's quick and easy ;)


Step 7: Pin the edge you have just turned under and sew

Step 8: You are finished! You can make these in any size, shape or fabric. They work well for both women and men. I made one using the logo and colors of our local football team for a teachers husband who is a big fan!

Step 9: You can package them any way you like but I always attached a little poem with them.

Wheat Sack Poem


This little pillow filled with wheat,


Is such a comfort that can’t be beat.


Microwave for 1 to 2 minutes
on HIGH and kiss those aches
and pains goodbye.


Apply it to the troubled spot,


The heat will ease the pain a lot.


Or warm those little toes, so cold.


You'll find this nice to
have and to hold.


Or freeze it for a little while,


And fix that boo-boo up in style.


Instead of a compress made of ice,


Use this pillow of wheat that feels so nice!

45 comments:

Pamela Posch said...

love this idea!!! I have one but its not as cute as the ones you made. And the fabrics you used ROCK!!! I'm going to give this a try!

Shannon Bieger said...

Oh you are my favorite person today! Every single year I have NO idea what to get my husband's great-grandmother. She's 102 and needs nothing. She's nearly blind and can't see very well so photos of her great-grandbabies aren't an option. But this she might really love and knowing I made it myself will mean so much to her! I JUST got a sewing machine on Black Friday too so I finally have a reason to take it out of the box! Your tutorial makes it looks so easy. I'm excited to give this a try!

Megan/Brassy Apple said...

I'm so excited for you Shannon. This is a great beginners project! If you run into any problems just let me know!

Megan/Brassy Apple said...

Thanks Pamela! Good luck with yours!

We have one for each of us here at my house. My little guy has a superman one and my daughter has a two sided one. Instead of cutting 1 large piece of fabric I cut 2 pieces the same size as when you fold over your fabric before you sew it. The top is some aladdin fabric and the bottom is Paris Oh la la girls and scenes. IT's fun. We never get them mixed up! ;)

Tracey said...

What a great idea. Nice poem too.

hogan said...

Megan that idea rocks!! My 13 yr old dd loves it as well and wants her group to make a bunch! Thanks sweets!
Mary

Erika Cass Designs said...

Yayyy! Such a wonderful idea! Thanks again Megan for a great handmade gift I can make for friends & family. :o)

{Le Petit Poulet} said...

I adore your DIY things! You are such a crafty little miss. this is awesome I want to try!

Jennifer Paganelli said...

thank you soooo very much...love these love that you are having fun with Modgirls...thank you so very much for your super project...jennifer

Megan/Brassy Apple said...

Well who can't love the Modgirls Line Jennifer! and I'm loving the basics that just came out as well!

Anonymous said...

What a creative gift idea Megan!! Thank you so much!

Wendy said...

That is such a wonderful idea, Megan! I need to whip up a few of those for my hubby, and several other folks. Did you make up that cute poem?

Megan/Brassy Apple said...

Thanks Wendy. I didn't make up the poem. I had found it a few years ago when I had made them as gifts then. But I had to alter it a bit because the poem was about rice. :)

Andrea said...

I really love this, but I have a question. For those of us that don't have a microwave, can this be heated in a conventional oven? Thanks so much!~Andrea

deb said...

What a wonderful idea. Love that fabric you used too!

Megan/Brassy Apple said...

Andrea - Hummmmm........I don't see why not. Just placed on a cookie sheet at a low setting would be fine. It would just take a bit longer than popping it into the microwave :)

Shannon Bieger said...

Hi again Megan - I'm a beginner at sewing so bare with me if this is a dumb question. = D

What are the tools that you're using for measuring and cutting in the photo?

Megan/Brassy Apple said...

Hey Shannon! don't be afraid to ask! :)

I used a rotary cutter with mat. You could just easily cut out a pattern from a piece of paper, Lay it on your fabric, pin it down and cut out your pieces.

I hope that helps!

Spin Spin said...

Always wondered what these gems are filled with. Great tute, thanks :)

nic said...

cool project, megan! i have one filled with rice, but i like this wheat idea better.

Anonymous said...

I found your website off of Sew, Mama, Sew's blog...this is so great! Thanks so much! I love you blog! Have a great day!

Teddi said...

I whipped up 5 of your 'wheat sacks' yesterday with scraps of fabric and older wheat on hand in my food storage rotation! The only thing I had to buy was lavender oil! Thanks so much for the tutorial and especially the poem that adds just the right touch! Now my craft room smells lovely and I'm that much closer to being finished with holiday gift making!

Megan/Brassy Apple said...

thanks ladies! I'm glad you were excited about this tutorial! I've got more ideas and projects I've been working on that I can't wait to share on my blog in 2008!

Anonymous said...

I just made one of these for my best friend! It is a Christmas gift and she will love it. Of course, my husband had to check it out and now I have to make one for him tomorrow. He is going to get me a lot of wheat when he is out working.

Anonymous said...

OK I'm a sewing newbie so bare with me-
In the last part where you fold the open top under and then pin it to do the last of the sewing:

How can I sew the top without making a topstitch happen and be visible? Or is the stitching suppose to be seen?

thanks, sorry for such a silly question!

Megan/Brassy Apple said...

Hello Lindsey. Hopefully you check the comments again for your answer b/c I don't have your email addy.

anyway, great question! You WILL see the topstitch just on that end. If you look at the last picture you can see mine. :) So fold, pin and sew with your machine and you're done!

Anonymous said...

Thank You Megan! *I bookmarked the page so I'd make sure to check it again :) *

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Shannon Bieger said...

I finished mine! It was my very first sewing project!! The directions made it so easy! Of course I had to call my Mom for help with my machine twice. LOL! But the project itself was a lot of fun! You can see it here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shannonbieger/2131489822/

Christine said...

That is so cool Megan!

Cathy... said...

Hi Megan - probably a silly question but is the filling wheatberries???? Or plain wheat - and would they carry this in Whole Foods Markets???? Thank you! I'm eager to make some of these up. :)

Megan/Brassy Apple said...

Hey Cathy not a silly question at all! I'm not a wheat expert but when I went to the grocery store there were a few options. I bought in the bulk section. I believe it's just plain wheat - not wheatberries. I hope that helps and I sure you could find it at the Whole Foods Market if not at a grocery store like Winco, etc.

Cathy... said...

Thank you, Megan! Appreciate your prompt reply. :)

Simone said...

Love the tutorial. However, I've now discovered munching on the leftover wheat berries. . .

McCrafty /Klavdija said...

I love the tutorial too! Thanks for sharing :)

Melanie said...

YOU ROCK!!!! I WILL be doing us one and maybe if it goes well, I'll stock up and use as teachers gifts for Christmas this year!!!! THANK YOU!!! how Do you just think up all of these ideas????

Megan/Brassy Apple said...

well thanks Melanieshea! It's just alot of stuff I've done over the years and an idea that strikes! :) have fun making these!

Janna Widdifield said...

Thank you so much for this idea. I made several for Christmas gifts. ( copied your poem (I hope you don't mind). You can see how they turned out here:

http://mustardseeds.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/12/rice-pillows.html

Photography said...

Oh thanks so helpful to those of us who are just finding their "sewing legs" :-) Do you have a follower link? I couldn't see one - love the blog and so generous with your info and tutorials!!

strumpfhosen said...

Easily, the publish is really the greatest on this laudable topic. I concur with your conclusions and will thirstily look forward to your future updates. Saying thanks will not just be sufficient, for the fantastic lucidity in your writing. I will instantly grab your rss feed to stay privy of any updates. Solid work and much success in your business enterprise!

Argan oil said...

Hi, interesting post. I have been wondering about this topic, so thanks for posting. I’ll definitely be subscribing to your site. Keep up the good posts

Spray tan pompano said...

loved reading your blog....
Thanks for sharing the information....
Thanks

Discount perfume said...

I found your website perfect for my needs. It contains wonderful and helpful posts. I have read most of them and learned a lot from them. You are doing some great work. Thank you for making such a nice website.

Wendy Earl said...

Hi! Just found your blog off of Pintrest! Great Idea!! I was stuck on sister gifts for Christmas and this is perfect!
I am making one for myself, and I was wondering about the oil. You say put a few drops of oil in, how much wheat did you add that too? Was it a few drops per 3 1/2 cups of wheat? Was it a soft smell or prominent? Thanks!

Hathcock Family said...

Oh YAY! How fun! Do you know how long the stay nice and warm for onc heated?
Kristina

Hank Hendricks said...

So simple i have one idea you can make some ribbon strips in which card tags can be hang on backside.
Send Gift Pakistan