Here is a quick, easy, and cozy gift idea! 5-minute fleece hand warmers to put inside a jacket pocket. Fill with rice and warm in a microwave to heat up! You can even add a few drops of essential oil to make them smell nice. Package up in a set of two for a sweet gift. This post contains an affiliate link.
Disclaimer: I haven't had any issues or heard of any readers having any issues, but would like to post this anyway. This is a use at your own risk project. I am not responsible if you overheat the hand warmers in the microwave.
Watch our step by step video!
Winter is here. Even in California. It's been in the 30s in the mornings here and it feels chilly! I helped Ruby make a bunch of little sets of 5 minute fleece hand warmers to give to everyone for Christmas. An easy 5 minute project to make one, less than 10 minutes to make a set. Fill them with rice and heat in the microwave to warm little hands and pockets. She even added a couple of drops of peppermint oils, and they smell wonderful!
This is a great way to use up scrap fleece. I had a bunch after making 3 Step Fleece Pillowcases for my kids.
What Can You Fill Hand Warmers With?
We used white rice, but you can use a variety of items like whole corn (dry) or walnut shells.
Can You Wash Hand Warmers?
Not if you have filled them with rice. You can wash them if they have been filled with walnut shells because the shells won't mold when wet. These fleece hand warmers are so easy to make and only take 5 minutes that I don't worry about washing them. If one gets dirty, it's not a big deal to make another.
Can You Make Hand Warmers With Other Fabrics Besides Fleece?
Absolutely. Cotton works well, so does flannel. Fleece is just easy for kids because it doesn't fray and they don't need to turn the fabric right side out.
I've had readers ask about heating fleece in the microwave. I haven't ever had any issues. These hand warmers are only in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. Not enough to have a reaction from getting too hot. My son has had a fleece rice bag in the shape of a gingerbread man that my mom sent him for his birthday for years, and has heated it up dozens of times. Never had any issues. That being said, as always, use at your own risk and do not over heat. My brother caught a potato on fire by accidentally setting the microwave for 20 minutes when we were kids. That doesn't mean you shouldn't microwave potatoes, you just need to pay attention.
How To Heat Hand Warmers
Microwave for 20-30 seconds per pair (15 seconds then flip over and microwave another 10-15 seconds). Make sure they are not too hot before handling them. These hand warmers will stay warm up to 30 minutes.
More Simple Sewing Projects for Kids to Make
How To Make Your Own Teddy Bear
Make a Wired Fabric Headband in 10 Minutes
How to Make Sesame Street Bean Bags and Softies
5 Minute Fleece Hand Warmers
Equipment
- sewing machine
- scissors
Materials
- 4 4" squares of fleece or cotton fabric
- white rice
- essential oil optional
- cotton thread
Instructions
- Cut fleece into squares.
- Sew 3 sides of the fleece.
- Add 2-3 T. of white rice
- Add a couple of drops of essential oil.
- Stitch the 4th side closed to complete the square.
- Repeat for the other hand warmer and you'll have a complete set!
Video
Notes
Make up a bunch of these to have as gifts this winter! My kids are always more excited to give a gift when they've made or picked it out on their own. One year, they wanted to wait to open up their gifts from Santa until after they had exchanged their homemade gifts with each other. It was pretty much the best Christmas morning ever! Here are more easy fleece sewing projects to make!
This is a refresh of a post originally shared in 2013.
Lynn says
Will sand suffice as a filler in the hand warmers?
Brandy says
Hi Lynn! I don’t know anything about heating up sand, but did see it mentioned in this article: https://www.diynatural.com/diy-hand-warmers-foot/
Carol says
I was wondering do you have to use jasmine rice, or will any kind do. Also can I mix the rice with the essential oil, then put it in the pocket. Do you use the oil because the rice leaves a smell?Can you put a few drops of oil on the packs when the smell goes away months later.
Brandy says
Hi Carol! You don't need to use jasmine, any white rice will work! You can add essential oil to the rice (if you don't want the rice odor). I haven't tried adding oils later on, but I'm sure you could.
Dorothy says
Hello! Can you please tell me what type of sewing machine you used in the video tutorial for the fleece hand warmers?
Brandy says
Hi Dorothy! I have a Janome Sewist 500.
Susan Regentin says
How do you prep walnut shells if you want to use them instead of rice?
Brandy says
Hi Susan! I've never used walnut shells before, I've just heard of others using them instead. I'm sorry I'm not more help.
Alisha S says
Could we heat them up for 1 minute? In the winter we go snowboarding and we will need them for long periods of time.
Brandy says
Hi Alisha! These only stay warm 15-20 minutes or so. Great for kids waiting for the bus or going on a walk. For skiing I'd recommend the hot hands ones that you can buy on Amazon or at Walmart. They last a few hours. We've used those for snow days with great results!
Alisha says
Ok. Thanks
Pat says
OMG! I can make tow warmers! Make like a Taco. The nephropathy is in my toes only and this would help greatly. Have tons of fleece. Wonder where I get walnut shells
Brandy says
I didn't even think about toe warmers. Genius! I start every online shopping search on Amazon. Maybe they'd have the walnut shells? Good luck! 🙂
Jody says
You can get crushed walnut shells at a pet store- they’re used for lizard bedding.
Brandy says
Awesome tip, thank you!!
Barbara says
Have you heard of anyone using feed corn instead of rice for the filling?
Brandy says
I have! I heaven't tried using it, but have seen "rice bags" made using corn instead.
Kim~madeinaday says
What an easy way to warm you up! It's so chilly here in NC I could have used these today! Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! We hope you will join us again next week!
Kim
Jennifer Wise says
What a great idea! And so easy. 🙂
#sharingtimelinkparty
The Freshman Cook says
These are such a great idea, and a perfect gift too! I love anything that keeps me warm!! Thank you for sharing at Celebrate It!
Sharon says
I’ve made these a bit smaller ( finished size approximately 2x3 )to fit in gloves or mittens. Friends and I use them while on our morning walk.
Ansie says
Thanxs for sharing!
angie the freckled rose says
This is so cute! I'm always looking for hand warmers in the wintertime. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Dishing It & Digging It & congratulations on being featured this week!
angie the freckled rose says
This is so cute! I always need hand warmers in the wintertime. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Dishing It & Digging It & congratulations on being featured this week!
Taylor-Made Homestead says
Visiting from the Happiness is Homemade party. What a cute gift idea - love this! I'm thinking it might be cute to make smaller sets of these for my grandbabies. Warm 'em up and tuck them into their coat pockets before heading outside. Thanks for sharing.
~Taylor-Made Homestead~
Texas
Sarah says
Wow, I need some of these! Adding some fragrance is a great idea.
I found your blog via Think Tank Thursday!
Sarah https://www.enrichmentality.com
Pale Blue Corner says
Great idea, your handwarmers are simple yet very usefull.
Cheers,
Emese
tarahlynn says
These are so cute and sweet! Our link party at Grandma's House just opened today, we would love to have you there!
The Savvy Age says
Love this diy! #wonderfulwednesday
Susan says
I have made "hot packs" (10x15") using rice (2 1/2 lbs) and the fabric I used was cotton flannel. Worked well.
Sheri Hays says
I made a few out of fleece with rice and heated one up for the first time (not too long at all but just enough), took it out and my hands were really wet... I didn't like that b/c if I am trying to warm my hands I don't want them wet when it's cold out or my hands are cold. Why would they get so wet?? I wanted to make for gifts and now I don't know. Also, I've read that fleece isn't safe for micro..is that true?
Brandy says
Hi Sheri! I haven't had any issues with fleece in the microwave. My mom sent my kids fleece softies that were meant for the microwave too, maybe it's a certain kind of fleece? I'm not sure. I usually warm them for a few seconds, then flip them and warm again. There is a little moisture when heated, maybe cotton would cause less.
Gail says
Anything with polyester in it has the potential to catch fire in the microwave.
Lynda Taylor says
It has to be pure cotton to be microwaved otherwise it can catch fire. All the bowl cozies and rice packs warn you to use pure cotton to avoid chances of fire.
Brandy says
In the post I say to use caution and not overheat the hand warmers. In the 10+ years we’ve had these we’ve never had any issues. The fleece will not melt or catch fire when heated for only 25 seconds. Rice packs are larger and need to be heated longer than these tiny hand warmers.
Cheryl Macfarlane says
I have had the same problem. The rice absorbs humidity from the air. My home tends to be fairly humid. What I have had to do is completely dry the hand warmers in on a tray in the oven (the lowest temperature your oven has) A couple of hours should do it. Then keep them in a closed container instead of a bowl to prevent this from happening.
Dani says
I made similar hand warmers out of flannel. In WI we need an extra boost of warmth, so I adjusted the size and created a "pocket" that could hold a chemical hand warmer too. It can be added to extend the time and warmth of these great rice filled kind.
20 seconds in the microwave lasts for about 30 minutes of warmth. One chemical hand warmer could be switched between the two rice warmers, for up to 8 hours of warmth.
New size: 5 X 4 (the kind I buy are 4 X 3 and about 1/2 an inch thick).
Add a 3rd strip of fabric, 5 X 3.5. It will be missed and not attached to one of the 4 inch sides to make a pocket.
Jen says
Dani - I love your idea for adding a pocket. My husband is ill, so his hands get cold as ice! He asked how my making him a basic rice-type hand warmer would help while out. Problem solved! Thank you!
Carrie says
Made these before and people love them but I found out, don't heat them on a rack in the microwave if you have one. Don't know if it was a fluke but it melted an edge and I am not trying it again just to check. Never had a problem if I put them on the glass turntable.
Brandy says
Good to know!!
Dianne Arthurs says
These are cute. Will definitely make some for Christmas. Thanks
Brandy says
You're welcome! 🙂
Bev says
Hi I always put a half cup of cold water in microwave when heating rice/wheat bags to lessen risk of catching fire.
Bev
Brandy says
Great idea!
Pam says
How long do they stay warm?
Brandy says
Hi Pam! They stay hot for about 5 minutes and then warm for another 15 minutes or so.
Audra says
I want to know how to make paracord brceletes but it wont let me click on it, it just shows how to make cakes $!!😠
Brandy says
The link has been fixed: https://gluesticksblog.com/diy-paracord-bracelet-for-kids/
tere :) says
How long do you heat them for? Without causing harm to a child. thanks ahead!
Brandy says
I heat them for 30 seconds and they are just right! You could probably heat them a bit more and see how that goes, but 30 seconds is perfect for my kids. Hope that helps!
tere :) says
Thanks so much, I think 30 seconds will be perfect. I appreciate the quick reply 🙂 .... Now to cut some out and make them! .... yay!