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Lazies, We are approaching the holiday gift-giving season, so here’s a quick and easy gift idea to get you started. To listen to today’s post, click on the ‘Listen to this post’ link at the very end.

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Make a Nickita zippered bag and Rice Pack gift set.

Rice Pack and Zippered Bag Gift Set
The brick-shaped zippered bag is the ‘Nickita’ design from our Purse-Nickities pattern, LGD117 ^[3]. The rolled and tied rice pack fits nicely inside Nickita. Add a note card with instructions on how to use the rice pack and you have a simple and quick gift for someone special (guys or gals).

What Is A Rice Pack?
A rice pack is simply a fabric bag, filled with rice, heated in the microwave for use as a hot pack. Make them in any size or shape. I fill mine with long grain rice (uncooked). Rice packs hold their heat for 10 to 20 minutes.

I designed this for myself after buying an expensive neck pillow online. It was so over-stuffed that it stood at attention, never conforming to my shoulders and neck. I sent it back. This rice pack is long enough to wrap around my neck, over my shoulders and rest just below my collar bones in the front.

This design can also be used down, or across, the back, chest or abdomen. Wrap it around an arm, leg, your hands or feet.

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Rice pack.

Rice Pack Recipe
I don’t have a pattern for this rice pack, but I do have the following instructions.

Here’s what you will need to make a rice pack:
- Two pieces of cotton fabric at 13″ by 30″ (one for lining, one for cover). I like to use muslin for the lining and a soft, pretty fabric for the cover.
- Approximately 3 cups of long grain rice (uncooked).
- 1/4 cup measuring cup.
- Use a one quarter inch seam allowance unless otherwise noted.

How To Make The Rice Pack
- Fold lining fabric in half to measure 6 1/2″ by 30″.
- Stitch long edge.
- Fold over one half inch of one short edge and stitch.
- Dump in one quarter cup of rice.
- Pin lining fabric together just above the rice to keep it in place.
- Stitch across lining near pins. I make 2 to 2 1/2 inch ‘channels’, giving the rice enough room to flatten and be flexible.
- Repeat with rice, then stitching for the remainder of the lining.
- I usually get 11 to 12 rice sections.
- Fold over the last one half inch or so and stitch through all four layers to close.

How To Make The Rice Pack Cover
- Fold cover fabric right sides together to measure 6 1/2″ by 30″.
- Stitch long edge and one short edge.
- Turn right sides out and press.
- Slip the rice pack into the cover fabric.
- Stitch through all layers near the center to keep lining and cover from shifting during use. Be sure to shake the rice out of the way and pin through all layers before stitching.
- Tuck in raw ends of cover. Tuck enough in so it is snug against the end of the rice pack. Stitch closed.

Nickita Zip Bag
I made a coordinating Nickita from the same Tulip Nouveau fabric line from Northcott ^[5]. Offering the rice pack in its own zip bag for storage is a nice presentation and completes the gift. It also makes for two gifts in one. I use my Nickitas when I travel. They are perfect for little things like a small collection of sewing supplies or make-up.

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Nickita zip bag.

Don’t Forget A Note
Write the instructions for how to use the rice pack on a nice note card and place it with the rice pack inside the Nickita. Instructions for use: Fold rice pack in half when microwaving, open and shake after heating to distribute the rice. Heat for one to one and a half minutes. Test in your own microwave. Be careful not to overheat. Keep dry, do not wet.

Rice Pack Variations
Many people make removable slip covers for their rice packs. That’s a nice option if the fabric used for the rice pack shouldn’t be microwaved, or you wish to launder the cover. Keep a rice pack in the freezer inside a zip bag to protect against moisture, to use as a cool pack. Use buckwheat hulls, popcorn, cherry pits and more instead of rice to fill the pack.

Purse-Nickities Pattern
Many of our designs make for quick gift ideas. Two fat quarters of fabric, a bit of batting and a zipper is all you need to make any of these three bag designs in the Purse-Nickities pattern. You could use pre-quilted fabric for the body of the bag as well. Use coordinating non-quilted fabrics for the handles.

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Purse-Nickities, #LGD117. Nickie, Nickita & Nickole
(shown top to bottom) are three zippin’ sisters.

You can see the back panel of the Purse-Nickities pattern here ^[7] for details.

Enjoy!
Joan

Tags: holiday gifts ^[8], quick gifts ^[9], easy sewing projects ^[10]