Household

 

EDIT: This posting was originally published March 9, 2009, but I thought it was worth moving to the top of the blog again! The kids loved these, and it is a project quite easy for children that are comfortable with a needle and thread to do. Make a dozen decorated for Easter, and a dozen for the play kitchen. 

This is the last egg project of the week. If you're not into making eggs out of roving, then try some of these Traditional Felt Eggs. VERY easy to make. Copy the pattern then you simply take 2 egg pieces, blanket stitch them together, leave an opening at the bottom, stuff and finish blanket stitching them closed. You can leave them plain or add embroidery or fabric paint to decorate. I did a combination. Although you can paint or embroider the eggs before you stitch them together, if you want a uniform pattern around the egg, wait until after it has been stuffed. The pattern includes 2 different sized eggs. The smaller eggs will fit in a standard egg carton. Perfect size if you'd like to make a dozen white or brown eggs for the play kitchen! There are no additional directions since it is very straightforward, but the pattern is available in the FREE Open Pattern section. Enjoy!

FYI... If you can't tell from the photo you are either being very kind or I did a remarkable job of camouflaging... I really am puff paint challenged! I always felt like my embroidery flowed like paint... thank goodness I was wrong! I was all thumbs as I tried to transfer my mental image to the eggs. So... there are smudges here and blobs there. Alas, not perfect, but the colors are still lovely, right? And if you squint your eyes just a wee bit, you can hardly notice the imperfections. Ah, we all need to be humbled occasionally!

I finally finished Part 4 of the hairpin lace tutorial. If you would like to try this technique, I hope you find this tutorial helpful. Although there are tons of pics and instructions, I tried to break each individual step down. In a perfect world, I would be able to have everyone over for a cup of tea, cozy up on the couch, and show them how to do this very easy technique in 15 minutes. But, alas, that is just a cyber dream! So, since I can't do that, I'm hoping the detailed instructions will answer all questions and make the learning process easy.

This tutorial is strictly instruction on how to make hairpin lace. There are no projects listed. If you Google hairpin lace projects you will find many. You will also find different ways of joining the loops, and even ways to make them into circles, instead of strips. You can also use them for making lace. There are so many fun and interesting ways you can use hairpin lace.

The Afghan I'm Making:
The only things I've ever made with hairpin lace are afghans. I put 348 loops on each strip, and I'm making mine 30 strips wide. This is going to be a BIG afghan... I'm thinking about 84" x 60" without the fringe. But I wanted one that could fit across the laps of everyone sitting on our big leather couch! I find I get 2 strips from skein of 4.5 oz (128g), 268 yds (245 m) worsted with enough left over to make fringe. I am only using 2 colors: sage (S) and a variegated (V) in sage, off white and tan. I'm make the following pattern:

4S-2V-3S-2V-3S-2V-3S-2V-3S-2V-4S 

I will share pics and notes when I'm done making mine, but chances are it won't be in the next few weeks. I seem to drag my feet on those large projects, even though hairpin lace goes fast. I takes about 1 1/2 hours to crochet a strip, and 15 minutes to join 2 together.

I'm thinking how pretty this would be to make for baby dolls, using naturally dyed yarns in soft, muted colors... or for the bottom of Pixie and Fairy's bed... we are going to be redecorating their room soon... Michelle's thinking, bright tropical colors... what fun it would be to work with those yarns... but I digress.

So... with a very quiet drum roll, are the 4 parts of the tutorial. Have fun!

Part 1 - The Loom

Part 2 - Crocheting the Strips

Part 3 - Joining the Strips

Part 4 - Finishing the Project

Although we normally do not share links to other sites on the blog, we mainly reserve that for Facebook, if you know of a cool hairpin lace project out there, feel free to link to it in this comments section!

NOTE: Since the original posting of Part 4 - Finishing Your Project, my mom reminded me of an easier way to finish off the project. It totally gets rid of my stage 3... weaving in the ends. Thank you, Mom! The directions found below have been updated and reflect the change. Changes made within the remaining directions will be denoted in red. I left in the stage 3... weaving in the ends. Some people may still want to finish off their project in this manner. In order to eliminate stage 3, your yarn tails must be the same color as the tassels you are adding, otherwise you would have an odd colored yarn in your tassel. So, If you are using tassels that are a different color than the yarn tails, DO NOT incorporate the yarn tails in the tassel, and use stage 3 to weave in ends. (3-8-10) 

You have now finished crocheting and joining all your strips. Time to finish it up. We will do this in 2 or 3 stages: Finishing the outside edges, adding tassels and (optionally... weaving in ends).

Finish Outside Edges:
1] To finish off an edge, work on the right side of your project, and begin at the bottom. Place the first 6 loops on your crochet hook. (6 loops on hook)

2] Slide the 3 loops closest to the end of crochet hook (end loops) over the other 3 loops closest to the hook (front loops), allowing the 3 end loops to come off the hook. (3 loops on hook)

3] Pick up the next 3 loose loops. (6 loops on hook)

4] Continue taking the ends loops off the crochet hook by sliding them over front loops, then picking up the next 3 loops.

5] When you get to the last 3 loops, pull a yarn tail through the 3 loops and loosely tie.

6] Do the other edge in the same manner.

Add Tassels: 

NOTE: If your yarn tail are a different color than the tassels you are adding next to it, DO NOT incorporate the yarn tail in the tassel. Follow the remainder of the tassel instructions leaving the yarn tails alone. After the tassels have been added, proceed to Stage 3... weaving in the ends, and finish your afghan.

1] The yarn tails from each strip can be incorporated into the same colored tassel next to it. To prepare a yarn tail, begin by sliding your crochet hook from the front to the back, sliding the hook between the first three loops of one strip and the first three loops of the other strip.

2] Grab a yarn tail from either strip and pull it through the 6 loops. Let it stay there until you are ready to add your tassel. (Note: You want the yarn tail to be the same color as the tassel. If you have crocheted different colored strips, you may want to add different colored tassels. Do it in a manner that is pleasing to you. You can incorporate a yarn tail from either side for the tassel, you can even incorporate both, as long as they are the same color as the tassel you are adding.)

3] To make a tassel, find a "board" you can wrap yarn around that is approximately 8" long. I used the top of a container. You can also use a book or cut a piece of cardboard to the desired length.

4] Loosely wrap yarn around your board 8 times and cut yarn.

5] Slide the loops off the board, holding the top of the loops in your left hand.

6] When adding tassels on the bottom edge; slide your crochet hook from the back to the front, sliding the hook between the first three loops of one strip and the first three loops of the other strip.

7] Grab the top of the tassel you are holding in your left hand, and pull the tassel through the 2 sets of loops about 3".

8] Slide your yarn tail over and hold it with the other ends of the tassel.

9] Take the bottom of the tassel and feed through the top loop of the tassel.

10] Gently pull on the bottom until the knot formed in step 6 is secure. Do not pull it too tightly. You do not want to misshape the loops on your strips.
11] Cut the bottom loops of your tassel, so there are now 16 individual pieces of yarn. If necessary, even the bottom of the tassel by cutting off long pieces.

12] When adding tassels to the top edge; untie the knot holding two strips together. Repeat steps 6 - 12.

NOTE: You will only need to weave in the ends if you did not incorporate your yarn tail into your tassel as described in Stage 2 - Adding Tassels.

Weave in Ends:
1] Turn project over so back is showing. Each yarn tail will need to be woven into the back.

2] Thread a yarn tail into a yarn needle.

3] Weave the yarn tail through the center crochet of each strip, making sure not to poke through the front of your piece. 

4] Weave each piece in 1" - 1 1/2". Clip the thread close to the piece.

You are now done! Easy, right? BTW... The examples used in this tutorial are for an afghan I'm making. I am not done with it yet so I can't give you the "finished picture". When I am done, I will include the pic, in these instructions.

 
OUR "DISCLAIMER"! We are sharing patterns we have designed and made for our own children, families and friends. Every effort is made to share information in a clear and accurate manner. But we are only human, although I often long for superhuman powers, and as humans, mistakes will be made. We offer preemptive apologies for any aforementioned mistakes. Please let us know via comments or emails if you stumble upon a mistake or if you encounter directions that leave you scratching your head! We will rectify the situation as soon as humanly possible! Before beginning any of our patterns, think of yourself as a Beta Tester. We do not have a staff, editors or even volunteers that are crafting our projects before we share them. YOU are the first to have a go at them. As such, other than a heartfelt apology, we accept no responsibility for mistakes made, or in an extreme circumstance, for time or supplies wasted. Please tackle our projects in the same manner that we are sharing them, with a spirit of goodwill and global friendship!

Joining the strips is as easy as 1, 2, 3... quite literally.

NOTE: There is a front and back AND a top and bottom. ALWAYS join strips on the front of your project starting at the bottom. (The bottom is defined as the edge where you began joining your first 2 strips)

1] Working from the left side of your project, lay 2 completed strips side by side. Unroll just enough of the the strips so you can work with them, being very careful not to twist the strips.

2] Think of your strips as even and odd, with your first strip (1) on the left beginning odd. When joining 2 strips, always start with an odd strip.

3] Place the first 3 loops from the odd strip on your crochet hook. (3 loops on hook)

4] Place the first 3 loops from the even strip on your crochet hook. (6 loops on hook)

5] Slide the original 3 loops from the odd strip over the 3 loops from the even strip and take them off the hook. (3 loops on hook)

6] Pick up the next 3 loops from the odd strip. (6 loops on hook)

7] Slide the original 3 loops from the even strip over the 3 loops from the odd strip and take them off the hook. (3 loops on hook)

8] Continue weaving the 2 strips together until you reach the end of the strips. Check the backside of your work about ever 30 loops to make sure you didn't skip a loop. If you did, it will be sticking out in the back.

9] When you get to the last 3 loops left on your hook, pull a strip tail through the loops and loosely tie. ( You will finish the ends better in part 4 of this tutorial, Finishing Your Project.)

10] Continue adding strips in this manner until your project is the desired width. After the first 2 strips, you will be adding additional strips to your "growing" project; in my case an afghan. Remember to ALWAYS start with 3 loops from an ODD strip.

Later in the week I will share Part 4 of 4: Finishing Your Project.

OUR "DISCLAIMER"! We are sharing patterns we have designed and made for our own children, families and friends. Every effort is made to share information in a clear and accurate manner. But we are only human, although I often long for superhuman powers, and as humans, mistakes will be made. We offer preemptive apologies for any aforementioned mistakes. Please let us know via comments or emails if you stumble upon a mistake or if you encounter directions that leave you scratching your head! We will rectify the situation as soon as humanly possible! Before beginning any of our patterns, think of yourself as a Beta Tester. We do not have a staff, editors or even volunteers that are crafting our projects before we share them. YOU are the first to have a go at them. As such, other than a heartfelt apology, we accept no responsibility for mistakes made, or in an extreme circumstance, for time or supplies wasted. Please tackle our projects in the same manner that we are sharing them, with a spirit of goodwill and global friendship!

Finally, step 3... joining the strips. It is now time for your project to take shape. There are some people that wait until they have finished all their strips before they start joining them. Not me... that whole immediate gratification thing I've got going. I need to feel a sense of accomplishment, and I'm not above rejoicing with baby steps! Joining the strips is as easy as 1, 2, 3... quite literally. I LOVE this part!!! The last part of the tutorial, Finishing Your Project and Project Ideas, should be finished by the end of the week. Watch for it.  

1] Working from the left side of your project, lay 2 completed strips side by side. Unroll just enough of the the strips so you can work with them, being very careful not to twist the strips.

For the complete tutorial, click HERE.

We are always encouraging our readers to use our applique patterns to meet your own needs. I have a little wall with shaker pegs where I hang my Easy Cotton Shawls. I wanted a little something above the pegs... something that added a little color and a lot of fun. I crafted a banner using our Running Kitty and Running Mouse. I added a few funky flowers, and a fun, tie-dyed border, and came up with combination that I love. Bug noticed it as soon as he came in the room. All the grandbabies were "oohing" and "ahhing" over it, and immediately noticed that it was like the cat and mouse running up our stairs. Leave it to Bug to say, "Say, Gammy. You need to paint flowers on the stairs for them to be more beautiful like this." Hmmm... I think he is right!

The completed size of our Cat and Mouse Banner is 20" x 7", but can easily be adapted to fit a different space. Also, although I've included a pdf with a couple of cloud shapes and some flower patterns, let your imagination run wild and embellish your banner any way you like. The directions and patterns for the Cat and Mouse Banner can be found HERE or with our FREE Patterns. Enjoy!

Do you have a wide but shallow spot in your house that needs a little "something"? Try making a long, skinny banner to fill the spot with some playful happiness. For this banner, we combined our Running Kitty and Running Mouse Appliques, but use your imagination and our applique blocks to create your own banner! The finished size of our Cat and Mouse Banner is 20" x 7" but you can adapt the size to fit any space you'd like to fill!

BTW... Directions for the Easy Cotton Shawls pictured above can be found HERE.

(Original blog for the Cat and Mouse Banner can be found HERE.)

Materials:
wool felt piece 6" x 18" for background in blue
wool felt piece 3 1/2" x 18" for grass in green 
material for border and backing
felt pieces for appliques
embroidery floss
pattern: running kitty
pattern: running mouse
pattern: flowers and clouds

NOTE: You may notice some discrepancies between directions I am giving and the photos; specifically, when I tell you to applique and embroider . I kept changing the pattern, so the photos don't always match the directions. (Example, in the photo there are flowers appliqued on the banner before I tell you to do that.) I learned from my mistakes. I really did not want to redo the project to match the directions, so... in this case... do as I say, not as I did :)

1] Make copy of patterns.

2] Cut out cat and mouse using patterns as a guide. To make the grass, simply draw a wavy line down the length of the 3 1/2" x 18" piece of green wool felt which is being used for the grass, mimicking rolling hills, cut it out along this line. Using 3 strands of floss, blanket stitch the grass to the banner along the wavy hill edge. Sew the grass to the banner along the remaining 3 sides close to the edge using a running stitch. The running stitch will become part of the seam allowance. (Sorry, no photo of the grass by itself, but use this photo for ideas.)

3] Using photos as a guide, position cat and mouse on the 6" x 18" piece of felt. There is no template for the exact positioning of the cat and mouse. There will be 1/2" seam around the entire piece of felt so do not position the cat, mouse or flowers in the seam allowance. Using the patterns as a guide, applique the cat and mouse to the banner. Note: do not add flowers or clouds until the border has been sewn on.) (Sorry, no photo of only the cat, mouse and banner. Use this completed banner for placement ideas.)

4] To add the border, cut strips of fabric 2" wide. Pin a strip of border to both short ends of the felt banner, with right sides together. Allow the strips to overhang a little. Sew border to banner using a 1/2" seam.

5] Iron the seam flat, with the seam allowance lying on the border, not the felt. (Note: excessive heat can shrink the felt. Try not to overheat the felt.

6] Turn the banner over, and using a straight edge, trim the strips so they are even with the upper and lower edge of the banner.

7] Attach the top and bottom borders using the method described above. The strips should over hang the attached side borders.

8] Iron the seam flat, with the seam allowance lying on the border, not the felt.

9] Turn the banner over, and using a straight edge, trim the strips so they are even with the side edge of the banner.

10] Referring to the photos, and using the appliques and embroidery stitches found on the flower and cloud pattern, add flowers and clouds. Note: just use the pattern and photos for suggestions. Be creative and embellish the banner in any manner you find pleasing.

11] To finish the banner, lay the banner on the backing material, with right sides together. Pin the banner to the backing so the backing fabric extends beyond the banner. When placing pins, make sure they do not extend beyond the banner, since you will be cutting along the edge.

12] Cut the backing using the banner as a guide. Doing it in this matter instead of cutting a banner piece before hand, guarantees the backing is exactly the same size as the banner front. DO NOT remove the pins.

13] Sew the backing to the banner using 1/2" seams, pivoting at the corners. Leave a 3" opening at one of the ends.

14] Trim the corners to remove bulk and turn the banner right side out.

15] Iron the border flat.

16] Slip stitch the opening closed.

17] To hang, pin to the wall using straight pins, concealed on the back of the banner near the top.

OUR "DISCLAIMER"! We are sharing patterns we have designed and made for our own children, families and friends. Every effort is made to share information in a clear and accurate manner. DUH, right? But we are only human, although I often long for superhuman powers, and as humans, mistakes will be made. We offer preemptive apologies for any aforementioned mistakes. Please let us know via comments or emails if you stumble upon a mistake or if you encounter directions that leave you scratching your head! We will rectify the situation as soon as humanly possible! Before beginning any of our patterns, think of yourself as a Beta Tester. We do not have a staff, editors or even volunteers that are crafting our projects before we share them. YOU are the first to have a go at them. As such, other than a heartfelt apology, we accept no responsibility for mistakes made, or in an extreme circumstance, for time or supplies wasted. Please tackle our projects in the same manner that we are sharing them, with a spirit of goodwill and global friendship!

Last week we received this email from a reader and having received her permission, wanted to share her email and pics.

Kimara and Michelle,

I found your blog a few weeks back. At the time I was bored and I knew I wanted to craft and sew but just had no inspiration. Looking through your patterns inspired me. A dear friend of mine is getting married in February and I wanted to make them a unique gift - one that reflects who they are. They both love the outdoors and gardening, so when I saw the tree applique I knew I could put a twist on it and embroider their initials in a heart in the middle of the trunk - one of those endearing memories of love. To complete the pillow I found a wool sweater at the Goodwill with a neat pattern, felted it, and used that for the backing and frame around the applique. I just finished the pillow last night and I wanted to share it with you. Thank you for inspiring me with your whimsical patterns - I have never used or worked with felt - and now I love it! I have so many ideas floating around in my head now and I attribute that to you both, and all the work and creativity that you share with others on your blog.

A million thanks,
Michelle

We thought this was such a lovely adaptation of our Tree Applique Block, that we wanted to share. Unfortunately, Michelle does not have a blog site or we'd send you there, but wanted to share how combining your needs and inspiration with our patterns, can turn out something very unique. We also thought this could be worked into a lovely Valentines project. The initials on the tree are brilliant and speak of Love. Using an old sweater and felting it for the pillow itself is icing on the cake. Thanks for sharing, Michelle!

For dinner this past Sunday I made Chicken Enchiladas, Spanish Rice, Cornbread Casserole, and Guacamole. It is one of my family's favorites. It reminded of a post I had written for One Generation to Another, March 25, 2008. Given the fact that I'm still under the weather (but feeling much better, and I attribute my quick recovery to every one's well wishes... thank you very much :) I thought it would be a good day to do a little recycling. Hope you enjoy!

Everyone has little things they do that give them a sense of security. Maybe it’s a secret stash of chocolate or $40.00 “mad money” tucked away in a secret compartment of your wallet or an obnoxiously noisy alarm clock inconveniently located across the room. In college I had a friend that always kept a “back up” boyfriend. There is no universal “security blanket”, but rather individual needs that may appear trite to someone else, but help us breathe a little easier.

Being the wild and zany individual that I am…I find solace in a well stocked pantry! I’m not talking about having 2 cans of mushroom soup, but rather 12. There are also chick peas and mandarin oranges, water chestnuts and canned salmon. You just never know! Although this may seem excessive to some people, if I see a recipe that calls for crushed pineapple…I’ve got it. Green chilies? I say chopped, whole or frozen? Avocados…of course! Come on, give me something hard! Tarragon, cumin, sage? Yep. Yep. Yep. Rye flour, barley, wild rice…long or short? Fresh carrots, onions, celery, peppers, chives…in the drawer in the refrigerator. You see what I’m saying? I didn’t need to do any special planning when Y2K rolled around…if the world market had collapsed and chaos ensued, I could have feed a family of 16 for four or five months without blinking an eye! I require a well stocked pantry…it’s an obsession…what a shocker!

My children often tease me about it. HOWEVER, they can come over and say,

“You know what sounds good, Mom? Chicken Enchiladas.”

“No problem”, I say.

“MMMM, apple crisp sounds yummy, too”

“Okay, start peeling apples.”

No one needs to make a grocery run…you just have to forage in the kitchen. (BTW…they, meaning our teasing children, are not above pinching a jar of this or a can of that on the way out the door…saving themselves a trip to the store! “Thank you, Mom”.)

I’m not sure what prompted this compulsion. It’s not like we were deprived of food as children or ever went hungry. As newlyweds we weren’t impoverished, living on Ramen Noodles and PB&J sandwiches. And it’s not like I was Scarlet O’Hara, rooting through an abandoned garden, looking for a rouge potato, swearing, “As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again!” I think the explanation is much simpler…I like to cook and I like to feed people. OMG…I’m like Remy the rat in “Ratatouille”!

I may be a bit over the top…or more to the point…over the cupboards (where “backups” are stacked to the ceiling) when it comes to supplies but in part, that is because I have the room. I’ve had much smaller kitchens, with no back up fridge and freezer, so I couldn’t keep all the supplies I have on hand today. But I find it very interesting, when you talk to other people, what they think falls under the heading of “must have” staples. For instance, I could live without garlic powder, since I have fresh garlic on hand, but my kitchen must have dried basil, parsley and bay leaves. I could do without my jar of spaghetti sauce, but don’t take away my stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce. You can take the margarine, but I’ll keep the olive oil. I could survive with less, I’ve done it before, but I’m delighted I don’t have to.

Where you are in your life and how much time you have to spend in the kitchen, has a tremendous impact on what you’ll find stowed away in your cupboards and fridge, and what you consider “essential”. I might be aghast to find out someone does not own fresh celery, yet they might find it down right disconcerting to know I have almost no prepared foods. So, there you have it…I’m like a squirrel burying nuts in my kitchen on the off chance there will be a hard winter! Rational behavior…I think so. Do others agree? They don’t have to! And, no one seems to complain when I'm able to make their favorite meal at a moment's notice!

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

The first time my brother tasted these I had brought them to a family gathering. After he had taken a bite he asked me, “Did you pick these up at a restaurant?” “No”, I replied, “Why do you ask?” “Well, they’re so good. They taste like something you’d get at a Mexican restaurant.” I couldn’t decide if I had just been complimented or insulted! Anyway, they are extremely delicious, and given the flavor, well worth the effort!

Ingredients

1 can (19 oz) enchilada sauce (any variety)

2 cups shredded cooked chicken (I make Chicken Soup then fish the meat out!)

1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese (6 oz)

1 cup sour cream

1 can (4.5 oz) chopped green chilies

1 medium onion, chopped small, and sauteed in 1 T. olive oil until translucent

1/2 package powdered taco seasoning

1 package (11.5 oz) flour tortillas for burritos (8 tortillas)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (4 oz)

Optional toppings: chopped avocado or guacamole, green onions, sour cream, taco sauce, chopped tomatoes, lettuce, etc.

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spread 1/2 cup enchilada sauce over bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. In medium bowl, stir together chicken, Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, sauteed onions, powdered taco seasoning and chilies.

2. Spoon about 1/3 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla. Roll up tortillas; arrange, seam side down, in baking dish. (Note: I fold my enchiladas burrito style by bringing the 2 sides in then rolling the tortillas. This stops the yummy inside from seeping out the ends.) Top enchiladas with remaining enchilada sauce. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Spray sheet of foil with cooking spray; cover baking dish with foil, sprayed side down.

3. Bake 35 minutes. Remove foil; bake 5 to 10 minutes longer or until hot and cheese is melted. Serve with optional toppings.

We all have our kitchen essentials…those things that we use frequently and would be lost without. It’s always interesting to hear what other people consider to be staples. Besides the normal milk, flour, butter, and egg variety staples, what do you consider to be basic and irreplaceable in your kitchen?

Rice bags are a wonderful little item used to relieve headaches, sinus pressure, and muscle and joint aches. When flowers and herbs are added to the bag, they can be used for stress relief and aroma therapy. They take literally minutes to make and can provide years of relief!

Warm Compress Rice Blog

Materials:
10" square of soft, tightly woven fabric (I love using flannel)
1 1/2 - 2 cups rice (do not use dehydrated rice, like Minute Rice)
Optional: 1 - 2 tablespoons dried herbs or flowers. (Note: avoid using herbs or flowers that have a high oil content. These can become rancid, or if using it near your eyes, can be an irritant.)

1] Cut a 10" square.

2] Fold in half with right sides together. Pin.

3] Using a 1/2" seam allowance, sew around the 3 pinned sides, leaving a 3 inch opening in the center of one end. Trim corner seams to reduce bulk.

4] Turn right side out and iron.

5] Fill with rice. You may chose to add 1 or 2 tablespoons of herbs or dried flowers.

6] Slip stitch opening closed.

To use:
1] Microwave for 30 - 60 seconds. Start with a shorter time and test. The rice should be warm... not hot. WARNING: Do not overheat. It could cause serious burns!

2] Place on desired location. Remember... it should be warm, not hot!

Note: Always heat in a clean microwave. If your microwave is less than clean, like mine can be, place you rice bag on a plate or dishtowel. You cannot wash the rice bag, so once it gets dirty you need to throw it out.

OUR "DISCLAIMER"! We are sharing patterns we have designed and made for our own children, families and friends. Every effort is made to share information in a clear and accurate manner. DUH, right? But we are only human, although I often long for superhuman powers, and as humans, mistakes will be made. We offer preemptive apologies for any aforementioned mistakes. Please let us know via comments or emails if you stumble upon a mistake or if you encounter directions that leave you scratching your head! We will rectify the situation as soon as humanly possible! Before beginning any of our patterns, think of yourself as a Beta Tester. We do not have a staff, editors or even volunteers that are crafting our projects before we share them. YOU are the first to have a go at them. As such, other than a heartfelt apology, we accept no responsibility for mistakes made, or in an extreme circumstance, for time or supplies wasted. Please tackle our projects in the same manner that we are sharing them, with a spirit of goodwill and global friendship!