Comments on: reader letters http://whipup.net/2007/01/04/reader-letters-2/ handcraft in a hectic world Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:17:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Jennybean http://whipup.net/2007/01/04/reader-letters-2/#comment-39944 Jennybean Sat, 06 Jan 2007 13:09:24 +0000 http://whipup.net/2007/01/04/reader-letters-2/#comment-39944 For making warmers: This is going to sound lumpy, but corn works great! Not popcorn, (heh heh) but whole kernel corn, the kind you get in feed stores to feed to the chickens. When I was in college, I bought a 50 lb bag at the feed store, and fabric remnants, and sewed 4"x12" tubes in different fabrics for everyone in the dorm and gave them out at Christmas/ Finals Time. They ended up costing about 1.00 each-- cheapest Christmas I ever did, and I know ten years later some of my old college friends still have their "corn cuddly" for a foot/neck warmer. If itdoesn't get as hot anymore, it has lost its moisture andyou just need to wet it down and let it dry for a day. For making warmers:
This is going to sound lumpy, but corn works great! Not popcorn, (heh heh) but whole kernel corn, the kind you get in feed stores to feed to the chickens. When I was in college, I bought a 50 lb bag at the feed store, and fabric remnants, and sewed 4″x12″ tubes in different fabrics for everyone in the dorm and gave them out at Christmas/ Finals Time.
They ended up costing about 1.00 each– cheapest Christmas I ever did, and I know ten years later some of my old college friends still have their “corn cuddly” for a foot/neck warmer. If itdoesn’t get as hot anymore, it has lost its moisture andyou just need to wet it down and let it dry for a day.

]]> By: Marilyn http://whipup.net/2007/01/04/reader-letters-2/#comment-39893 Marilyn Sat, 06 Jan 2007 05:18:02 +0000 http://whipup.net/2007/01/04/reader-letters-2/#comment-39893 Jeepers! Thanks for the kind words and the link! Make toys! Play more! Marilyn. http://www.thetoymaker.com/ Jeepers! Thanks for the kind words and the link!

Make toys! Play more!

Marilyn.

http://www.thetoymaker.com/

]]> By: Amber http://whipup.net/2007/01/04/reader-letters-2/#comment-39744 Amber Fri, 05 Jan 2007 14:41:29 +0000 http://whipup.net/2007/01/04/reader-letters-2/#comment-39744 Um, I'll probably go google it right now, but I'm dying for the promised Mr. Hillenbrand's website! Um, I’ll probably go google it right now, but I’m dying for the promised Mr. Hillenbrand’s website!

]]> By: Mel http://whipup.net/2007/01/04/reader-letters-2/#comment-39674 Mel Fri, 05 Jan 2007 03:31:48 +0000 http://whipup.net/2007/01/04/reader-letters-2/#comment-39674 Thanks for posting the link to my garland tute! I wanted to chime in on the handwarmers. I wondered about the pie weight version in the MS mag, but I'm glad I didn't try them! I do recall a version in another magazine that called for fleece, which can melt or burn in the microwave! Personally, I like pearl barley or flax in a muslin bag, tucked into a flannel case (all safe for the microwave). The former has a nice weight, similar to rice, w/o smelling liked cooked rice. The latter is much lighter weight and holds heat for a long time. I have a tute for heat packs as well, here: http://home.comcast.net/~crazycatladymel/heatpack.pdf Lesson learned: coffee beans = very bad idea a.k.a. fire hazard. I mean, it sounded great! I don't drink coffee, but I like how it smells. I thought it would make a great heat pack. Not enough moisture, I guess. At least that's what the fire in my microwave indicated. Thanks for posting the link to my garland tute!

I wanted to chime in on the handwarmers. I wondered about the pie weight version in the MS mag, but I’m glad I didn’t try them! I do recall a version in another magazine that called for fleece, which can melt or burn in the microwave!

Personally, I like pearl barley or flax in a muslin bag, tucked into a flannel case (all safe for the microwave). The former has a nice weight, similar to rice, w/o smelling liked cooked rice. The latter is much lighter weight and holds heat for a long time. I have a tute for heat packs as well, here: http://home.comcast.net/~crazycatladymel/heatpack.pdf

Lesson learned: coffee beans = very bad idea a.k.a. fire hazard. I mean, it sounded great! I don’t drink coffee, but I like how it smells. I thought it would make a great heat pack. Not enough moisture, I guess. At least that’s what the fire in my microwave indicated.

]]> By: Uberweenie http://whipup.net/2007/01/04/reader-letters-2/#comment-39566 Uberweenie Thu, 04 Jan 2007 15:53:37 +0000 http://whipup.net/2007/01/04/reader-letters-2/#comment-39566 I've tried wool-and-pie-weight handwarmers before. The pie weights I used didn't seem to hold the heat very well - perhaps for a minute or so. (And I certainly didn't nuke them for any more than 2 minutes.) I'm wondering if there's another filler option that would stay warmer longer? Suggestions, anyone? I’ve tried wool-and-pie-weight handwarmers before. The pie weights I used didn’t seem to hold the heat very well - perhaps for a minute or so. (And I certainly didn’t nuke them for any more than 2 minutes.) I’m wondering if there’s another filler option that would stay warmer longer? Suggestions, anyone?

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