When my kids were little I bought my first “corn bag” from a local craft fair. If you haven’t heard of a sore muscle corn bag, it’s a simple bag filled with corn that you microwave, and then place on your back or neck etc.. to provide heat to your sore muscles. Here’s the one I bought years ago and we still use it today.
However, it is a bit ragged and my daughter was saying that she wouldn’t mind having one for herself, that she can take to her apartment at college. Then we thought why not make one that is long and skinny to put it the bed at night to keep your feet warm for a little while. So I set out to make a few different sizes to give to my girls. In one I even added a little lavender to make it smell nice. Not that they smell bad. They smell like corn.
The Materials
Cracked corn – not popcorn
Cotton material – Below is a diagram of the ones I made, but you can make them any size you want.
Lavender flowers or essential oils (optional)
The Process
Cut out your fabric allowing 1/2 inch on all sides for a seam allowance.
Press under 1/2 inch one of the short sides.
With right sides together sew the two long sides and the other short side.
Cut corners and turn right side out.
Fill 2/3 – 3/4 full with corn and lavender. If you want to use essential oils mix them in the corn ahead of time.
Close the opening by top stitching with a similar color thread or a contrasting one.
That’s all there is to it.
To use, set in the microwave, and heat on high for 2 minutes. Shake slightly to distribute any hot spots. Reheat as necessary.
I also used same sample quilting squares in two complementary fabrics to make smaller corn bags. Too pretty for corn toss?
Wouldn’t they make great gifts?
You can easily find the cracked corn at any hardware or big box store, in the bird food aisle. Since this is cracked corn, it may have some powder in the mix from the ground corn, so you might want to rinse and dry it first, before filling your bags.
If you live in the country, feed stores would also be a great place to find field corn for your filler. Just don’t use popcorn. Additionally some people have used rice which I’ve read works well, only it does not last as long.
Angie
Hello
How long does the corn last? Should we switch out the corn every couple of months/years?
Patti Estep
Angie, I have one that’s more than 10 years old and it still works and seems fine. I think you may have more problems with the fabric wearing out.
Phil Herron
Not sure how much the cracked corn costs but I have been making these for years with deer corn and a huge bag only costs about $8.00 and I get around 30 average size heat pads from the one bag. Everyone loves them. I even made one small one with rice once and attached it to a headband for my friend with migraines who got tired of holding her heat pad to her head. Great website you have here.
Patti Estep
Upon searching, it looks like they may be similar in price. Good to know that deer corn works well. Thanks for sharing your experience here.
Sweet Sandals
I like to use a “pillow case” method. Put the corn in a muslin bag which is closed with stitching, then have a slip-on case to put it in. It is a necessity with the ice bags. I use the water/alcohol mixture to seal in Food Saver sealed bags, and make “pillow cases” to fit them. They’re perfect for the grandkids booboos, and I had several to use inside my bra after breast cancer surgery. I have larger ones to put those blue ice blocks in that we use in coolers. We keep them frozen year around as we live in Florida.
Patti Estep
That’s a great idea and thanks for sharing it!
Rocky
How do you wash them and keep them clean and fresh?
Patti
I don’t recommend washing it. You can spot clean it or if it is badly soiled I would cut it open, wash the corn and thoroughly dry it and make a new cover.
Valerie
Great idea! How do you store them? Can they sit out or do they need to be in a ziplock or the freezer?
Patti
Hi Valerie,
I just keep mine in a drawer. No need to keep ziplocked or frozen.
Earlene Ginter
Yes there are great! You can also make icebags,put alcohol and water in a baggie put in freezer,it will not freeze solid,then put in a bag you have made,I have used fleece,hand towels and dish towels,what ever.
Patti
That is a great idea. I’ll have to make a few casing for ice bags too. Thanks for the great idea!