Chain and Bar

I don’t often work with flannel; I dislike the way it clogs my sewing machine. But I do like wearing flannel pajamas when it’s cold outside, and I’m thinking about making plaid flannel hand warmers. If you don’t have flannel scraps in your stash, you should be able to find a few old cotton flannel shirts at any thrift shop. Be sure they’re 100% cotton. Slice off any seams, buttons and pockets, and cut up the remaining flannel into 4.5” squares. Pin pairs of squares together and sew along three of the four sides. Snip off corners and turn right side out. Fill each warmer with uncooked rice about 2/3 full. Add a drop or two of essential oil (I like lavender). Tuck in the raw edges and sew each packet shut. The next time you head out into the cold, microwave a pair of hand warmers 25 to 30 seconds, then stuff one in each coat pocket.