How To Make The Best Flaxseed Pillows (& Why Flaxseed is the Best)
A complete tutorial showing how to make flaxseed pillows, a popular and welcomed gift, plus why flax seed is the best filler for homemade warming pillows.
Calories:
Cost: $7
Equipment
- Sharp scissors
- Sewing machine
- Large wide-mouth funnel
Materials
- 100% cotton, heavy-weight fabrics like ticking, florals, home decorating fabrics, and even denim (similar to the the fabrics pictured). This is a key to making them a step above the run-of-the-mill flea market rice pack.
- Whole flaxseed (brown or gold), about 2 to 2-1/2 pounds for each rectangular warmer. If you can find whole flaxseed in bulk at a local store that will be your best deal. Online these are the best prices I've found at around $2 a pound: To make about 4 neck warmers- 10-lbs whole brown flax seed (even less with Amazon's Subscribe & Save); OR to make just 1: 2.2 pounds Whole Brown Flaxseed.
- 100% Cotton Thread
- Dried lavender (optional), 1/4 c. for each pillow
- Wide ribbon for packaging
Instructions
- Make a pattern. This is optional, but If you’re going to be making a lot of these, it’s helpful. Make it out of brown kraft paper in any size you’d like. I find that a 12″ x 20″ pattern for a finished pillow of 5-1/2″ x 20 is a versatile size for draping around your neck, back or warming toes. It is easiest to cut only one piece that I fold before sewing.However, if I’ve got a piece of fabric that is close to that size I’ll use it, especially if it’s wider and shorter (like the red plaid pillow in the first picture) because that’s a nice size for using as a foot warmer. That size would be more of a square at about 14″ x 15.” Play around with sizes to find the one you like best- just don’t go too big or it will be too heavy and take too much seed to fill.
- Sew the end and side seams. The sewing on this is super-simple, with a total of three straight lines.Fold the fabric with right sides together and start sewing on one of the short ends (folded side farthest from you), keeping the edge of the presser foot at the edge of the fabric, as shown, for the seam allowance.When you come to the corner, make sure the needle is in the fabric, lift the presser foot, and turn your fabric. Lower the foot and sew all the way to the other short end, keeping the same seam allowance and ending at the open short end.It’s helpful to go back and forth a time or two (called “bar-tacking”) with the thread to lock in the seam, since we’ll be turning the pillow right-side out.
- Clip the corners of the seams you’ve just sewn, as pictured, to reduce bulkiness when it’s turned.
- Turn the pillow right-side out.
- Fill with flaxseed and optional scent. Fill to between 1/2 and 2/3 full (depending on the fullness you want), about 2 to 2-1/2 pounds of flaxseed. This allows for movement of the seeds when heating in the microwave and for a comfortable pillow to drape (be careful, though, fill it too full and the pillow becomes like a rock…).
- Optional for scent: Add about 1/4 cup dried lavender buds. Lavender is a soothing scent that’s not too overpowering, so I find it works for lots of people. I’ve also used dried chamomile flowers.Alternately, a few drops of lavender essential oil could be rubbed into some of the seeds before adding to the pillow. Just don’t add too much scent, as it can be overpowering when heated.
- Pin open edge. Fold the open end inward 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch and pin as pictured.
- Sew the folded end close to the edge. Use the inside of the presser foot as a guide and lock each end by going back-and-forth with the needle and thread. You don’t want any seeds to fall out!
Notes
For gift-giving, it works great to fold the pillow in half and tie with a wide ribbon. Add a tag with these instructions and why flax is so wonderful:
Warm in microwave 45 seconds to 1 minute, shake, and warm another 20 to 30 seconds until desired temperature. Flax retains half its heat after an hour or more under covers and can be warmed again and again unlike grain products.
