How to Make your own No-Sew Hand Warmers

While gloves, jackets and socks all keep the cold out, they don't create heat.

Hand warmers (sometimes called heat packs) are portable and help to heat freezing fingers or toes, before covering them with clothing.

Here's a super quick, easy and no-sew way to make your own homemade hand warmers.

A child's sock
A great use for all those solo socks we all end up with... where do those other socks run away to!? A 4-year-old’s sock makes the perfect hand warmer for most kid's hands.
500g long rice (more, if you have a larger sock)
Avoid fragrant rice, such as jasmine or basmati.
Baker's string/twine
Do not substitute with cotton, etc.
A toilet roll
Essential oils (optional)
We used Lavender oil.

Insert the toilet roll into the sock, to keep it open.
Slowly pour the rice into the sock until approx 3cm from the top.
We stretched our sock a little to make room for extra rice – the more you fit into the sock, the longer your heat pack will stay warm.
Add 2-3 drops of essential oils (if using).
Remove the toilet roll and pinch the end of the sock closed.
Tie tightly with the baker's twine.
Important: tie as tightly as possible to prevent any of the heated rice coming out later.
We tied a tight knot and then wrapped more twine over this and tied another knot several times.
Fold the top of the sock over your twine.
To heat, place your hand warmer and a mug of cold water in a microwave and microwave for 2 minutes.

Always include a mug of water when heating your hand warmers – this prevents the rice from overheating. Be careful when removing the mug from the microwave as the water will be hot.
Never put a heated hand warmer under blankets. When heat is trapped in confined spaces (such as under blankets) it can cause hand warmers to ignite.
Only store your hand warmer when it has cooled completely (this can take up to 2 hours). Leave it to cool in a safe place where a fire would not spread - your kitchen sink is a good idea.