Tight, achy neck and shoulder muscles would welcome a warm, soothing embrace at the end of a long work day. That’s exactly what this DIY no-sew neck wrap will provide, with an added bonus of fragrant aromatherapy to help relieve all-over body stress and muscle tightness. It makes a great gift too!
Materials Needed
* Cotton fabric, 11 inches wide, 25 inches long
* 1 tube sock
* 2 pounds of uncooked rice
* Aromatherapy oil in your favorite fragrance
* Embroidery thread or heavy duty thread
* Fabric glue
* 4 Velcro ‘coins’ (round discs of Velcro)
* Ruler and pencil
No-Sew Cover
This easy to make, no-sew cover will allow the aromatherapy neck wrap to be worn as a fashion accessory in public if the need arises. Begin making the no-sew cover by placing the piece of cotton fabric flat, with the wrong side up. Fold the short edges (11 inches sides) in by one inch. Press the fold down with fingers to create a crease in the fabric fold line. Apply a line of fabric glue to the fabric edge and fold back into place. Allow glue to dry.
When fabric glue has dried, turn the cotton fabric over and lay it flat, right side up. Fold the cotton fabric lengthwise with the right sides of the fabric together and long sides evenly matched. Press the fold line with fingers, then unfold the fabric. On the bottom half of the fabric, make a line of fabric glue ¼ inch from the edge of the fabric. The line of fabric glue needs to be unbroken and reach from one end of the fabric to the other.
Press the top half of the fabric down into the glue line to form a no-sew seam along the edge. Allow fabric glue to dry.
Attach Velcro Coins
When the fabric glue has dried, turn the neck wrap cover inside out. At the opening on each end of the neck wrap cover, adhere two of the Velcro coins to the inside on each end. The Velcro coins should fit on the one inch end folds made inside the cover so they will be out of sight. Secure the Velcro coins into place with a hot iron as directed.
Create Aromatherapy Filling
Pour uncooked rice into a large bowl and add 10 drops of aromatherapy oil, mix together. Pour the fragrant rice into the tube sock, using a large kitchen funnel or rolled up paper plate as a funnel. Tie the open end of the tube sock securely with embroidery thread.
Place the rice filled tube sock into the neck wrap cover by opening one Velcro end and slipping the cover over the sock, like putting a pillow case on a pillow.
When the aromatherapy neck wrap is needed, open a Velcro end, remove the rice filled tube sock and place it the microwave. Microwave on high in 30 second increments until the rice reaches the desired temperature. Re-insert the rice filled tube sock back into the neck wrap covering, secure the Velcro end and place the warm aromatherapy neck warp right on top of those tight, achy neck muscles. Re-heat as needed. When aromatherapy scent begins to wan, cut off the embroidery thread, pour rice into bowl and add 10 more drops of aromatherapy oil.
