- 1). Wash an old wool sweater in hot water in the washing machine using laundry detergent. The sweater will shrink, turning the fabric into felt. Dry the sweater in the clothes dryer. If the fabric has not shrunk sufficiently to mat the wool into felt, then repeat the washing and drying process until it has shrunk.
- 2). Cut the bottom off of the sweater under the arms. Cut along one seam so you have a long piece of felted fabric. Trim the fabric to an 18- by 28-inch piece. The side seam can be included in this piece.
- 3). Pin the two pieces of 12- by 18-inch cotton right sides together and sew along all four sides, leaving a 3-inch opening on one of the short sides for turning the fabric right side out.
- 4). Trim the seams of the cotton pillow liner and turn. Push some batting into the bottom of the pillow, making sure to stuff the corners. Use a funnel to fill the pillow liner with rice, adding about a cup of lavender buds as you do. The bag should be full but not firm. Add more batting on top, filling out the top corners. Turn in the open seams and hand stitch.
- 5). Fold one short edge of the felted wool up and the other down so they overlap, forming a pillow cover that is 12 by 18 inches. Pin and sew along the 12-inch sides. You should now have a rectangular pillow cover with an overlapping opening in the back for slipping in the heat pillow.
- 6). Put the heat pillow in the microwave and heat for about 90 seconds. Do not overheat, or the rice will cook. Slip the heated pillow into the felted wool pillow cover and apply to your sore muscles or just hug for warmth and comfort. The pillow will mold to the body part it has been applied to.
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