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Saturday, March 8, 2014

A Guide To Making Home Made Lavender Neck Wraps

By Krystal Branch


Lavender is among the widely used herbs in relaxation and soothing of sore joints and muscles. Many people have bought items like lavender neck wraps to help ease pain around the shoulder. However, it is possible to prepare one at home since the materials used are readily available. Follow the given steps below and come up with a wrap that you can use any time you are in need.

Begin by choosing a suitable fabric. Different fabrics exist in the stores but one can recycle old towels, shirts, socks among others. Of importance is to stay off materials that contain any metals as these can catch fire when heating the wrap. A large thick sock would be your best option since it comes in tubular shape and already sewn on the sides.

Use a fabric tape measure to get measurements of your neck. In order to account for the seams, it may be necessary to add 0.5 inches to the measurements. For those not willing to measure, work with a width of 5 inches and length of 20 inches. This is a standard size for most necks.

Choose a proper filling for this wrap. Oatmeal, barley, flax seeds and long-grain white rice are among common choices for home-made heat wrap. When using rice, avoid instant type as it may cook when put in the microwave. The choice of scent plays a major role in aiding relaxation. In this case, essential oils containing lavender could be mixed in a large bowl with other spices where necessary. Keep this for one to two days and make sure to stir regularly so that the scent could distribute evenly.

Trim the fabric to the measurements you have taken, leaving room for the seams. For a towel or sock, this is not necessary. If you are using an inner and outer fabric, cut rectangles out of both lining and cover material. The lining should be slightly smaller, about 0.5 inch (1.3 cm ).

Fold the material lengthwise, with the inside facing out. Secure it in place with a pin across the open length and both ends so the seams will hold together while you sew. Use a needle and thread or a machine to sew the length and one end. Keep your stitches tight so that small grains of rice will not poke through. Sew the other end and leave a one-inch (2.54 cm) opening at the end of the remaining seam.

If you choose to sew an inner and outer bag, leave an open end on the latter. Besides, the outer bag requires regular opening when heating the inner. Through the 1-inch opening left when sewing the second end, turn the material right-side-out. Fill your sack with the scented grains to three-fourths or half full using a funnel. This makes the wrap to take the shape of your neck once in use. You can close up the rest of the seam using a zipper.

Place your inner bag in the microwave and heat for 90 seconds. If it is not warm enough, continue heating in the microwave for 30-second intervals. Wrap the bag around your shoulders and neck until it cools, about 20 minutes. Depending on how much you use your lavender neck wraps, wash the fabric and replace the filler every three to six months.




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