Replies

1. 
   ElaineM | Jan 29, 2007 07:48am | #1

   Hi! I usually go to a feed store which sells whole dried corn for chicken feed and buy that. It tends to be uniform and high quality (no broken pieces) and holds up to multiple heating quite well.

   Edited 1/28/2007 11:54 pm ET by ElaineM

1. 
   blondie2sew | Jan 29, 2007 11:07am | #2

   Hi I am curious about the corn. I always find and have some that has been made for me using Rice. Is there a difference in the two.I know rice is much smaller grain then corn. I would love to know about the cornThanks for sharing your knowledge with meConnie

1. 
   zuwena | Jan 29, 2007 08:24pm | #4

   I've used the rice and it has worked out well. I understand that there is some kind of other filling that is used in neck rolls and the like but I don't know much about it. I am in the city so I don't know about the availability of dried corn feed but it is something to think about for the future. Z

1. 
   Cherrypops | Jan 30, 2007 02:14am | #5

   The Comfort Neck Roll I have uses 100% Flaxseed, with a hint of lavender. Inner Material used is 100% cotton. Outer material is Terry Towelling, with a velcro closure. I remove the inner from the outer and place the inner inside the microwave for about a minute...place back inside the towelling and the result is sheer bliss...Perfect after a long day on the machines or pc. Oh,  and my feet are usually soaking in a shallow tub in peppermint suds as I get tired ankles from my foot pedal workout. - cp.

1. 
   blondie2sew | Jan 30, 2007 07:04am | #6

   Mmmmmmmm now you have me longing for a spa!! Sounds like sheer delightI have heard of Flaxseed......I just have not heard of the corn thingThanks for your visual.....I just might have to indulge myselfConnie

2. 
   zuwena | Jan 30, 2007 09:14am | #7

   Ohhhhh, this sounds terrific. Good thing I don't have any flaxseed and lavender in the house or I would be racing to the machine to whip up one. I like the idea of flaxseed over corn, and I might be more successful in finding it at a health food or green grocer market in NYC. Thanks for the cover information (I hadn't thought of terry outer covers--I used muslin inner and a colorful cotton sheeting outer) and, as the other writer said, the visual. I am still sighing over the possibilities. Z

3. 
   Becky-book | Jan 30, 2007 03:57pm | #8

   I have found flaxseed (for food) at WAL-MART in the vitamin department. Be sure to get whole seed and not ground-up stuff!  Not sure this would be the most economical source!

   B

4. 
   zuwena | Jan 30, 2007 11:47pm | #12

   As always, this has been helpful. I've used the rice; I shall try to locate buckwheat hulls and use the athletic sock container--I like the "drape around" idea. Thank you all. Z

5. 
   user-51823 | Jan 31, 2007 12:16am | #13

   please post if you find a source for the hulls! nicer looking than a sock but just as cozy is a narrow pillow sewn from fleece scraps. i made a few for gifts one year with silk dupioni scraps laid over fleece and sewn all at once. it was super easy and looked gorgeous. the fleece lining made it really comfortable. to be drapey, just ermember not to overfill with the grain.

6. 
   zuwena | Jan 31, 2007 07:28am | #14

   Will do. Don't have any fleece but will keep that in mind. Z

7. 
   HeartFire2 | Feb 01, 2007 03:45am | #15

   I use Jasmine rice, when you put it in the microwave, the smell is delicious! I've also used flaxseed and I usually put in a few whole cloves - it helps keep the critters away, and smells good as well.
   J

8. 
   zuwena | Feb 01, 2007 10:55am | #16

   thank you for the extra tips. Z

2. 
   Becky-book | Jan 29, 2007 04:15pm | #3

   I use rice.

   If you do use corn it must be very dry or you risk getting popped corn when the moisture boils and the kernel explodes!

   Becky

3. 
   user-51823 | Jan 30, 2007 05:33pm | #9

   never heard of using corn, but have used rice and buckwheat, cheap in bulk from the healthfood store. buckwheat hulls are in many commercial heat pillows, but i could not find a supplier back when i made mine. the benefit of the hulls is they are lighter weight and with no edible grain, they would not attract pests when stored away. i made an "eye pillow" with lavender and flaxseed, copying what i'd seen in a store. as becky says, it's not cheap, so the small eye pillow was best option for pricey fillings. flax is rich in oil, and i did see some spotting when i tried to heat it.

1. 
   woodruff | Jan 30, 2007 07:53pm | #10

   For my sore neck, my physical therapist made an instant comfort pack: She took a big tube sock--the long athletic type--put two pounds of the cheapest white rice in it, tied a knot in the end, slipped that sock into another athletic sock (for insulation), and heated it in the microwave for two minutes.It isn't beautiful, but it drapes nicely over my neck and shoulders, and provides blissful comfort for about half an hour, depending on the winter weather. I've been using the same plain rice filling for about three months, and it smells fine.

1. 
   user-51823 | Jan 30, 2007 11:31pm | #11

   rice has no oil that i know of, so it should never get rancid. i always consider the edibility factor because i have had problems with mice in the past and they can gnaw through anyting to get what they want. caution! don't read further if you are sensitive towards the little critters: i had some poison put under the house for a problem last year. the poison causes them to dehydrate and they die of thirst. before he died he actually chewed a hole in the PVC water pipes leading to front bathroom and i wound up with a big bill. i accept it as karma! ps, i did try humane methods first, including cotton balls of fox urine set in the attic to scare them away. but when it quit working and there were mousy turds, i had to go with a sure-fire fix.

4. 
   SewFit | Feb 02, 2007 05:19pm | #17

   I use rice....purchase it by the 10 pound bags at the local discount store. I made 20 of the pillows just before Christmas for gifts.....I've scented the rice with lavender, lemon, peppermint and eucalyptus oils and they were a hit with everyone.  I use muslin for the inner pillow and a washable cotton prints for the "pillow slips" usings floral, sports designs, etc. depending upon the intended recipient.

   Happy Sewing...

   Darlene