Since I created my original Heating Pad Tutorial, people have commented and emailed asking if I had suggestions for a cover to slip over the heating pad. A cover that could easily be removed and washed was in high demand!
I brainstormed several different designs but decided that simplicity is best! You can sew this up in minutes…easy peasy. It’s easy to take on and off the heating pad but stays in place when in use.
So here it is…the official Green Wife heating pad cover:
What you’ll need:
- A heating pad made using my tutorial
- Fabric–Fat quarter or a 1/2 yard
- An iron and ironing board
- Basic sewing supplies (scissors, pins, etc.)
- Sewing Machine
- Serger (optional)
Step 1: Cut fabric
Cut 1 piece of fabric 19″x8″. This is the front of your heating pad cover.
Cut 2 pieces of fabric 11″x8″. These two pieces create the back of the heating pad cover, leaving an overlapped opening in the center of the cover. Essentially, it’s just an envelope-style pillow case.
Step 2: Hem back edges
(Serging option: If you have a serger and want to skip the pressing, you can just neatly serge these edges at 1/2″.)
You’ll need your two back pieces of fabric for this step.
On one short end of a back piece, use your iron to press under the edge 1/4″ toward the wrong side of the fabric. Then press under another 1/4″ to create a neat double fold .
Repeat on other back piece.
Sew near the edge of the fold. Look closely to see the black stitching in the photo below.
Step 3: Sew front piece to back pieces
(I missed getting a pick of this, so I’m explaining the best I can. Bear with me.)
Lay front piece right-side-up on your table. Take one back piece and lay it right-side-down on top of the front piece, lining up the non-hemmed short end with the short end of the front piece.
The hemmed edge will be toward the middle of the front piece.
Take your second back piece and repeat from the other end of the front piece. The hemmed edge of this piece will overlap the hemmed edge of the first piece you placed.
Pin edges all the way around.
Starting roughly halfway between the center opening and the end of the heating pad, sew 1/2″ from the edge all the way around the cover. When you come back around to where you started sewing, overlap your stitches 1/2″ or so for added durability.
(Serging option: Serge at 1/2″ all the way around!)
(The arrow below shows the starting point that I recommend.)
Step 4: Finish!
Trim your corners by cutting diagonally just outside of your stitches.
Turn right-side-out and poke your corners from the inside to square them.
Now you have a pretty little cover with a nifty little opening!
Slip your heating pad in one side. Tip: Let gravity do the work.
When I took this photo, I did the wrong side first. If you put the pad into the bottom back piece first, it’s easier….but it’s easy either way!
Do you love that pillow ticking heating pad fabric or what?? I’ve always loved ticking stripes!
Slip the other end of your heating pad in and you are ready to go!
So. There you go. It’s that easy and that fast. Enjoy!
Lisa Dietrich says
August 4, 2017 at 11:18 amNice and informative article.
Oats are good rather than rice, in my opinion. It retains the heat longer than anything else and it’s very softer as well.