Wednesday, March 5, 2014

How To Prepare Lavender Neck Wraps From Home

By Krystal Branch


Overworked muscles can build stress and develop a lot of pain leaving you feeling very uncomfortable. There are various ways to relief sore muscles and one effective method is use of lavender neck wraps. These products are common in local and online stores but one can make in their homes too. The ingredients are readily available and this gives you a good reason to try preparing yours any time you are in need. Below are simple steps to help with the process.

Choose a proper fabric for use to prepare this product. You can buy some materials from the shop but fabrics like old socks, towels, shirts and others could be recycled. Of importance is to make sure the chosen fabric does not have any metals that could catch fire when heating the wrap. A good choice would be a large sock that is thick as it is already sewn on the sides and one end thus reducing labour.

Measure your neck. You could use a fabric tape measure and mark 0.5 inch extra to cater for the seams. For those unable to measure their neck, use the standard size of 20 inches (52 cm) and 5 inches in width. These are the measurements you will use to cut your fabric.

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.

Cut the fabric into the desired measurements. Those using a sock or towel may not need to cut. If you intend to use a double fabric, cut into rectangle the inner and outer materials. Make sure to cut the lining slightly smaller than the outer cover. 0.5 inch smaller will work.

You will need to fold the material and hold the seams with pins to allow you sew comfortably. You could fold it lengthwise, with the inner side facing out. Sew the length and one end leaving the other open for filling. An alternative is to leave a one-inch opening at the seam of the second end. You could use a machine or a needle and thread. Sew tight stitches that will not allow small grains of rice to pass through.

When using an inner and outer bag, leave an open end in the latter. This is opened regularly when heating the inner bag. Use the one-inch opening to turn the material right-side-out. Pour the scented grain into the inner bag using a funnel to halfway or three-fourths full. This makes your wrap conform properly to the shape of your shoulders or neck. You could sew a zipper on the opening to use it when opening and closing your sack.

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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