Why not try some Christmas sewing projects to spiff up your house or to give as personalized gifts?

Simple Christmas Sewing Projects: Scented Hot Pads

These hot pads not only look pretty, they smell good, too.

Cut two pieces of cotton fabric to the size that you want your hot pad to be, keeping in mind that you will have a ½” seam. Put the two pieces of fabric together with the wrong sides facing out. Sew three of the sides closed. Insert a “cut-to-size” piece of quilt wadding. Turn the open edges inside and start to sew the top together. Just before you finish sewing the hot pad together, pour in about a teaspoon of your favorite ground spice, such as cinnamon or cloves, and then sew the pad shut. Gently shake the pad to disperse the spice.

Your final step is to sew the quilt batting in place. You can be as simple, such as sewing an “X” over the pad, or as complex as you like. The purpose of this final step is twofold, to keep the batting from moving around and to add to the eye appeal of the hot pad.

Simple Christmas Sewing Projects: Heating Pads

Admit it. Christmas sometimes gives you aches and pains, not to mention headaches. These microwaveable heating pads may do the trick for you and your friends.

Cut two pieces of cotton fabric the same size. Some people like squares while others like rectangles for heating pads. Just remember to give yourself and extra one-half inch for your seams. You might try seven and a half inches by ten and a half inches for your first project.

Lay the pieces together with the wrong sides facing out. Sew together the two long sides and one of the short sides.

What would you like to fill your heating bag with? You might try:

Oatmeal

Uncooked rice

Wheat

Dry beans

Flax seeds

If you want to have a scented heating bag, put the filler of your choice and the scent of your choice, such as cinnamon, lavender, nutmeg or rosemary, into a sealed jar a few days and shake or stir occasionally. This will help the scent be more evenly distributed.

Pour the filler into your bag. Most people prefer their bags to be one-half to three-quarters of the way filled. Turn the top fabric one-half of an inch in and sew the bag shut.

These bags can be microwaved for between one and three minutes to heat. If you are giving this as a gift, make sure that the recipient knows that the bag shouldn’t be left unattended when in the microwave.