OK… So… Truth moment here… I have a menstrual cycle!! And it’s not my best friend! It’s not even an annoying friend. It’s more like a back stabbing friend, that sucks the life out of me. And the only thing that seems to calm her down is heavy drugs and… HEAT!

Without gossiping too much about my backstabbing friend, I have been trying to think of ways to make her happier, mend our extreme hatred for each other, or just give in, and give her what she wants.

And what she wants is a new best friend… And I call her new friend… Iris the Uterus heat pack! My backstabbing friend, and Iris the Uterus have become best friends, and in turn, I’m learning to forgive her a bit… but just a bit!

Without further ado… Here is Iris in all her glory! She makes my life with backstabber… a bit more tolerable, and by a bit more tolerable, I mean I can get out of bed! YAY! Thank goodness I only have to wait 20 days to be reunited with backstabber again… eye-roll!

HOW TO MAKE A UTERUS SHAPED HEAT PACK

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• Fabric (I used 2 different shades of pink fleece, But I have recently been informed that fleece is not to be put in the microwave! So don’t do it unless you want to die!!) – I hear cotton is the best to use though.
• Filler (I used rice) – Here is a link to someone who took the time to test a bush of different fillers, and then compared them for you.
• Cardboard to make a pattern
• Felt Pen
• Scissors
• Chalk
• Sewing Machine
• Coordinating Thread

METHOD:

Step 1: Gather your supplies.

I’m not going to be an expert in what materials are allowed to go in a microwave with out making it catching on fire, melting, or exploding. So I did a bit of googling, and found this perfect post called “What filling makes the best hot pack? A comparison of hot pack fillings” to cover your filling options. And I through my thorough research I learned that cotton is the best fabric to use (not fleece!!).

Since I didn’t find a concrete answer about using fleece, I just put a little piece of my fleece in the microwave, to see if it would melt or explode… it didn’t… so I used it! (UPDATE: I guess I shouldn’t trust my experiments, because I have been told fleece should not go in the microwave, because it is a polyester which can melt or catch fire… AAAHHHHH!!)

I also didn’t have regular long grain rice, instead I had special sushi rice… so I tested that in the microwave as well… it didn’t catch fire or explode… so I used it!

Step 2: Create a pattern. I just envisioned what my uterus looks like, and a drew it on on cardboard.

Ivy also drew her uterus…

Her uterus is much happier looking! wink!

Step 3: Cut out your uterus pattern.

Step 4: Trace the pattern onto your non exploding, melting, or catching fire fabric… and then cut it out, without the ovaries.

Step 4: Place your first cut out uterus face down on some more non melting, exploding, or catching fire fabric, and cut out another uterus.

Step 5: Cut out 4 ovaries, but make sure to leave a fabric tab on one side of each ovary, to be able to attach it to the Fallopian tubes. Like this…

Step 6: Attach each of the 4 ovaries to each of your 4 Fallopian tubes.

Place the tab of the ovary face down on the face of the Fallopian tube, and sew with your sewing machine. Repeat 4 times! Like this…

Step 7: Place both full uterus pieces faced together…

Step 8: … And sew all the way around the edge with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. DON’T SEW THE OS CLOSED!! And by os I mean the opening to the uterus (the bottom of the uterus!).

TIP: I sewed around the whole edge 2 times, to make sure it will not bust a seam. I mean uncooked sushi rice all over me, isn’t my first choice of a spa experience.

Here is my open os…

Step 9: Trim excess fabric away, and snip small slits in all the curved edges (which is pretty much all the edges!).

DON’T SNIP THROUGH THE STITCHING!

The reason for doing these snips, is so the uterus turns the right way out, without pulling in strange places. Trust me… do it everywhere! Like this…

Step 10: Turn your uterus the right way out.

Step 11: Fill with filling of choice… I used Calrose rice… because it’s what I had a lot of at the bottom, back of the pantry…

To fill, just put your uterus in a large bowl (to catch the spillover of rice), and dump inside the os (I used about 8 cups of filling… I must have a large uterus).

Massage the filling down the Fallopian tubes, and into the ovaries… until…

… it looks like a sad dead, half stuffed chicken. Like this…

Step 12: Fold the ends of the os inside itself, and sew closed. I sewed it twice, to prevent it from bursting open, EVER!

TAA DAA! And here is my uterus! Iris the uterus… My backstabbers bestfriend! In all her glory!

Ivy is also a lover of my uterus heat pack. Thank goodness I have a few years until I’ll have to make her, her own uterus too.

To heat your uterus heat pack for the first time, just place it in the microwave for 30 second increments, to make sure it doesn’t explode, melt, or catch on fire. If if doesn’t after about 2 1/2 minutes. You are golden!

I read that adding a cup of water in the microwave, while you heat your heat pack, helps add moisture to it, and helps it from drying out! Might be worth giving it a try from time to time.

Are you looking for more heat pack ideas? Check out my Heart Shaped Hand Warmers that are made in the same way as Iris the uterus. Pop them in the microwave for just 30 seconds, and put in your jacket pocket to keep your hands toasty warm, instead of dealing with finger pops! Say no to finger pops!

Until next time, I hope you don’t need a uterus heat pack, and enjoy creating beautiful things every day!

XO JCL