We try to take a little time for self-care each day. Try… Whether it be exercise, yoga, reading a book, listening to music, or just taking a moment to close our eyes, we all need a little pampering every now and again. Even if it’s just a small thing, a few moments of self-care go a long way to making sure we don’t end up under the dining room table with a box of cheese crackers, a bottle of wine, and a gallon of ice cream. When you need just a few minutes to breathe and refocus, these Self-Care Soothing Eye Pillows might just do the job for you. Filled with regular white rice and lavender, these pillows fit directly over your eyes to create a soothing compress. Warmed, they release a light lavender aroma. Cooled, they can help energize tired achy eyes. They take just moments to make, but when you are wearing them time seems to stand still.
These pillows make great gifts too. Not just for your eyes, but as sachets for your clothing drawers or yarn and fabric bins to keep everything fresh and bug free. We throw one in the glove compartment of our car and refresh with a few drops of lavender oil every now and then to help soothe the Seattle traffic blues… just a thought.
Round Template… we used a 3 1/2” quilting template, but the bottom of a wine glass or cookie cutter would work just as well.
MATERIALS
Fabric
Cotton fabric of your choice. 1/8th yard would be plenty!
Filling
1/2 cup of regular white rice or dried lavender flowers (or a combination of the two).
3-4 drops of your favorite essential oil.
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: Cut the circles
Cut 4 – 3 1/2” circles from your chosen fabric.
Note: fabric does not have to match but quilting cotton works best for gentle heating and cooling in the freezer. Consider “mix and match” circles…
Step 2: Place the 6-In-1 Stick ‘n Stitch Guide
Peel off the back of the guide.
Place the template on your machine so that the needle goes down through the 1/2” mark.
Firmly press the guide to your machine on the edge of the template.
Step 3: Sew
Place 2 circles Right sides together.
Sew a 1/2” seam around each circle, leaving a small opening for turning and filling.
Use the Stick ‘n Stitch Guide to keep your seam allowance perfectly even.
Trim seam to 1/8th inch. Clip fabric around the circumference up to the sewn seam for ease in turning. Be careful to not cut through the sewn line.
Repeat for second pillow.
Step 4: Turn and Fill
Turn the pillows Right side out.
Fill with rice, rice scented with essential oil, lavender, or a mixture.
Do not overfill the pillows. The filling should be able to move around inside the pillow to allow it to conform to your eye without pressing.
Use a Wonder Clip to hold each pillow closed before sewing them up.
Step 5: Sew the Pillows Closed
Use hand sewing needle and thread to stitch the remaining opening closed.
We like folding the excess fabric to the center and using the Black Gold needle and Aurifil 50 wt thread to close up the opening.
Step 6: Use
Warm your Self-Care Soothing Eye Pillows in the microwave for 15 seconds at a time until just warm. Be careful to not overheat. Test the temperature against the inside of your wrist before applying to eyes.
OR – Place in freezer for 2-3 hours for cooling effect. (This is one of our favorite applications to soothe tired eyes and to take away puffiness.
Lay back and place the pillows on your eyes. Breathe deeply and relax.
