Handmade Monday - A tutorial yoga eye pillow

Here's a simple little tutorial for all you yoga fans.  After a workout during the relaxation session it can be really nice to use a cooling eye pillow.  These little beauties are filled with wheat, but you can use rice, lentils or any othe kind of grain or pulse you have to hand.

Simply pop them in a waterproof zip lock bag (or the damp will make them mouldy) and then chill down in the freezer for a while before taking it to your class.  You can keep it cool in a cool bag whilst you work out if you like and take it out of it's zip lock bag when your ready to relax.

Take a piece of fabric measuring 18" x 5".  I used a piece of pillow case to make my pillow

Fold your fabric in half right sides together and pin in place

Using the edge of your presser foot as a guide stitch down the two long sides using a backward stitch at the top and bottom to secure your stitches.

Turn in the right way and poke out your corners with a chop stick.  Fill with wheat or any pulse or grain of your choice.

Fill your bag up only half way.  This will allow for the filling to spread evenly over your eyes when the bag is flattened out.

 Add a tablespoon of dried lavender or chamomile.

Fold your open edge in by 1cm and pinch closed.

Pin and stitch closed on your machine using the small hole inside your preser foot as a guideline.  Ensure you sew backwards for a few stitches at each end of the row to secure your stitching.  You can pop a handmade by label in at this point if you use them.

I hope you like this tutorial, they really are very simple.  You can make longer and fatter ones of these as heat packs which you can warm in the microwave if you suffer with aches and pains too.

How about making some as presents for your friends for Christmas?  I'd love to see what you come up with, please share links to any makes in the comments below.

And finally...........If you would like the chance to win this little pillow then I'm going to run a little competition.  You will get 1 entry into the draw for each ofht the following that you complete:

1) Like my facebook page www.facebook.com/Beautifulthingsbyclairemackaness.com

2) Like my classes facebook page www.facebook.com/Beautifulthingsclasses

3) Follow me on Twitter @clairemackaness AND Tweet - I'm in the draw to win a yoga eyemask by @clairemackaness you can win too www.beautifulthingsbyclaire.blogspot.com

Let me know how many entries your owed in the comments below and I will pick a winner on Friday at 6pm

Good Luck
xx