Rice Bag Covers

I've made things for a local vet in the past; it's sew fun getting the animal fabrics and learning new techniques for making unusual things.  The most recent item they needed was rice bag covers.  They put rice in IV bags, and warm those up when heat applications are needed (genious!).  They wanted covers that would be thick enough so the animal wouldn't get too much heat, but thin enough that the warmth would transfer through. 

I was on a mission.  First I needed to find the right combination of fabrics, then I had to learn the best way to make the bag.  I hadn't ever made a bag before, so this was new territory for me.  My first try was fleece, but then I thought of all the times I'd worn that on a breezy day and the cold came right through.  Next idea was flannel, but that's too thin.  Then I started thinking about sweatshirt fleece with a cotton novelty, and after a quick conversation with Dionne, she agreed.

I brought a test bag by the hospital, and we put a warmed rice bag in.  They insulate very well so there isn't a risk of burning the animal, they hold that heat nicely, and they are soft and cushioney.  I made these so there aren't any exposed seams.  Technically they are reversible, but the velcro tab closure is only on the fleece.  The velcro keeps the bag from falling out, also eliminating the risk of burning an animal.

In the end I learned a few new things, helped the vet make their patients more comfortable, and had fun doing it!

~ Enjoy ~

Pack Wraps & Surgical Drapes

Up until recently, all the sewing projects I've done were gifts, or just for fun.  Then, a local veterinarian asked me to do some sewing work for her.  Fortunately she is a fun, colorful person and was open to whatever I wanted to do.  Three years ago when I started learning how to sew, I never imagined I'd be making quilts, doing applique, hand embroidery, and creating items for local business.  I'm excited to see what the future of creativity brings me.  :)


Surgical drapes go over the patient, and an oval in the center (called a fenestration) gives access to the surgical site.  This is a single layer of fabric, except for the rectangle in the center.  The edges of the drape have a double fold hem.  The drape shown here is a small, approx. 12" x 12" with a 4" x 1.5" fenestration.  This project started out a little intimidating, but in the end they offer just enough challenge to keep the project interesting and I really enjoy making them. 




Pack wraps are used to wrap up items needed for surgery, like the patient drapes.  These are simple squares of various sizes (12" x 12" and 20" x 20" shown here) with a front/back fabric.  I chose to use the fun prints for one side and a coordinating solid on the other.  When they do a surgery they can open a pack, lay it out on the tray and they are ready to go.