How to Make Corn Bags

Corn bags are all natural heating pads used to soothe tired and achy muscles and joints. They can also be used as bed warmers for pets. Use these steps to make corn bags.

Steps

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    1
    Measure the fabric. Cut an 8 inch wide by 44 inch long (20.32 cm by 111.76 cm) strip.
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    2
    Fold the fabric strip in half lengthwise. Put the right sides together so the strip measures 8 inches by 22 inches (20.32 cm by 55.88 cm).
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    3
    Sew the 2 long edges together. Use a 1/4-inch (.635 cm) seam.
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    Turn the bag inside out. The right side of the fabric should be facing the outside. Fold the open edge under 1/2 inch (1.27 cm). Press together.
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    5
    Sew a straight line down the middle of the fabric. Begin and end 2 inches (5.08 cm) from the top and bottom of the bag.
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    Fill both sides of the bag with clean dried corn. Fill no more than 2/3 full.[1]
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    Pin the top of the bag closed. Place the pins sideways. Drape the bag around your neck, elbow, knee, or anywhere else you might use it to make sure it lays properly.
    • If not, it may be too full. Adjust the amount of dried corn as needed.
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    Sew the opening shut about 1/4-inch (.635 cm) from the folded edge.[2]
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    Sterilize the corn bag. Make sure the corn is completely dry by placing the bag on a paper towel in the microwave.
    • Heat the corn bag for 2 to 3 minutes, then let it cool for at least 2 hours. Shake the bag well and then repeat the process using a dry paper towel. If the second paper towel is damp after microwaving, cool the bag for at least 2 hours and repeat the process a third time.[3]
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Community Q&A
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  • Question
    How much corn do you need for each bag?
    Zora Degrandpre, ND
    Zora Degrandpre, ND
    Natural Health Doctor
    Dr. Degrandpre is a Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is also a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
    Zora Degrandpre, ND
    Zora Degrandpre, ND
    Natural Health Doctor
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    That will depend on the size of the bag and on what the intended use is. Don't fill the bag, whatever size, more than about 2/3 full of corn (or rice).
  • Question
    Can you use polyester thread?
    Zora Degrandpre, ND
    Zora Degrandpre, ND
    Natural Health Doctor
    Dr. Degrandpre is a Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is also a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
    Zora Degrandpre, ND
    Zora Degrandpre, ND
    Natural Health Doctor
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Yes. Any kind of thread can be used to make corn bags.
  • Question
    How do I clean the bags?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    They need to be spot cleaned. Do not get the corn wet, and the microwave with bring out any chemical smells. An alternative is to use an old, washed and clean sheet for the bag, then make a cover for it. You can use snaps, zippers or Velcro to close it - but the first two mean you'll need to remove the cover before heating. You can wash the cover without washing the bag.
  • Question
    Where can I purchase whole corn? I do not need 20, 40 or 50 lbs; I'm not feeding farm animals, just making a neck warmer.
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Most stores that sell bird and squirrel feeding supplies should have whole corn in smaller quantities.
  • Question
    What kind of corn do I use?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Whole corn, like the kind used for animal feed. Just make sure to wash and dry it before use.
  • Question
    How do I clean the corn?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Give the whole bag a good shake so the small particles and dust go to the bottom of the bag. Scoop some corn into a plastic colander, sort through it to pick out any little sticks, stones, or particles you don't want in your bag. Shake the colander over the trash can to remove more dust. After your corn bag is completely done, run it through a few heat and cool cycles in the microwave before using it or gifting. If there are any weevils in there, that should kill them.
  • Question
    Does the corn generally come with bugs in it? We had a huge issue with that in the first bags we bought and I'm afraid to try again.
    Laura Schmidt
    Laura Schmidt
    Community Answer
    I've not experienced this. Check where you purchase it. We got ours at local feed stores, and have not had this happen.
  • Question
    How do I dry the corn before making the bag?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Deer corn or feed corn is already dried, but I put it in a collander and wash the dust off under running water. Then I pour it on cookie sheets about an inch or more thick and put it in a warm oven (under 150 degrees F) for a hour and stir and see if it feels dry. Put it in oven for longer after stirring if the corn is still damp. It adds a lot of time to the process, but I feel happy knowing my loved ones do not have corn dust sifting out of their corn bags.
  • Question
    Wouldn't the corn pop into popcorn?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No. All corn is not popcorn, which is a specialized variety of corn. Use dried animal feed corn.
  • Question
    Will the corn in the bags need to be replaced?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes. We have been using a bag for 6 months. After we take it out of the microwave, it smells like burnt corn.

Warnings

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Things You'll Need

  • Cotton fabric
  • Scissors
  • Sewing machine
  • Straight pins or safety pins
  • Dried corn
  • Paper towels
  • Microwave

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.homestoriesatoz.com/crafts/how-to-make-corn-bags.html
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05rYQk6iCm0
  3. ↑ https://www.skiptomylou.org/corn-filled-heating-bag/
  4. https://lifeasmom.com/diy-on-a-dime-microwaveable-heat-packs/

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 16 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 186,305 times.
198 votes - 93%
Co-authors: 16
Updated: July 28, 2020
Views: 186,305
Categories: Crafts
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