By Skimum Richelle

As we learned in a previous blog post, putting your ski boots on in the morning can sometimes be a chore.  A cold pair of boots can make it all the more difficult.  When cold, your boot’s plastic shell becomes very stiff.  Well, now that chore can be a bit easier.  In just a few short minutes, you can easily make your own boot warmers that will warm up your liners, and even your shells, while you are driving up the canyon.  Introducing Richelle’s (soon to be famous), home-made, microwaveable boot warmers!  Follow these five simple steps to make your own boot warmers.

Step 1

Find some scrap material.  I prefer a mid-weight fabric, like a light denim.  Something durable enough to take a beating, but thin and flexible enough to work with.  Cut your fabric into two rectangle strips measuring 5 x 16 inches each.

Step 2

Fold your strips in half (inside out). Pin it if necessary.

Sew two lines about 1/8 to 1/16 inch apart and about 1/8 inch from the cut edge of the fabric.  (I double or triple stitch everything on my boot warmers.  You don’t want your filler material to fall out!).

Step 3

Turn the tubes right-side out.  You will now have to fold in one of your open ends, about a ½ inch (see photo below) and then sew it closed.  

I like to use a tight zig-zag stitch and then I run a single stitch on either side of the zig-zag stitch.  Be creative and come up with your own pattern.  I also like to use a fun accent thread color.

Step 4

Fill the bag about 3/4 to 4/5 full with your heating medium.  You will need between 1 and 1 ½ cups per tube.  I use a funnel to fill mine with rice (just regular rice).  Be sure to leave about 3 inches of room at the top.  I prefer rice, but I have also used wheat.  I’ve heard of other people using various dried beans, barley and even cherry pits.  You can also add some aromatics such as lavender, rose petals, ground cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, mint, or even, essential oils to make it smell yummy!.

Step 5

Carefully fold in the open end about 1/2 inch, as you did in Step 3, and sew it closed with a series of stitches as before.

But what if I’m not the best seamstress, you may ask?  Who cares!  They go inside your boots, for crying out loud!  It’s not like you are wearing them (although you will be tempted to – they are so nice and warm!).  The above photos prove that I’m certainly no artist with a sewing machine.  Make them as pretty or as ugly as you want.  Just make sure you at least double stitch everything to ensure you don’t end up with a boot full of rice.

That’s it!  Now go throw your new boot warmers in the microwave for about 2 to 2 ½ minutes on high.  Remove from the microwave and then carefully tuck the warmers inside your boots as far as you can into the toe area.  Your feet will love you when you slide them into to those cozy, pre-warmed boots!

Good luck.  Let me know how yours turn out.  Send me some photos!