Cool off with a DIY neck cooler!
It has been over 100 degrees the last few days around here (Kansas). My son’s girlfriend, Krystal, wanted to make fabric gel filled neck coolers to keep her and her fellow color guard nice and cool during band camp this week. We didn’t have to look far for inspiration and a tutorial — Little Birdie Secrets has it all figured out.
So Krystal is here sharing the fabric neck cooler she made with the help from a friend’s mom. She took pictures and put together a mini tutorial for us! Thanks, Krystal!
Fabric Neck Cooler Supplies
1 piece of cotton fabric 36″ X 4″
sewing machine, thread, scissors and 1 tsp. of polymer water absorbing crystals (found at Michael’s Arts & Crafts). Water absorbing crystals can also be found in the lawn and garden center of a home improvement store.
How To Make a Fabric Neck Cooler
Fold the 36″ X 4″ piece of fabric right sides together lengthwise.
Sew along long side leaving both ends open.
Turn tube right side out. Fold in half, mark the middle and then stitch across.
Place 1/4 teaspoon of polymer crystals in one side, then measure over 4″ and make another stitching line to keep the crystals secure.
Again add 1/4 teaspoon polymer crystals, measure over 4 inches and stitch. Reapeat on the other side. You will have four pockets.
Tuck in the ends on each side and stitch across. Finished!
To use, place the fabric neck cooler into a bowl of luke-warm water to soak for 10 minutes (warm water will absorb faster than cold). Remove it from the water and move the crystals around so they are evenly spaced in each pocket. Place it back into the bowl to soak for another 10-15 minutes, no longer. Squeeze out some of the extra water and store it in the refrigerator until ready to wear. It can also be cooled in a bowl of ice water just before wearing.
Krystal — she’s cool!
I love these because I have Multiple Sclerosis. Neck wraps are so useful for cooling those of us with this disease.
Do you have to use 100% cotton fabric? I just bought some “Water Jewels” from Michael’s. They’re small clear beads. Will they work the same as the crystals you talk about?
I looked at Little Birdie’s web page, and she says to place 1/4 tsp (not 1 tsp) into the pockets. I’ve just completed the one with 1 tsp but it’s cold today, so I won’t be trying it out. Will 1 tsp work okay? It doesn’t “overfill” the pockets? This was fast and easy and actually fun to make…thank you! (Loved the photos)
I found Water Storing Crystals made by Miracle Gro. Is this the same crystals you are talking about? (Mixed with soil to reduce amount of watering needed) I htook one that a friend gave me apart and it looks like the same type crytals. Thanks for your help.
How would one go about washing them after use??
Thank you for the idea, I am going to make some for camp. I am going to be a counselor again, and it gets hot there. With my very long hair it is even hotter. again thanks
Thanks for this great idea. I too live in Kansas and I think we will definitely need these this next week.
so nice to find another KS blogger. it has been HOT the last few weeks. my mom made some of these and my husband wears them to work. they will also be nice this weekend for the county fair, it promises to be a heat-filled weekend of fun.
Meg B.
These are awesome to make and send to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan…and anywhere else, too, I suppose!
How cool! Literally and figuratively. I had not heard of the water absorbing crystals before.
OMGoodness!
Too COOL!
ANd how FUN that your son’s girlfriend sews!
Now that’s BONDING!
And I’m lovin Krystal’s BIG glasses!
My parent’s just can’t get OVER the heat in Alabama!
Unreal how HOT it is!
It almost {note the word…ALMOST}…
makes me feel a bit guilty that it’s so COOL up here in the Northwest!
Wait a minute!
I know what I can do!
I’ll pop outside and BLOW some COOL down your way in KANSAS!
Get ready!
You’ll feel it…in just a few!
xoxoxoxo
Aren’t these great? Here’s a tip…my local store only sold the crystals in 2lb containters so I cut open a DIAPER and shook out the liquid absorbing crystals in it. One “Pull Up” gave me enough to do one cooler. It was a little mess so put the diaper in a Gallon zip bag and cut up the inside liner. Zip the bag and shake it around and you’ll see the crystals fall to the bottom.
I made these a month or so ago, and had the hardest time finding crystals. I finally went to my local floral shop and got some there! I think I could have found them cheaper online, but didn’t want to buy a ton… a little bit goes a looooong way with these (remember, about a teaspoon per cooler). They really work well, though!
How I miss Kansas, but not the heat right now. My family says it’s brutal. Stay cool.
Thanks for sharing!!! I may to make some of these for my daughter and her friends…band camp has been HOT in south Texas!!!