Warm Feet and Black Eyed Peas

I will confess here and now that I love to sew.  I will also confess that I am not very good at it.  In fact, I'm not at all good at it.  I don't attempt anything hard or anything that requires expensive fabrics because pretty much everything I make gets categorized as having been "made from the heart" which means that the recipient will go to the next craft show and buy the same thing that is "made by capable hands." 

My favorite things to make are crazy quilts.  I think I like it because the fabric pieces are small and you can't really  mess up a crazy quilt.  It's already crazy, right?  I've given all my quilts away to family members for Christmas or birthday presents.  Most times they open the box and exclaim, "Did you make this all by yourself?" while they are thinking...'or did a monkey help you?'   Nevertheless, I continue to sew crafty little projects and I'm having fun. So here is a sneak preview of your next year's Christmas gift. 



Pretty amazing rectangle, isn't it?  Actually it is a bed warmer.  You know those crafty little bags of beans or rice that people heat in the microwave and use to warm feet on a chilly night.  Even though spring is right around the corner, we are still having a few cold nights.  For example, tomorrow night it is going to down to 38 degrees and I will be ready.  

Now, lest you think this is some simple monkey project, let me take you through the steps of assembling your own bed warmer.

Step 1  Choose your fabric
I have lots of fabric from which to choose based upon my children's most recent school play costumes.  Here are a few samples.



First, we have the pioneer day simulation where I was called upon to create many a bonnet.





Next, we have the floral sensations from the "Gertie the Gardener" apron. 




And finally, we have the groovy collection.  As you already know, I chose these groovy scraps for my bed warmer. I think these were actually fat quarters I got somewhere but never used. 




Step 2 Wind your bobbin
Can  you tell that I put the 'stress' in seamstress.  So, let me try again.  This time I will watch to see what I'm doing and maybe the thread won't wrap around the post.



Step 3  Cut your fabric

You need 3 pieces of fabric.  One piece is 16 inches by 8 inches.  One piece is 11 inches by 8 inches and the last piece is 9 inches by 8 inches.  Here is a recap.
16 X 8
11 X 8
  9 X 8
and (2) 16 X 8 pieces of unbleached muslin for the lining

Now, if you're the cynical kind, you have already counted my squares and noticed that I accidentally cut this fabric 7 inches wide instead of 8 inches wide.  Nevertheless, do as I say not as I do.  Are you getting a little scared of this tutorial?  I mean how hard can it be to make a bean bag?


Step 4 Sew your lining

Sew three sides of your unbleached muslin.  Turn inside out and set it aside.





Step 5   Sew the short pieces

Take the two shorter pieces and fold and iron one edge of each (on the 8 inch side.)  Sew each piece.





Step 6  Sew the casing

Lay your 16 X 8 piece on your work surface right side up.  Place the two shorter pieces right side down so that the sewn edges overlap in the middle.  In the picture I have folded back on of the pieces so you can see  the bottom piece.  You may want to pin them together (after unflapping the flap, of course).  In fact, you will probably have to pin them together.  I hate pinning things which is why I like the small pieces of a quilt.  Most times you don't have to pin the quilt till you get to the end.  So, stick a few pins in your bed warmer.  You might be able to avoid the dreaded, "Well, bless your heart.  Did you make that all by yourself?"




Now, simply sew all four sides together in a big rectangle.  Turn your piece inside out through the slit made by overlapping the two shorter pieces.



Step 7 Find your black eyed peas
Being in Atlanta, we are going to fill our bags with southern caviar...black eyed peas.
Do  they really look like black eyes.  What do you think?




You will need about 3 pounds of dried black eyed peas.  Around Atlanta they sell for about a dollar per one-pound bag.  When you heat them up, they smell just like a big pot of peas cooking, so if you don't want the aroma of Sunday dinner, then you may wish to choose rice as your filling.  You would need about 3 pounds of rice, too.



Step 8 Fill your lining
Remember the muslin rectangle we set aside in step 4?  Now you will need to fill this bag with rice or beans.  I don't recommend mixing the two because you would be too tempted to eat it if it smelled like a whole meal.  You will want to fill your bag about 1/2  to 2/3 full.  If you are using it exclusively as a bed warmer, you can make it a little more full than if you think you might want it as a neck warmer.  Then you would probably want to use less than 3 pounds.  It might get a bit heavy on your already aching neck! You can decide how full you want it.  Now, sew up the end of the lining and insert the lining into your pouch.  This is the back of the foot warmer.  Notice the slit where you can insert the lining full of beans.  Just stuff it right in there!
 





When you are ready to use your bag, just pop it into  the microwave for 2 minutes.  It will stay warm for quite a while.  Slide it between your sheets a little before bedtime to warm up the foot of your bed.




With your leftover beans,  you can make dinner.  Here is a great recipe for a Black Eyed Pea Salad.  It is delicious!

Black Eyed Pea Salad

6 cups canned or cooked black eyed peas
1/4 teaspoon salt or more if you are using dried BEPs instead of canned ones
1/2 cup finely chooped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery

Dressing

1/4 cup cider vinegar
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, or 1 teaspoon dried
2 medium cloves garlic, crushed
1 1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup salad (olive oil or vegetable oil)
parsley for garnish

In a serving bowl, combine black eyed peas, 1/4 teaspoon salt, chopped onion, and celery.  Set aside.

In a blender, combine vinegar, basil, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper.  Blend until combined.  Pour over black eyed pea mixture, mix.   Chill 2 hours or overnight.  Garnish with parsley.  Serve as a salad or with crackers as a dip. 

Here is how I made my salad.

First, I washed the black eyed peas.




Then the bag said I needed to "sort" my peas.    I always thought it meant to organize them in some way!  Do they want me to sort them by eye color?? by size?? Ha! What they want me to do is pull out all the twigs that they neglected to remove.  I found three of these little stowaways in the peas.




Next, you can soak the beans overnight or do the "quick soak" method where you bring the peas to a boil and then let them soak in the hot water for about an hour.  Place them back on the heat and let them simmer until tender.  It is much faster than soaking overnight.




Next, make your dressing.  Great for salads, too.    Hmmm.  It matches my countertop.




Enjoy this Taste of the South!   Black eyed peas are a symbol of luck and good fortune.  Hope they work for you, too!



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Comments

  • 3/29/2009 Roxie wrote:
    The pictures are wonderful. My mom wants to try the salad and I would love to do the rice bag, but alas I have no sewing machine!!!
    Reply to this
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