Homemade Ice-Packs and Covers

Recently, my boyfriend had surgery around his belly button area. As expected, this resulted in some swelling and significant soreness.

After the one store-bought ice-pack we had on hand let us down, I spent an hour digging through Pinterest and other websites trying to find the best recipes for Ice-Packs.

This one suggested a Ziploc full of Dawn Dish Detergent. That one suggested Food saver bags with Hydrogen Peroxide(seriously....). This one recommended rubbing alcohol, and that one suggested vodka.

Seriously, I was about to lose my mind reading all the negative reviews for each suggestion when I just gave up and decided to experiment.

I had some bottom shelf mango vodka (70 proof) that we'd received as a gift 2 years ago, and were never going to drink. We'd opened it, that was enough....

I poured about half a cup in to two Ziploc quart-size freezer bags, and added about a 1/2 cup of water to each. After 3 hours, they were cold, but nowhere near frozen. I pulled one out and divided it between two more bags and added more water.

The result was perfect. Semi-moldable ice-packs that after a couple of minutes out of the freezer are perfectly squishy and stay ice-cold for well over an hour. Complete refreeze time only takes about an hour. We were on 30 minute cycles of ice-on/ice-off, so it was perfect.

1/4 cup cheap nasty vodka
1.5 cup water
2 Ziploc quart-size freezer bags


Add food coloring if desired.

Pour mixture into one bag. Seal. Place that bag inside the 2nd bag. Fold over the top of the inner bag. Seal the 2nd bag. Freeze. Bam! Instant ice-pack!

If you want more squishy right out of the freezer, increase the amount of vodka you use. Keep in mind though, this will also increase the freeze time.

Anyways, after a day of watching him fidget with this new ice-pack sliding out its towel wrappers, naturally, I broke out my hooks and extra yarn.

I chose fingering weight cotton blend yarn. I wanted it to be light and durable, as well as washable.

Check out: Comfy Fingering Yarn from KnitPicks.com

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Easy Ice-Pack Cover

Yarn - Fingering Weight (160 - 200 yards)
Hook - F

BAG

Chain 36
1) SC in 2nd CH from hook and in each CH across to last CH, complete 3 SC in last CH and continue with SC around back side of CH's to rear of first SC, complete 2 in same CH as first SC and join to with SL ST to first SC (72 SC)
2) CH 1, SC in same st and in every st around, join with SL ST to first SC.

Repeat row 2 to approximately 2 inches from desired length. (approximately 46 rows)

Do not finish off.


FLAP

1) CH 1, SC in same SC and in each SC across to side-edge, ch 36, sk next 36 SC(other side-edge), SC in next st and in each stitch across to first SC, join with SL ST to first SC.
2) CH 1, SC in same SC and in each SC across to side-edge, SC in each of 36 CHs, and continue around to first SC, join with SL ST to first SC.

Repeat row 2 for approximately 2 inches. (approximately 14 rows)

Reverse/Underside of Flap - SL ST flap closed at top so seam is on the inside(image below).

Notes: 

• I added an overlapping piece that can tuck over or under the top flap noted above, just in case the cover were to slip open a bit. This helped to avoid direct skin contact.
• Bag corners may pop out the bottom/top. Try a small piece of duct-tape over those corners. Or wrap the entire pack as a proactive step to avoid leaks.
• These ice-packs get COLD. Freezers will respond differently, but we had a little layer of ice on the exterior of our packs. Try giving them a quick wipe with a kitchen towel before putting them in your cover.

Enjoy!!!