Chill Out: Easy DIY Aromatherapy Eye Pillow

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I don’t know about you, but I’m guilty of forgetting to take the time to chill out every now and then. I’m constantly trying to chip away at my to-do list, which doesn’t leave much time for self-care.

But lately I’ve been taking a few minutes every day to heat up and put on my new aromatherapy eye pillow, and it’s been working wonders for my stress levels.

Other eye pillow benefits? It’s fantastic for headaches, and it’s also a great solution for insomnia sufferers. Keep reading to find out how to make your own!   

The experience of a warm lavender eye pillow is so relaxing, everyone should have one of these next to their bed. An eye pillow helps soothe and calm tension and fatigue. The fresh lavender scent and the weight of the pillow feel like a warm hug in a dark room. 

Plus, these DIY eye pillows are so easy to make for your friends. Pair it up with a box of tea for a simple gift this holiday season.  Your friends will love you for it. 

Materials

• (2) 10 x 4.5 inch pieces of fabric #1  (mine is pink)
• (1) 10.5 x 5 inch piece of fabric #2 (mine is black and white)
• (2) 6 x 5 inch pieces of fabric #2 (mine is black and white)
• 12 inches of 1 inch wide elastic
• 1 cup of rice (white or brown)
• 1.5 inches of 1 inch wide Velcro
• Measuring tape
• Thread
• Pins
• Lavender essential oil
• Scissors
• Sewing machine (not pictured)

Step

Begin by cutting two 10 x 4.5 inch pieces of fabric #1.

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Pin them with right sides together and sew around three edges leaving one of the small edges open as shown above. Use a half inch seam allowance.

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Turn it right side out. Add three to four drops of essential oil to your rice and stir it up.

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Pour it into the fabric tube until it is about 2/3 of the way full. Pin across that point.

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Fold the ends in by half an inch and then press down and pin them together. Sew the end with a quarter inch seam allowance. Remove all of the pins.

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Separate the two halves of the pillow and pin them so the rice stays on the outer edges, providing a channel in the middle where you can put a seam. Remove the pins. The inner part of your eye pillow is now complete. Next, we’ll make the outer part which can be washed.

Step

Now it’s time to make the outer “pillowcase,” if you will. Cut out one 10.5 x 5 inch piece of fabric #2 and two 6 x 5 inch pieces of fabric #2. Hem one of the narrower ends on each of the smaller pieces, as seen in the image above.

Lay the larger piece on your work surface with right side up, then cut the elastic in half and place one piece across lengthwise so the end is aligned with the end of the fabric, and then lay the other one on top of it with the opposite end aligning with the other side of the fabric. Pin around the edges.

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Sew around the entire perimeter with a half inch seam allowance. Remove the pins and trim any loose threads. Turn it right side out and slip the inner pillow into this outer “pillowcase.”

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Hold it up to your eyes and measure the length of the elastic pieces. They should overlap by about one inch and be slightly taut. Trim the ends if necessary. Sew the male piece of the Velcro onto one end facing out, and sew the female piece to the other end facing in.  

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And voilà – your lavender eye pillow is finished! I love this design because you can wash the outer “pillowcase” piece… just toss it in with your laundry every now and then. To heat up the pillow, put it in the microwave for 30 seconds. If that’s not warm enough, continue heating it in 10 second intervals until it reaches your desired temperature.

As far as eye pillow benefits go, I can’t even tell you how great this is for my insomnia. I’ve been putting it on when I go to bed and I can’t remember the last time I had any trouble falling asleep. There’s something about the combination of the lavender scent and the heat. Hope it works just as well for you!

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Looking for an eye pillow that works for both heat and cold? All you have to do is change the filler! 

Use flaxseed instead of rice in step 3 to create an eye pillow that can be both heated up in the microwave, and kept in the freezer. You can also add some dried lavender for an additional aromatherapy boost. Simply pour flax seed and 1 oz. of dried lavender into a bowl, add one drop of lavender oil to the seeds and dried lavender, and mix together.