New PDF Release: Icy Cool Neck Wrap

A neck wrap to keep you cool during the heat wave...

Are you among the millions affected by the unprecedented high pressure system that settled over the Pacific Northwest this past week and some?

After having had some unseasonably cool weather in mid-June, once we officially turned over into summer, we were thrust into this crazy system that has resulted in an "historic" heat wave up here. Temperatures have been over 30 degrees for a record number of days in a row, with overnight lows often exceeding our normal daily highs.

My icy cool neck wrap got a lot of use.

Free PDF download...

It's handy for both indoors and out whenever the temperature rises. In the early mornings, it's a lifesaver for me when I do my regular workout inside the house. At night, when I go upstairs to bed, it helps me adjust to the change in temperature from ground floor to second floor (since we only have one AC unit and the thermostat is set on the ground floor). Outdoors on hot days, it just makes me more comfortable, whether I'm out for a bike ride or just lazing on a lounge chair reading.

When I checked the original post on the blog here, I noticed that the tutorial had never been PDF'd. Better late than never. And there certainly can't be a better time than now to revisit this project.

For regular readers of this blog, here is the link to the new PDF that you can download and keep. (It has also been made available in my Makerist shop, where it will sell for a nominal fee.)

---

---

Better Than "Cooling" Towels

I've often written about how I don't like to make things that I won't use; this is not one of those things. In the three years since I've had them, they've gone on the road with us and have served hubby and I well.

It beats one of these:

Snap cooling towel...

This is a snap cooling towel, one of those things you wet down, wring "dry" and then drape around your neck. An honest review would reveal that it's really no better than hanging a regular damp towel around your neck.

But then there's the part about the dampness. Sure, when it's super duper hot, maybe you don't mind having drips of cold water going down your back. But when it's just "regular" hot, you want coolness, not wetness.

The secret ingredient...

This icy cool neck wrap gets its coolness from frozen reusable ice cubes, which can easily be sourced from discount/dollar stores. They are encased in a jersey fabric tube that is then inserted into a zippered outer sleeve. Everything is washable, but the removable sleeve ensures that it can be cleaned more often if needed.

A convenient "refillable" option...

In the winter, I find that having additional layers around my neck is sufficient to make me feel warmer. The same concept works here. If you're hot, having something cool held to the back of your neck does wonders to bring down your temperature.

Make spare inserts...

Just keep this whole kit in a ziplock bag in your freezer and it's ready to go when you need it. (I would recommend making at least one spare insert so that you have one to use while the other is freezing up again.) Of course, the advantage of the cooling towels is that you can just wet them and go, but if you have access to a freezer, this is a superior solution.

---

Watch live classes for FREE at CreativeLive! [affiliate link]

---

Great Recycling Opportunity

 

If you're a fan of recycling, this project provides great opportunities to use some clothing discards. While you can't avoid having to purchase the ice cubes (I used nine of them at a time; they came eighteen to a bag for $1.25), you can use an old t-shirt to get the jersey needed for the insert.

Two wraps and two spare inserts...

For the outer sleeve, you can use a quilting cotton (and would have to adjust the dimensions of the fabric for the fact that it will not stretch), but a performance knit works best. If you're wondering what type of fabric that might be, think of your average pair of leggings. Again, recycling opportunity!

Outside sleeve is best made with a stretchy performance knit...

In my case, the outer sleeve was made with my own fabric in a performance piqué; the blue jersey for the inserts came from an old pillowcase.

To make the sleeve, you'll also need a 9" zipper and an elastic hair tie. (As a longer lasting alternative to the hair tie, you could sew in strips of hook and loop tape.) Oh, and please use a ballpoint needle if you're sewing with knit fabrics; the sewing will go much more smoothly.

A sporty looking accessory...

A word about sizing: I made my outer sleeve with a 28" long strip of fabric. It fits me as shown in the photo here, and it generally fits my other half as well. That said, if you have the opportunity to use a longer length of fabric, go for it.

---

Check out crafty classes at Creativebug! [affiliate link]

---

It Really Works!

I described in my original tutorial how it felt the first time I put this around my neck. It didn't seem as though it was working all that well. But that feeling was very fleeting.

In every instance that I've worn it since — although I haven't have the opportunity to wear it in, say, 115°F (46°C) temperatures — I end up feeling cold within a few minutes. In that "adjusting from ground floor to second floor" scenario that I described earlier, it's consistently removed and put back in the freezer after about five minutes. Hubby is more prone to overheating and typically leaves his on, saying that without it, he wouldn't be able to fall asleep.

A final word about our historic heat wave, which our weather folks called a "heat dome". Here was our forecast on June 27 for the past week.

image courtesy of Global Edmonton...

I'm happy to report that our actual temps were "only" 34° on Monday, 36° on Tuesday, 37° on Wednesday, 35° on Thursday and 30° yesterday. Luckily, our city did not reach a temperature over the equivalent of 100°F (38°C), nor did it break our all-time record of 37.2°. Give me the minus side of 38° anytime over the plus.

The tiny village of Lytton, BC was not so lucky. After making the news for producing a new record high temperature for the entire country over three days straight — just shy of 50°C or 121°F, higher than ever recorded in Las Vegas, Phoenix, or even Sydney, Australia — it was then essentially destroyed by a wildfire that ripped through town in literal minutes, just hours before Canada Day. There is no good ending to this story beyond hoping that the majority of its citizens will be found safe.

And this is in no way comparable to what the residents of Lytton are dealing with, but our seventeen year old AC unit had a hiccup on the Sunday prior to all of this. While we have been able to keep it running, it has required regular "babysitting". Moreover, the rules of supply and demand dictate that it will cost over $6K to replace it, and that can't even happen for another three weeks due to local HVAC companies being slammed with calls.

This is climate change happening right in front of our faces. The reality is that it's affecting us now; it's not something that might be a problem for future generations. What are we going to do about it?

'Til next...