Oh, how I despise cold and flu season. And this year it’s even nastier than ever. After spending several days feeling ill and several days before that caring for a sick child, I decided it was high time to craft myself some feel-better comfort. (A special thanks to Amelia for being my cheerful model.)

I’m 33 years old and I can’t believe I’ve gone this long without a lavender and flax seed eye pillow. On Wednesday I decided that I would no longer deny myself this handmade luxury and headed out to the health food store to buy some dried lavender ($3.50 per quarter pound) and flax seed ($1.79 per pound).

My sinuses were launching a full rebellion and I was feeling pretty cranky about the fact that I haven’t felt well enough to run all week. So, I turned to crafting to take the edge off and it worked. Keep reading to find out how to make your own eye pillow and tissue cozy.

To make an eye pillow, cut a 7 x 8 1/2 inch piece of muslin. Fold it in half and sew along the three raw edges leaving a 2-inch opening in the middle of the top edge.

Use a funnel to fill the pillow with a half cup of flax seed and a quarter cup of dried lavender. (Note: If you’d rather avoid  the scent of lavender, use 3/4 cup of flax seed by itself.) Once the pillow is filled, stitch the opening closed by machine. Set pillow aside.

To help combat germs, I decided to make a washable soft flannel cover for the eye pillow. To make the cover cut a 4 x 19 inch strip of flannel. Hem each 4-inch end. Then fold the flannel, right sides facing to form a snug cozy for the pillow, allowing the ends to overlap slightly.  Pin in place then stitch. Clip excess fabric off the corners, then turn right side out. Insert pillow.

Heat the pillow in the microwave for 30 seconds and get ready to relax. It’s that easy.

Download PDF of eye pillow instructions

Now, I know tissue cozies aren’t as fun to use as eye pillows, but tissues are definitely more of an essential with the flu bug going around. Here’s how to make quick and easy cozies to stash in your bag and give as gifts to infected friends.

Cut two 6 1/2 x 7 inch pieces of fabric and sew them right sides together leaving a 2-inch opening along one of the 7-inch sides. Trim corner fabric and turn right side out. Press with iron.

Fold the fabric so the ends meet in the middle and overlap slightly. Pin and stitch both edges of the cozy. (Note: This step will close the opening left when the two pieces of fabric were first sewn together.)

Turn right side out,  insert a travel package of tissue and you’re good to go.

Download PDF tissue cozy instructions

Below, you’ll find the video clip of today’s “Take Five” craft segment. Stay well, my friends.