Does anyone know what neck coolers are filled with,they are about 36' long,made like a tube to fill. You can run cold water over and they enlarge. Put around neck to cool in the heat.

It is a special gel pellet. I can't remember the exact name. Did you do a search for them?

Water retaining crystals like you would put in hanging baskets. I got mine form a garden centre.

Best becks

From the "Hugs of Western Kentucky" site for soldiers:
Items

Hugs (cool ties) Instructions

1. Use 100% cotton fabric (use beige to darker browns) , 45" - 52" wide. (fundraiser ones can be in other colors)

2. Cut strips in 5"widths of fabric.

3. Fold strip in half lengthwise, right sides together (Inside out).

4. Sew down long side, using a 3/8" seam allowance backstitching at start and stop. Use small stitch (12 stitches per inch or 2.0 setting). Sew second run the same way for double stitching to make it hold up.

5. Sew across ONE END ONLY.

6. Turn tie right side out (using a ¼" or 3/8" piece of metal tubing makes it easy, starting at sewn end pushing it in and then sliding down tubing)

7. This step is optional but makes it easier for sewing the rest. Press lightly along the seam itself to "open" it somewhat, then press tie flat with seam along one edge.

8. Fold tie in ½ and lightly press center to mark it allowing ¼" from open end. Mark 10" - 11" from each side of center with tailor's chalk, which will leave 20" - 22" in the center (this is where the polymer crystals will be held).

9. Locate the mark closest to the "closed" end and sew across it. Double stitch.

10. Using a funnel, push tie up on end of funnel till it passes the mark at the end not sewn and put 2 teaspoons of polymer crystals. NOTE: too many crystals will prevent the cool tie from draping around the neck.

11. Sew the mark nearest the open end closed trapping the crystals inside the middle.

12. Turn in a ¼" seam allowance on the unfinished end and sew across end to close tie.

13. You have finished making a HUG for one of our troops. Congratulations...

Smellies (fresheners) Instructions

1. Place uncooked rice in a bowl and add 5 drops of Essential oil (for fragrance) per cup of rice. Mix well and place in a Ziploc baggie and allow it to sit for 24 to 36 hrs.

2. Cut material into 4" x 6" pieces.

3. Fold in 1/2 and sew 2 sides together with ¼" seams leaving one end open.

4. Turn right side out and put enough rice to fill (not overfill) the bag (approx 1/4 - 1/3 cup).

5. Turn ¼" in and sew across to close. Takes 2 for each one of our troops (two feet = two smellies)

6. You have finished making Smellies for one of our troops. Congratulations...


You can get the polymer in the garden shops of most Walmarts.

I use 1/8 of a tsp in each pocket of a product that I purchased at Lowes. It was in the garden section in a 1 lb. bag. It is called "Soil Moist" granules.

I found mine at Michael's. They were with the silk flower supplies.

Thank you for the quick reply. I enjoy this site and joined today. Have a good evening everyone.

A couple of weekends ago a friend of mine and I made 60 helmet coolers and 32 cooling scarves like these and sent them to troops in Afghanistan. We have a Soldiers Angels group at our church, and we do stuff like this all the time. It's really a neat thing...you can use cut up sheets to make them, just dye them dark beige or khaki green.

use the "wet crystals" found in the garden section or even the wedding section at your local DIY or craft store.

If you need some let me know my Hobby lobby has them in stock right now. I saw a 6oz jar for $10.00. That will make a dozen or more cool ties!

I found some on ebay with free shipping. Can't remember the site.

found this..the directions are now given right at the water-sorb site! This is where I buy my crystals in bulk for my container plants!

http://www.watersorb.com/polymer_cool_neck_bands.htm

Soil Moist is what I use.

I like the water- sorb it stays cooler longer.There site its 19.95 for a 1lb bag no shipping charge I order mine have them in less than 5days.

Don't use a fan when you have one on. People who worked in a factory in our town were given the neck coolers one summer by management.....there was no AC just fans. Too many people were getting rashes and stiff necks so they had to stop using them.

Thanks for the info.

Water retaining crystals.

it's called "soil release"...you can find it in the garden stores...it is mixed with soil to hold water during dry seasons. Why not try rice??? It gets cold in the freezer and is just as refreshing...no wet hanging around your neck!

Hobby Lobby is where I bought mine, in the floral dept.

They are called water polymer crystals. You can find them online at www.The ArtisticShop.com. Hope this helps.

The ones at Hobby Lobby are huge. They are not what you use in the neck scarves. They swell up so big so they can support your flower stems. Too big to use in the neck scarves. Sorry, but I don't recommend them.

Rice will not stay cold. The scarves are soaked in water and then put in the freezer to freeze. There is no drippy mess with these scarves. I wrap mine around a cool whip container to freeze. It conforms better to my neck. I love them and they do keep me cool.

I don't remember what they are called but I have some left from a couple of years ago. If you are interested let me know.

I make mine for soldiers and they don't have access to freezers in Afghanistan!

It is called Watersorb. You can goggle and find a site to
order it on line. A 4 lb pkg is about $34 with free shipping.
You only use 1 1/2 teaspoons per neck cooler so goes a long ways. After using let it dry thoroughly and the
crystals dry down to nothing again and you can use it next
season. These are great for anyone working outside in this
heat. I buy the big bag and share it with friends.

I used to have a hard time finding them but noticed that Lowe's was carrying them this year. Be sure you get the container that is just pure pellets because they do come packaged with something else mixed in - don't recall if its a filler, fertilizer pellets or what now. Will get back later with the name if no one else has come up with it. Incidentally, there is a group that collects these to send to servicemen and women overseas. I spoke with the person a couple of months ago and they are always looking for them.

Just made over 100 neck coolers for our youth to go on a pioneer trek. The product is called polymer. Here are some sites:
http://www.watersorb.com/mainstore.html
http://www.ifleemarket.com/index.php...t_detail&p=138

It is best to let them hydrate overnight.

These are an easy project. There are different sizes of the beads which absorb more or less water. Watch prices - I found smaller ones with fewer beads in the pack for double the price at WalMart!

What kind of pattern do you use for the helmet coolers, I make the ties but don't have a pattern for the helmets,will you share.
Thanks

I sure wished I had them for this past weekend. My daughter walked in the 3-day Susan Komen Breast Cancer walk. We went up Saturday to cheer her on. So many walkers passed us sweating like mad. I was afraid for them. I will try to make these for next year. The only thing is they can't carry a cooler or anything to keep a replacement cool. We'll have to work on that.

http://soldiersangels.org/uploads/CoolScarvesHowTo.pdf

This has several resources.

You can use the stuff you mix in your pot plants so you don't have to water so often. Can get it at most nurserys. Don't put in too much as it will really expand and your neckroll will be too stiff to go around your neck.

use these and send em to our toops! I only learned about the product on my DSIL's 1st deployment years ago. Now I send hundreds a yr to the troops. why didn't I know about this stuff all those years I sweat my fanny off doing yard work!? jeesh!

this is where I buy my gel crystals too!

They last a very long time and just need to be put in water over night to do their job the next day. If they started loosing their cool in the afternoon, just pour more water on them and you're good to go.

Ladies of our church made them last year sent them to DFW airport to be distributed . This is the crystals we used;
http://jersey-fleamarket.com/
click on USA prices we ised the standard size, worked well.
\FREE shipping!!!!!!!!!

make Cool Neck Ties for our Soldiers
This is not my Idea it was posted by another quilter on this site Hope this helps you too. Enjoy making them.
This set of directions is originally from Military Pride News for making cooling neckties. Our troops will be having to do their job in 100+ degree temperatures during the summer and these are a great way to stay a little cooler. The info on how to make these was provided to me by Karen Stark of Oklahoma, as part of her "Hugs project." I just added the diagrams and simplified the wording. They called them "Chilly Willy's" but Karen loves the idea of calling them "HUGS". She'd love it if every American citizen in the Middle East could receive a "hug" from home this summer. So make some of these for your care packages or help out Karen, either way you'll be helping our troops beat the heat. One more thing,
Hugs can be gently heated by microwave or hot water and used as a reusable hand/pocket warmer this winter when it gets really cold in Iraq. How neat is that???’

(It has been suggested the soldiers would like the ties to be longer so they fit down their body inside their uniform.
You will need to adjust the suggested measurements shown here to accomplish this.)
A- For each tie - cut fabric 45" x 5". See note 1 for material ideas.
B- Fold in half lengthwise with right sides together (so it's really long and skinny) and sew a 1/2 inch seam all the way along the long edge (keep short edges open). You'll want a short stitch length (I set my machine at 2 so the crystals won't get out.
C- Turn fabric right side out. You can roll it like a tube sock. See note 2 for an idea on how to do this
D- Press (or iron) fabric with seam line centered and facing down on the back (like you would a dress tie...you don't want to see the seam.. plus it's easier to iron this way).
E- Mark fabric at midpoint.
F- Then from that point mark 10 inches on each side. This will give you 1 - 20" pocket.
G- Stitch across the tie to make the bottom of the pocket.
H- Fill with 2 tsp. watering crystals. See note 3 for how to get these crystals.
I- Sew the other end of the pocket.
J- Turn the open ends inside (like rolling a sock) and stitch for a neat/clean finish.
Note 1: Use 100% cotton fabric (camo, tan, sand colored, etc – bright colors might attract gunfire) with a tight weave so the crystals won't ooze out. Patterns are okay but make sure it's something that your husband or son would want to wear...lol. *Make sure it’s something that will feel good against the skin. You can make 24 ties from one twin sheet - 31 from a full size. Even white sheets are easily tea dyed. 200 and 180 thread count works great as well. 150 works okay, I haven't had any gel ooze out of those (yet) but they won't last as long. Before using, wash in hot water to remove sizing.
Note 2: A tip from the Hugs project: **With thanks to Kenneth Baker, one of our gentlemen sewing gurus** Even an 18" piece of 3/4" PVC will work. You will need to stitch closed one of the ends to use this method. You slip the tie over the pipe and then push it through with a 24" long piece of dowel rod.
Note 3: Make a sample one first and test it out to make sure you used the right amount of watering crystals (some products vary). This insures that it fits comfortably around the neck. Two sources for polymer crystals. Online at http://www.watersorb.com/mainstore.html and Schultz watering crystals available at Wal Mart in the gardening section near rose food. Watersorb figures out to be a bit cheaper (including postage and they ship right to your door - quickly).
Directions for use:
Soak in water for 15-20 minutes. Only soak 7-10 to use as headband. Warm water speeds hydration. Remove from water and pat dry so the polymer spreads out equally along the tube. Please remember, never squeeze tightly, the polymer will "ooze" out via the material if you do. Can be refrigerated. Hydrated polymer has the capacity to hold heat/cold 2.84 times longer than pure water. Tie "hug" around your neck (or head). When tie starts to dry out, soak in water again. When the tie warms up to body temp, submerge in cool water. Hand wash in mild dishwashing liquid then rinse clean.
Let them soak overnight in a large bowl of clean water to let the polymer purge the impurities from it. You can keep the ties fresher if you put about one tablespoon of rubbing alcohol into the hydration water. (Do not store in Ziploc bag until completely dry or it will mildew).








A KISS is a circular “beanie” which can be worn under a helmet. They serve as a type of cooling device and are often referred to as head coolers. Though our focus is to make these for our troops serving in desert environments, they can be used by anyone. These will also work under a ball cap if you cut them slightly smaller and use even less crystals, and if the ball cap has mesh for air circulation. They are great for farmers, lawn mowers or anyone who works out in the heat all day. Kisses can also be heated in wintertime and used as a reusable hand warmer.

DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING A KISS
1. Cut two 6 1/2—7” circles.
2. Seam around the edge using a 1/4” to 1/2” seam allowance, and leave an opening about 1 1/2” to 2” for
turning right side out. (You can also use a serger or tight zigzag and NOT turn them.)
3. Turn right side out, no ironing necessary.
4. Fill with a very scant 1/2 teaspoon of crystals.
5. Close by stitching on the outside to close opening, encasing a soak tag in the seam. Soak tag should read:
Soak in water for about 20 minutes then place in your helmet for a cooling effect.
6. Hydrate the first one and see if 1/2 teaspoon is too much or not enough. The KISS should puff up about
1/4” to 1/2”
7. Adjust amount of crystals if needed. Better too few crystals as too many will make it difficult to snap the
helmet strap closed.
Place finished KISS in a plastic bag, which can be used for hydrating and include this or other personalized KISS label.


Remember when you were a child
At night safe in your bed
When Mom would tuck you snugly in
Then kiss you on the head.
Well, here’s a little “kiss” for you
It seemed the perfect name
It’s safety that we wish for you
So now, we do the same.
Just soak this “kiss” in water
For 20 minutes or more
Then place it on your head
To cool you off for sure.



Marestare asked for the how-to on making these for our troops. I borrowed this tute from the Wilmington Quilt Guild because they publish it for use to help the troops.

God Bless you and each of our Troops!!
MimiSharon

PS sorry the drawings didn't transfer. I'm making more this afternoon so I will try to get pictures and upload them this evening.

Proud Blue Star Mother of US Soldier after serving in Afghanistan, He's home to Alaska! That brave man is home!!!
Mimi to an Airman. Proud Aunt to a Sailor and Airman. My prayers continue for all our wonderful generous military and their families!

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THANK YOU FOR THE INFO!

cute idea!

I just did a couple for the mail carriers -- used soil moist too, but used 1/4 tsp/4x4" section. Got some favorable thanks, so guess it worked OK. Had a shorter piece of fabric on one, so styled it more like a large collar with a button at the neck. The lady said she liked that better than the tied ones because it didn't get her work pieces (mail) wet.

Am going to make a couple for me now just for gardening.

I'm going to make a scarf and "kiss" for my son who is a mountain biker.