Keeping Cool

My three oldest boys (Taylor, Carter and Jackson) are going sports camp every afternoon this week. It's just like the $5 art camp they went to a couple of weeks ago. With temperatures reaching the upper 90's plus humidity, I've been worried for them. So over the weekend I sewed a few neck coolers (a.k.a. "cooler ties") for them to wear to stay cool.

They are sewn with "pockets" and the pockets are filled with watering crystals (I used Schultz Moisture Plus, found at Home Depot for $8), which after soaking in water, absorbs the water and turns into a gel, like a disposable diaper.

I made one at first to test the amount of watering crystals. I used too much the first time (1/2 tsp. per pocket). It kind of looked like fat sausage links. This is Mason modeling the first neck cooler:


And then I made three more (Mason wanted one of his own) with about 1/4 tsp. per pocket.

This is the "Mom-I-have-to-go-to-the-bathroom" look.

I made these just in time, too, because all of next week Taylor and Carter are attending an all-day cub scout day camp. Last year it was the hottest week of the summer.

(A few notes: The neck coolers retain the water very well. They are still cold and wet after several days. And they are re-usable. Just dry them out and dehydrate to store. You just soak them to rejuvenate them, even if they are still moist and haven't dried out completely. If you use the watering crystals they suggest in the tutorial, they say you can also heat the neck cooler in the microwave after it's been soaked. I haven't tried it yet with my brand.)