«Pillows »

Pillows not only serve the purpose of softening a seat or supporting a back, but can also act as a foil for color in a room. A plain, neutral sofa or armchair can be altered dramatically by the addition of a few primary colored pillows, or some soft muted ones. A wooden bench can take on a new look and added comfort with a cushion. Pillows don't need to be plain squares of color, but a mix of colors, textures and shapes.

Use of Fabrics

Fabric is availible in a bewildering array of offerings. However, if you think beyond the three basic elements of any fabric—color, pattern and texture, you will see that there are all sorts of ways you can play with these elements for decorative effect. By piecing together clever contrasts and combinations of fabric and trimmings, spectacular results can be achieved.

Basic Size - general guide

• Sofa Pillows - range in size from 15" - 24" depending on sofa size.
• Chair Pillows/Bench Seat - range in size from 12" - 20".
  
• Bed Pillows - range in size from 15" - 30".
  
   

Shapes

Rectangle	Tufted Round	Triangle	Mitred Square
Various

Special Edges

Box Pleated Corner	Double Rugffle	Scalloped Edge
Tassle Closure	Loose Ties	Flanged with Tassle
Knotted Corners	Gathered Boxing	Flat Boxing

Trimmings

Unadorned, a pillow tends to blend into the seating or surface it is placed upon. To make a feature of the pillow unique, it may call for some ingenuity and clever idea to dress up the basic shape. Choose from a wealth of decorative trimmings available to embellish pillows in dozens of ways.

Pleated Ruffle	Loop Trim	Tassle Trim
Chenille Loop	Bobble Trim	Spiral Fringe
Rosettes

Fillings (Inners)

Pillow inners/fillers are available in a variety of sizes and filling compositions.

    ·  When choosing a filler, consider where and how the pillow will be used. Fillers should be at least 1" larger than the pillow cover it will be inserted into.

FEATHERS ( DOWN ) - This is a popular filler for bed pillows. Feathers are often mixed with down to produce a soft pillow. When filled with feathers, you can easily maintain the pillows desired shape by giving the pillow a quick shake or chop.

KAPOK- Kapok is natural vegetable filler made from a tree. It was used in the past for filling mattresses, lifejackets and sleeping bags. This filler type is less expensive than down. Pillows filled with kapok will eventually lose their shape but it is a great filler for decorative pillows and resembles down.

POLYFILL- These fillers are inexpensive, hypoallergenic and washable.
Polyfill is great for any pillow creation ideas