pillow forms

[evanbever]

Hi everybody! hope you are all well, I am making some pillow forms to stuff two loose cushions on a sofa, I need to know how much larger than the cushions should the pillow forms be so that the cushions fill out nicely in the corners, and what sort of material do you generally use to make the pillow forms?

[MinUph]

2" larger should do. Poly or down fill.

[evanbever]

Thanks, what sort of fabric do you use to make the forms with?

[MinUph]

We buy them already made up if the pillow is square. Use lining if you need to make one and downproof ticking if its down fill.

[evanbever]

<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/elsavanbever/media/IMG-20140531-00134_zpsf69f3d7c.jpg.html"; target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m42/elsavanbever/IMG-20140531-00134_zpsf69f3d7c.jpg"; border="0" alt=" photo IMG-20140531-00134_zpsf69f3d7c.jpg"/></a>


The loose back covers are not filling out the way I would like them to, also the cushions crumple if you rest your back on them.
Should I have made the pillow forms with channels? Or do I just keep adding stuffing until I get the result I want? If I have to add channels to the pillow forms how many? The cushions are 36"x18" and the outside right top edge flares out a little.

[sofadoc]

Many factory cushions that size will have 1 or 2 "baffles" running horizontally. I like to glue a layer of cushion-wrap batting to the outside of the case. It gives the whole case more body. And you can stuff some loose poly-fill  in the corners.

[kodydog]

Looks like more filling and baffles are in order. And yes keep adding till you get the look you want. But keep in mind you will never get the "ridged" look of foam with loose fill. Every time someone sits against the cushion it will "crumple". Depending on the fabric it may crumple a little or, like with a lennon, it will crumple a lot.

[MinUph]

If this is dacron fill the channels really aren't necessary. If down filled yes they are along with downproof ticking for the cover. You hadn't mentioned the "fill" so I supposed it was dacron (polyester). Make sure the corners of the inner casing are in the corners of the finished cover. Add fill as needed soft (loose) fill is much better than the dacron wrap stuff. If your casing is noisy then it might be dp ticking. It is made with a sizing that is stiff. Normal for a new down cushion or pillow. You can always add fill just to the corners between the inner casing and the finished cover.

[evanbever]

<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/elsavanbever/media/Wildwood-20140601-00138_zpsa7e8cc31.jpg.html"; target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m42/elsavanbever/Wildwood-20140601-00138_zpsa7e8cc31.jpg"; border="0" alt=" photo Wildwood-20140601-00138_zpsa7e8cc31.jpg"/></a>

I am using two different kinds of fill, the old fill from the original pillow forms which is denser and the new fill that I ordered, which is cut smaller, when I ordered the new fill I didn't realize that it was different from the existing fill, is it okay to mix these two or do I have to order some more of the old fill? Also if these are two different types of fill what are they called?

[sofadoc]

Different suppliers in different regions have different names.

I call the stuff on the left in your pic "blown fiber". The stuff on the right goes by brand names such as "Comfort Cluster", or "Cluster Fill".

I mix the two all the time. I rejuvenate the old fiber using a blower:


Then I blow it back into the case:


Here's a before:


And after:

[MinUph]

Same thing just different processes to make it. Mix them at will. But do mic them together they might feel a little different if not mixed together.

Sofa I like the blower ideal you should patent it.

[sofadoc]

Sofa I like the blower ideal you should patent it.

I still have a few bugs to work out before I patent it and become a jillionaire ;)

Once the case starts to fill up, the fiber backs up back into the blower and clogs. I have to un-clog it and finish stuffing the case by hand. I need some type of auger system, like they have on those "Build-a-bear" machines.

But even still, it's great for rejuvenating old packed-down fiber, and mixing fresh stuff in with it.

[evanbever]

Wow, Sofadoc what king of blower is that? Nice idea!

[sofadoc]

Wow, Sofadoc what king of blower is that? Nice idea!

http://www.harborfreight.com/13-gallon-industrial-portable-dust-collector-31810.html

I had to remove the screen from the intake so it will accept big wads of fiber.

[evanbever]

Sofadoc, I took a look at the blower on the website that you provided, I am assuming that it has the ability to function as a blower and a vaccum? Do you use the white cotton bag that is shown on the website to load the stuffing?