Zip to It: Reversible Pillow Cover with a Graphic Stripe.

I bet you noticed that I snug in this new pillow in the past gazillion pictures I have shown of B's room progress, right?As you can see, I made it reversible. If you do not like that look, here is another idea: I often use down comforters as pillow inserts for bigger pillows. One way to ensure this is to choose a pillow that meets your body's needs. What is the best pillow for back sleepers?For those of you who sleep best on your back, you should ensure your pillow gives just the right amount of support to keep your head slightly raised through the night. What is the best pillow for front sleepers?Sleeping on your front means your head should be much closer to the mattress than if you slept on your back or side. But feathers are not the only type of stuffing that could cause a reaction. Pillows should be washed gently by hand and allowed to air dry thoroughly to keep them clean.

I bet you noticed that I snug in this new pillow in the past gazillion pictures I have shown of B's room progress, right?As you can see, I made it reversible. The gray side is made from his old curtains that I washed and shrunk - oops. So I reused some of that fabric for this project.The green side is made of wool felt. The stripes are flax linen. I used Grosgrain ribbon to line the stripes. - all from JoAnn's.You can see here that I cut the green fabric a bit longer than the gray. That is to have enough extra fabric for the enclosed zipper that I will show you below how to sew. The gray fabric measures 54x20 inches. The green one measures 54x21 inches. The zipper is 24 inches long.Before I began the project, I washed the fabrics. After washing the wool felt, I realized that that was perhaps not the brightest idea I had had all day. You can see here why. (Website only - behind the scene's photo)I had to do a lot of stretching and ironing and cut the flared edge off.Next, here is how I made the linen stripes.Then I stitched them on.I tried sewing the ribbon on first, but it did not want to be as flat as I wanted it to be, so I ironed it on with some hem tape instead.When I sew something together that has to line up, here is what I do: I pin the two fabrics together and then I check it by lifting and separating the hem from the outside. That way you can easily see if the stripes line up.Then I added the zipper.I think it looks so fun with a bright red zipper even if no-one will ever really see it.I know it's thereI stuffed it with three IKEA pillow inserts that he already had. They used to have light green covers on them.You can tell that there are three pillows in there. If you do not like that look, here is another idea: I often use down comforters as pillow inserts for bigger pillows. They are comfortable and you have a great way to store extra comforters that way to have on hand for guests without using closet space for them.And here you have the pillow on the bed. I chose the red stripe to tie in with 5 foot Pixel Mario on the wall.The turquoise velvet pillow is from IKEA as well. It has some ribbon detail on the front that I am not crazy about, but from the back it looks good here, I think.Next up for this room, I think the room needs some wood details. And a bed side lamp, and a reading lamp for the chair.How was your weekend? Did you do any projects? Let me know and I will swing by and leave a comment.

What type of pillow should I choose?

Experts predict we spend a third of our lives sleeping, so it's important we make our beds as comfortable as possible. One way to ensure this is to choose a pillow that meets your body's needs.To help you out, here's our guide to choosing the right pillow for you. Should I buy a new pillow?Experts say you should change your pillow every two years to ensure you keep getting the night time support you need, but there are signs, too. For example, if you are waking up with a sore neck or back it could mean your pillow's not supporting you correctly and you need to invest in a new one. Similarly, if you wake up with a blocked nose every morning, that might mean your pillows become too clogged with dust mites and you need a new one. What is the best pillow for side sleepers?If you drift off on your side, you will need a pillow that gives you the right amount of neck support to keep your spine well-aligned through the night. The best way to do this is by choosing a firm or medium-firm pillow, and depending on the breadth of your shoulders, you might find you sleep better with two pillows to give you that extra bit of support you need.What is the best pillow for back sleepers?For those of you who sleep best on your back, you should ensure your pillow gives just the right amount of support to keep your head slightly raised through the night. A medium to firm pillow is best, with many back sleepers opting for a memory foam pillow to keep their neck at just the right height.What is the best pillow for front sleepers?Sleeping on your front means your head should be much closer to the mattress than if you slept on your back or side. With this in mind, you should opt for a relatively flat pillow that keeps your neck and spine well-aligned while you sleep. Experts even advise placing another pillow underneath your pelvis to ensure you keep your lower back properly aligned, too.What pillow filling should I choose?There are two main types of pillow filling: natural and synthetic. Natural fillings like feather, down and wool last longer than artificial fibres and are often better for those who sleep on their front. Synthetic options like microfibre are often cheaper and give more support to side sleepers, with hypoallergenic options great for those who suffer from allergies.The final option is memory foam, another man-made filling that provides much sturdier support that contours to your body — ideal for back sleepers.Originallly published on Belledorm.co.uk

It’s Time to Replace Your Pillow!!

You might not know but as every other thing, buy pillows also have an expiry date. Most of the people do not give the expiration much attention but of course it is given an expiry time due to some logical reasons. It might seem useless replacing the pillow if it looks perfectly fine, even after its expiry date but they could cause pain and other health problems if you do not replace them. The main point is: how long can you expect a pillow to work well? The answer is up for debate, but, to play it safe, get a new pillow every one to two years. Sleeping night after night on the same pillow might have effects on the pillow which you might not feel at first. Using the same pillow daily makes it absorb body oil, dead skin cells, and hair. This not only sounds gross, but it makes the pillow smell and, what is worse, can create the perfect environment for dust mites.Signs you should replace your cotton pillow protectorsIt's time to replace your pillow if you notice any of the following:You might start feeling lumps in the foam or filler materials.You can notice permanent stains from body sweat and oil. You wake up with aches and pains, particularly in your neck or shoulders.Due to the aches, you wake up tired, interrupting your sleep.If your body is sagging in spots — especially around the neck — it could be time for a new pillow. You wake up sneezing from the dust mites. You constantly have to re fluff your pillow to get comfortable.If you fold your pillow in half, it stays that way instead of expanding back out.The rule is to replace your pillow every 6th month. However, certain types of pillows last longer than others, due to the quality and construction of their materials.Maintain your pillowIn order to increase your pillow's lifespan to its maximum, you need to maintain it by using a pillow cover and cleaning it regularly. It will not only destroy the toxins but also add an extra star to its lifetime. However, using a protective case is so effective it can double your pillow's lifespan. Wash the cover every 3 to 4 weeks as well.Think before buying new pillowWhile buying a new pillow, buy a pillows that can repel dust mites and other allergens. Allergens and dust mites do not let you sleep comfortably and it will be perfect that you get pillows that repel them. Today, many people prefer getting a pillow that uses cloth made from bamboo as it is resistant to allergens and dust mites

How to Make a Body Pillow

Many people enjoy the additional support offered by a body pillow. Body pillows are especially helpful during pregnancy, as well as for people who experience back problems. The single, long pillow also looks sleek and attractive on your bed. And making a body pillow is a simple sewing project that can be completed in a couple of hours for a fraction of the cost of purchasing one. How to Make a Body Pillow Step 1 Choose fabrics that are washable and which compliment the decor of your bedroom. Organize your supplies before you start, so the pillow can be completed at one sitting. Please see the last slide for an itemized list of tools and materials. Step 2 Wash and press both fabrics. Trim the selvages from the muslin. Ensure the length is 63 inches, and clip the width to 40 inches. Tear the muslin to get a straight line. Step 3 Fold the muslin in half, sew across the end and down the side using a 5/8 inch seam. Finish the seams with a zig-zag stitch. Step 4 Clip the corners and turn the pillow right side out. Roll up the edge to make it easier to stuff. Step 5 Stuff the pillow with fiber fill, distributing it evenly. Pack it tightly for a firm pillow, or lighter for a soft pillow -- whichever you prefer. Unroll the fabric as you work your way up to the top of the pillow. Step 6 Turn down a 5/8 inch seam and hand stitch the seam closed using a whip stitch or a hidden hem. Step 7 Fold the pillowcase fabric in half and square it by laying the selvage edge along a straight line on the cutting mat. Lay the straight edge ruler across the fabric in line with the rule marks on the mat, and cut a straight line through both thickness of the fabric. Trim the selvages and cut one piece 22 inches by 72 inches and one piece 22 inches by 65 inches from the fabric. Turn up a 2-inch hem on the 65-inch piece and sew in place. Step 8 Stack the cut pieces right sides together and raw edges even at one end. Fold the 72-inch piece back over itself to be even with the hemmed side of the 65-inch piece and pin in place. Stitch across the opposite end and down both sides through all thicknesses. Finish the edges with a zig-zag stitch. Step 9 Turn the pillowcase right side out and pull over the pillow, stuffing the end under the flap and encasing the end of the pillow.

What Is Inside of a Pillow?

As folks lay their heads down to sleep, they may not ever think about what is inside of the pillow under their heads. Pillow stuffing comes in several varieties, depending on the type of pillow. While none of the materials are out of the ordinary, some may trigger an unpleasant or allergic reaction, so it's a good idea to become aware of what is inside your pillow. Function Most pillows are stuffed with a material that has a specific function--to support whatever is resting on them. That could be a head, neck, shoulders or someone's behind, if they happen to be sitting on the pillow. Other pillows are purely decorative and serve no other purpose than to look good. Types One of the softest pillow stuffing materials is down, or an array of goose or other feathers, which are often used for bed pillows. Foam is another key component in many bed pillows. The foam can be one solid block the size and shape of the pillowcase, or be smaller strips or chunks that are stuffed inside the pillow's cover. Pillow stuffing, usually made of some type of polyester, is another option. Effects Some people do not get a good night's sleep on pillows that are too soft or not supportive enough of a sore neck or other body parts. Down is also known to cause allergies, making people cough, sneeze, itch and be plagued with watery red eyes. But feathers are not the only type of stuffing that could cause a reaction. Some people may also have an allergic reaction to any of the synthetic materials widely used in lower-grade pillows. Lots of dust, dust mites or other debris that can settle in an old pillow may also cause itching, sneezing or coughing as well. Considerations People looking to make their own pillows can easily buy the stuffing needed at many fabric or craft stores. Pillow stuffing is also sold online, either by the piece or by the pound (see Resources below). Do-it-yourself stuffing options range from feathers sold by the pounds to a soft, spun silk polyester. Warning Pillows should usually not just be thrown in the washing machine if they need to be laundered. The high velocity of a spinning washer can rip open the pillow's outer coating. Washing machines have also been known to mangle the foam, resulting in bumps, bulks and pillows that no longer lay flat. This can be especially true for the pillows sold as pet beds. Pillows should be washed gently by hand and allowed to air dry thoroughly to keep them clean.