Today, more people are trying to use a bolster-shaped pillow instead of standard rectangular or square pillows. This is due to the anatomical needs of the body itself. If we turn to a historical excursion, it becomes obvious that in ancient Rome and Egypt, as well as ancient Asia, people slept on similar structures.
Such an item not only decorates the room, but also allows you to make your sleep better and more correct.
What are the advantages of using bolster pillows?
A bolster pillow is not just a fad or a tribute to fashion - it is a physiological human need caused by the specific structure of the spinal column. If you lie down on such a pillow, placing it under the cervical deflection of the spine, you can subsequently avoid many problems with the musculoskeletal system.
Effects of using a bolster pillow:
- eliminate anatomically incorrect deflection in the thoracic region;
- maintain the neck in a comfortable state, promoting normal blood supply to the brain and thus preventing headaches, tinnitus, and cognitive impairment.
It's no secret that a regular pillow can cause pain in the neck and spine, so a bolster pillow is an excellent solution for healthy sleep.
The pillow-cushion will become a companion remedy for getting rid of many problems with the spine, including osteochondrosis.
Recommendations for selection
It is advisable to select the most suitable roller based on the recommendations of doctors .
If you have an allergy, you should carefully look at the composition of the filler and cover. What matters is the rigidity of the product, the quality of the seams, and the height of the roller. If a store offers you to lie down on a bed with the bolster you choose, don’t refuse. Those options that you don't feel are ideal. The feeling of inconvenience and discomfort is considered unacceptable.
Video: “Japanese spinal correction technique”
How to choose the right design
To make using a bolster pillow comfortable, you need to make the right choice. To do this, the following factors should be taken into account.
They allow you to take the load off your spine while you are lying down. In this case, not only you and your body rest, but also your spine.
- Height of the product – when choosing a bolster pillow to suit your individual parameters, you need to measure the distance from the shoulder to the base of the neck. The height of the pillow should not exceed this parameter, otherwise it will cause a feeling of discomfort.
- Product width – you need to add 5-7 cm to the shoulder width. But sometimes in orthopedic products it is allowed to add a smaller value in order to properly support the cervical spine.
- Additional functions of a bolster pillow can be made from a material that has a memory function or filling material in the form of buckwheat husks or with the addition of essential oils or aromatic herbs. All this contributes to the massage effect and calmness during sleep.
Such a pillow can even make it easier to fall asleep, because the body relaxes as much as possible.
Contraindications
Since the Fukutsuji technique affects not only appearance, but also health, one cannot fail to take into account contraindications, which include:
- History of spinal injuries of any age.
- Any internal or external bleeding.
- Spinal diseases: spinal column hernia, disc protrusion, scoliosis, sciatica, osteochondrosis, osteoporosis, myositis, radiculitis, spondylosis, tumors, ankylosing spondylitis.
- Joint diseases: coxarthrosis, periarthritis, bursitis, tendinitis.
- Osteopathy, chondropathy.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys.
- Fever, any acute respiratory infection.
- Hypertension.
- Restless legs or arms syndrome (tingling, itching, crawling in the extremities).
Some diseases in some cases can turn from contraindications into indications, so the best solution would be to visit a neurologist or orthopedist.
Pillow for children
A bolster pillow for children must have a specific structure. It must fit the anatomical dimensions of the child and have two sides at the edges. They prevent the head from slipping and will help maintain the spine at the same level.
It is also important for a child to choose the right roller. It is better if it is a product with two sides at the edges.
It is especially important to use it for children suffering from poor posture, headaches, poor sleep and cognitive impairment caused by improperly formed blood circulation in the neck and head.
Cutting order
Sewing a pillow can be done with only basic cutting and sewing skills. You can understand how to sew a bolster pillow by reading the step-by-step master class. If you have ready-made cushion bases in the house, then all that remains is to take the dimensions from them and build a very simple pillowcase pattern.
Depending on the type of fastener - buttons, flap, zipper, add the required amount of cm to the length. Round end parts - sides, can be traced around the circumference of the cylinder or built according to the instructions: divide the circumference of the cylinder in half and add 1 cm for a loose fit. Place the resulting number—the radius—on a compass and draw a circle. The appearance of the product will depend on the accuracy of this part and the accuracy of its connection to the main fabric.
Pillowcase sizes
How to sew such a product with your own hands
It is not at all necessary to buy this type of product in a store. Having minimal cutting and sewing skills, you can sew it yourself.
Depending on the style of the room, such sofa decor can be made in the color of the upholstered furniture.
This hand-made bolster pillow will allow you to choose exactly the parameters to suit your own needs, as well as decorate it taking into account the interior of the room.
Before starting work, you should prepare the necessary materials and tools:
- fabric for pillowcase and fabric for base cover;
- threads of the corresponding color;
- decorative elements in the form of cords, buttons, appliqués;
- filler (depending on desires and needs).
Before you sew a bolster pillow with your own hands, you need to make a pattern.
The only important point is that it is not recommended to use down and feathers for stuffing such products.
It is necessary to take your own anatomical measurements, in accordance with the recommendations indicated above. After this, correctly calculate the parameters of the pillow - approximate calculations are also given in the description above.
If you want, you can add various trims along the seam line at the ends of the cover: cord, ruffles, or something else.
Once the dimensions of the bolster pillow are obtained, I begin to create a pattern on paper. This moment is the most crucial, since the correctness of the pattern will determine how comfortable and correctly the pillow will be selected for individual needs.
Having made the pattern on paper, it is transferred to the fabric for the base (napernik).
Then they are duplicated on fabric for a pillowcase, which can serve as both a decorative cover and exclusively a pillowcase for sleeping. It is important to consider that if the pillow is used solely for sleeping on, the fabric of the pillowcase should be as natural and light as possible.
When making a pattern, you need to take into account seam allowances. They should be at least 0.5-1 cm.
This stage should end with cutting out the fabric pattern.
Fold and sweep the napkin.
First, the napkin (bottom pillowcase) is basted, then it is machine sewn along all the seams. Be sure to leave a small area unstitched in order to place the stuffing.
Do your work smoothly and accurately.
First, pin the edges together.
Baste the sides.
Sew the seams using a machine.
Prepare the filling.
Insert the filling into the napkin.
When the filler is compacted to the desired density, you should carefully sew up the existing hole by hand.
Sew up the remaining hole.
The cover is sewn. For ease of use, it can be made with a zipper. This will make it easier to remove and clean the top.
Pattern for a pillow cover.
Sew a pillow cover.
This is what the finished product will look like.
The inner part is placed in the outer pillowcase - the pillow is ready.
Materials
Over the long period of time the bolster pillow has served people, the tailoring of the uniform has remained virtually unchanged. But the list of fillers has expanded.
Today, modern technologies and natural materials allow you to choose a filler:
- Buckwheat husk - it is believed that it gives the best healing effect. During rest, the neck receives a micro-massage. For people with bronchial asthma, husk is recognized as the best option for its antibacterial and antiallergic properties.
- Polyester is an economical filler option. It is not hygroscopic and does not conduct air well, so it is inconvenient to use in hot weather. To reduce the “greenhouse effect” during use, the roller should have a pillowcase made of natural fabric. The advantage of polyester is its ability to take the desired shape, so all that remains is to fold the roller correctly.
- Polyurethane foam is perhaps the most popular filler today. It does not absorb dust and dirt. It does not harbor mites, mold and mildew. While sleeping on the polyurethane foam filler, it will easily take the shape of the human body. But without pressure, it will return to its previous state. If the need arises, polyurethane foam is easy to clean.
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Important! It is not recommended to use down and feathers as filler.
The fabric is used twice in this product - for the pillowcase and for the filler cover (nappernik). If the pillow is intended only for sleeping, choose a natural and light fabric. To make this item decorative, the materials can be different, corresponding to the general color of the place. If desired, additional elements are used on the pillowcase - buttons, ribbons, cords.
Options for decorative items
To make a decorative cushion in the shape of a cushion, you can take several types of fabric.
They can be combined in a variety of ways. The simplest and most frequently used option is a cross combination of several types of fabric. To do this, at the stage of patterning the outer cover, it is necessary to fold the types of fabric in the required sequence and stitch them so that they form a continuous fabric. The seams must be ironed so that they do not form crumpled parts on the finished product. And after that, on such a colored canvas, make a pattern for the outer pillowcase.
You can use sewn edgings or use them along the end parts of the tie.
To correctly and easily assemble the cylindrical parts of the pillow, you must first sew a round tube. Then take the round end piece and pin it to the pipe, turned inside out all the way around. After this, carefully baste and only then stitch the middle so that the circle does not move and does not gather the cylindrical part.
The rest of the sequence of actions is carried out similarly to the process described above.
Since sewing a bolster pillow at home is quite simple, you can make several products at once. Some of them are for decorative purposes, and the other part is for sleeping properly.
Story
Today, more and more often you can see not standard rectangular pillows, but cushions in the shape of a cushion. This is not just caused by fashion trends or the desire to take care of health - this pillow design is more compatible with the anatomy of the human body. Even in ancient Egypt and ancient Rome, in ancient Asia, people used such models. On frescoes and mosaics you can see this household item of ancient civilizations.
Cushion cushion
Decor features
Of course, you want to make such a thing, which is constantly in sight, noticeable and beautiful, so that it does not merge with the surrounding interior, but blends harmoniously into the overall picture. In this case, to decorate the pillow, it is best to use patterned embroidery with threads made from natural materials. But using jewelry and hanging this kind of decoration on it may in the future cause unpleasant pain, since all this will interfere with the comfort of the pillow.
The pillow is elastic, takes the desired shape, supports your head and helps you completely relax.
To sum up all of the above, it is worth saying once again that a bone pillow is very simple to make, but it provides such comfort and convenience that right now you want to take all the necessary accessories and create such a miracle for yourself! Don’t be afraid of imaginary difficulties when making a pillow; rather, think about the convenience that awaits you with its purchase.
Case
When it comes to making a cover, there is no particular difference between this work and making a filling/pillowcase. Just follow the pattern. If the pillow is round, the difficulty increases somewhat. As noted above, you can further decorate the case at your discretion.
If we talk about if you decide to buy a ready-made product, then it should be noted that today there are a huge number of options for orthopedic pillows, and not only cushions. There are even pregnancy pillows and anti-bedsore products. As for the size for the classic cut of a bolster pillow, it is 20x50 cm. Of course, there are others. In any case, the choice is yours.
More examples of photos with elongated long cylindrical pillows (click to enlarge):
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