Today, more people try to use a bolster-shaped pillow instead of a standard rectangular or square pillow. This is due to the anatomical needs of the body itself. If we turn to historical background, it becomes obvious that in ancient Rome and Egypt, as well as ancient Asia, people slept on similar structures.
Content
What are the benefits of using bolster pillows?
A bolster pillow is not just a whim or a tribute to fashion - it is a physiological need of a person 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 curvature in the thoracic region;
- support the neck in a comfortable state, promoting normal blood supply to the brain and thus preventing headaches, tinnitus, and cognitive impairment.
The bolster pillow will become an accompanying tool for getting rid of many problems with the spine, including osteochondrosis.
How to choose the right design
To make the use of a bolster pillow comfortable, it is necessary to make the right choice. To do this, the following factors should be taken into account.
- Height of the product – when choosing a bolster pillow for 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 - 5-7 cm should be added 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 the bolster pillow may include being made of a material with a memory function or a stuffing material in the form of buckwheat husk or with the addition of essential oils or aromatic herbs. All this contributes to the massage effect and calming during sleep.
Pillow for children
A bolster pillow for children should have a specific structure. It should fit the anatomical dimensions of the child and have two sides on the edges. They prevent the head from slipping and will help maintain the spine at one level.
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 area.
Fillers
Despite the fact that people have used this type of pillow for sleeping for many centuries, it has undergone few changes to date. For the most part, they have not affected the design itself, but only the filling with which the products are stuffed.
Today, modern technologies and natural materials allow you to choose as a filler.
- Buckwheat husk – this option allows for the maximum healing effect. It is recommended for performing micro massage in the neck area. This filler should also be used for those who suffer from bronchial asthma. This is due to the fact that buckwheat husk has an antibacterial and antiallergic effect. In addition, this material has a specific memory effect.
This filler is completely hypoallergenic, so it is perfect for asthmatics. - Polyester is the most budget-friendly option for filling. But it is inconvenient to use when it gets too hot outside. This is because it is not hygroscopic and does not conduct air well. If polyester is used to fill a bolster pillow, then it is necessary to give preference to at least a pillowcase made of natural materials. This will somewhat reduce the “greenhouse” effect. But this material has its advantages - with its help it is easy to give the desired shape to the pillow and adjust it to the anatomy of your own body.
Models with polyester padding are very inexpensive. - Polyurethane foam is currently one of the most popular fillers. It does not accumulate dust and dirt. It does not breed mites, mold spores and fungi. If you lay your body on a pillow made of polyurethane foam filler, it will take the shape of the human body. But when the load is removed, the pillow will return to its previous state. That is, it does not deform during use. Polyurethane foam is also easy to clean if necessary.
There will be no dent left on it after you wake up and lift your head.
How to sew such a product with your own hands
It is not necessary to buy this type of product in a store. Having minimal skills in cutting and sewing, you can sew it yourself.
This handmade bolster pillow will allow you to select the exact parameters for 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 the pillowcase and fabric for the base cover;
- threads of the appropriate color;
- decorative elements in the form of cords, buttons, appliques;
- filler (depending on wishes and needs).
The only important point is that it is not recommended to use down and feathers to fill such products.
It is necessary to remove your own anatomical parameters, in accordance with the recommendations specified above. After that, correctly calculate the parameters of the pillow - approximate calculations are also given in the description above.
When the dimensions of the bolster pillow are obtained, I begin to create a pattern on paper. This is the most important moment, since the correctness of the pattern will determine how comfortable and correctly selected the pillow will be for individual needs.
Then they duplicate it on the fabric for the pillowcase, which can serve as both a decorative cover and exclusively as a pillowcase for sleeping. It is important to consider that if the pillow is used exclusively for sleeping on it, the fabric of the pillowcase should be as natural and light as possible.
When making a pattern, it is necessary 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.
First, the pillowcase (lower pillowcase) is basted, then it is machine stitched along all the seams. Be sure to leave a small area unstitched to put the stuffing on.
When the filler has been compacted to the desired density, the existing hole should be carefully sewn up by hand.
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 upper part.
The inner part is placed into the outer pillowcase – the pillow is ready.
Decorative product options
To make a decorative cushion in the shape of a bolster, you can take several types of fabric.
They can be combined in a variety of ways. The simplest and most commonly used option is a transverse combination of several types of fabric. To do this, at the stage of cutting out the outer cover, you need to fold the types of fabric in the right sequence and stitch them so that they form a solid canvas. The seams must be ironed so that they do not form crumpled parts on the finished product. And then, on such a colored canvas, make a pattern for the outer pillowcase.
To assemble the cylindrical parts of the pillow correctly and easily, you must first sew a round tube. Then take the round end part and pin it to the tube, turned inside out along the entire circle. After that, carefully baste and only then stitch the medium so that the circle does not shift and does not gather the cylindrical part.
The rest of the sequence of actions is performed similarly to the process described above.
Since it is quite easy to sew a bolster pillow at home, you can make several items at once. Some of them are for decorative purposes, and the other part is for sleeping properly.
VIDEO: Master class on sewing a bolster pillow.
50 photos of modern bolster pillows:
