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The history of the birth of pillows
In the modern world, pillows have become an integral attribute of sleep. But was it always like this? In the old days, pillows were more of a luxury item than an everyday item. Soft pillows were first found among the Greeks and Romans. They were stuffed with down, dried herbs or wool. They were often richly decorated, as they belonged to representatives of the upper classes.
In Japan, Egypt, and China, they used headboards made of hard materials, most often wood, and such attributes were more ritual than comfortable. Pillows filled with medicinal herbs, intended for treatment and good sleep, were used in Eastern medicine. Decorative pillows were filled with petals of flowers and fragrant plants.
It is believed that sofa cushions appeared in Greece and the East. Since the 19th century, cushions have become a part of life, and now it is difficult to imagine the interior of any home without them. Among the huge variety of types of these sleeping and decorative items, hug cushions occupy a special place, bringing us joy and spiritual comfort.
Types of pillows we use
- Sleeping pillows for everyday sleep.
- Decorative pillows and cushions for home decoration, usually with embroidery, applique or print, matched to the color of the furniture.
- Aromatic sachets.
- Pillows for cars and picnics.
- Gift pillows.
- Orthopedic cushions for comfortable body positioning.
- Pillow toys.
- Hugging pillows for adults and children.
What is a hug pillow and what is it for?
Children, and many adults, sometimes want tactile interaction, cozy hugs, especially before bed and during sleep. If there is no opportunity to immediately cuddle up to a warm and beloved creature, hug pillows will serve this purpose perfectly.
Typically, these pillows are made of soft materials and are large enough to wrap your arms and legs around. Children's pillows are most often shaped like animals or favorite cartoon characters. They can also be rectangular or any geometric shape, with a printed design.
Contact with a soft object brings emotional comfort to the body. And the sight of a favorite fairy tale or cartoon character lifts the mood. Such pillows not only help children fall asleep peacefully and bring emotional relief. They retain heat all night, promoting the most comfortable positioning of the body.
The first hug pillows were made in Japan. The very first models had an imitation of a hand that could be wrapped around oneself to create the effect of a hug. Then the range of types of "hugs" increased and shapes of products appeared that allowed for different tastes and preferences of both children and adults.
What types of hug pillows are there?
Not only children, but people of all ages around the world have appreciated the comfort and convenience of hug pillows. Here are some categories of people who use hug pillows.
- Teenagers who love everything original use pillows with interesting designs, prints of anime characters, not only for sleeping, but also as interior elements.
- Pregnant women use special pillows designed to comfortably position all parts of the body.
- Romantic girls use the Boyfriend Pillow.
- Men use hizakamura pillows, which are made in the shape of women's knees. They create maternal comfort and peace of mind.
- People who want to give their loved ones a memorable and unusual gift buy hugs of an original shape or products with unusual prints that reflect their attitude towards the recipient of the gift.
- Children who find it difficult to sleep separately from their parents. They need frequent tactile contact.
- Car or trailer owners buy such products for travel convenience. The pillows can contain a rolled-up blanket or plaid, which makes the product a universal bedding set.
- Owners of creative interiors collect pillows of unusual shapes to create a unique style and chic.
- Anime lovers buy “dakimakura” – rectangular items made of holofiber with images of characters from cult works printed on a full-length pillow.
- Orthopedic pillows in the shape of the number seven or other shapes are popular for all family members.
DIY Hugging Pillows
A self-sewn hug pillow will be a wonderful gift for yourself and your friends. A self-made product carries originality and warmth, even if it is sewn according to a standard pattern. You can add appliques, decorative elements in the form of buttons and beads, as well as inscriptions and drawings.
For sewing, it is advisable to choose a stretchy fabric. This can be knitwear or any sufficiently elastic fabric so that the product can be twisted, folded and change its shape. In this case, it will take the shape of the body and will be quite comfortable. It is convenient to use synthetic padding or foam rubber as a filler. You can add a little dried mint or flower petals to the filler for a pleasant smell.
How to quickly sew a hug pillow
Approximate order of making a hug pillow.
- Come up with or look online for the shape of the future pillow.
- Draw a pattern on paper.
- Using each pattern, cut out the fabric, folding it in half to create a pair of pieces.
- Sew pairs of pieces together on the wrong side of the fabric, leaving one side unsewn.
- Turn it out through the opening left.
- Fill the body of the pillow and sew up the hole.
The pillow for a child, loved one or friend is ready, all that remains is to give it. Undoubtedly, it will become one of the most memorable and favorite gifts, which will always remind of your love. According to the same principle, you can sew any character or, in general, create an unusual original form, for example, in the cyberpunk style. It is possible to make a pillow from only two parts, if you include all the elements in one pattern, everything depends on preferences and creative imagination.
Japanese anime pillows as an element of subculture
Popular among teenagers and young adults, anime hug pillows have become not only bedding items, but also a modern subculture fetish. Many people spend a lot of money to buy an image of their favorite anime, movie, hentai or manga character.
In Japan, it is not uncommon to see a young man or woman walking down the street with their favorite characters painted on pillows. And the wedding ceremony of a 28-year-old Japanese man with a dakimakura (hugging pillow) was covered in the news all over the world. The popularity of such pillows has led to the production of their varieties. In many countries, removable pillowcases with one-sided or two-sided designs are also sold for those who want to update their pillows.
While anime products are mostly popular with fans of this genre, hug pillows of various shapes are gaining great popularity all over the world. They are used by pregnant women, people who need an orthopedic effect and simply those who value maximum comfort and good rest.