Feather pillows are all nice and cozy but can be quite expensive to have. If you want to achieve a good, soft pillow that's perfect for your bed, you can do so by following our 10 easy steps on how to fill a feather pillow. Scroll down to see more details!
Feather pillows are soft and luxurious that uplift the mood in your bedroom. These pillows are popular for their plush feel, extra comfort, and fresh smell. Feather and down pillows are nicer than the synthetic ones, but are pricey. They are definitely snuggly, but if some of the feathers fall out, they can be annoying and a little sharp to pick up.
10 Easy Steps on How to Fill a Feather Pillow
If you like DIY projects, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a good pillow. You can use the following tips on how to fill a feather pillow in any size you prefer. Make sure you always adjust or customize your feather pillow for maximum comfort.
Here are 10 simple actionable steps you can use to make your feather pillow in the comfort of your home.
- You need a sizable fabric depending on how many pillows you want to make. Draw two rectangles on your fabric to match a finished pillow and extend 1 inch horizontally and vertically for sewing. Note that, you can choose the type of pillow you’d like to make. If you wish for a circular, rectangular, or square pillow, it’s entirely your choice. For a standard pillow, you can measure 20 by 26 inches or 20 by 36 inches for a king-size pillow. This means, your drawing should measure 21 by 27 or 37 inches.
- Cut the two rectangular pieces of fabric and place one on top of the other with all four edges aligned. Then pin the edges together to avoid them moving.
- You can stitch it with your hands but it won’t be firm. Instead, thread your sewing machine, attach the appropriate needle for your fabric.
- Sew the four edges together and leave at least ½-inch fabric allowance. Make sure you cover all the sides and leave about inches when you almost meet the end.
- Go over the edges the second time, leaving at least 1/8 inches from the first seam and raw edges. The double seams will help prevent your feathers from falling through your pillow. That way your pillow will be comfortable and durable.
- Trim your seam carefully. Avoid cutting too close to the stitches at the corners. After you’re done, turn your pillowcase inside out through the 6-inch gap you left. Make sure all the corners are tucked out well.
- Once you’re done with your liner, start stuffing it with feathers (you can buy them on Amazon) through the gap you left open. Fill the pillow to your desire, you can even test it out to feel the comfort levels as you go. Don’t get carried away with the stuffing and have to remove them later.
- Lift and shake the liner as you continue stuffing. After you’re done, pin the gap. Make sure you brush off the extra feathers.
- Take the pillow liner by the pinned gap and shake the feathers to run down to the bottom. Sew the liner around the gap tightly and go back twice with 1/8 inches distance to ensure the feathers don’t escape.
- Trim all loose threads, brush the remaining feathers and fluff the pillow to distribute the feathers. You’re all done. It’s recommended to use your pillow with a case to increase its lifespan.
How to wash your feather pillows
Luxury feather pillows are delicate and require extra care. Most people are a bit skeptical about washing a feather pillow, but it’s perfectly fine. That way you can restore their fluffiness and get rid of all the sweat, dust, and stains it might have gathered. You can choose to hand wash them or put them into a washing machine. Here’s how to wash your pillow the right way:
- First, remove the pillow covers or cases before washing the pillow.
- Immediately inspect your pillow for any obvious tears or rips that might allow the feathers to fall out during the washing cycle. If you see any, use a thread and needle to close the gap.
- Be sure to wash two feather pillows at a time to balance out the washer tub and enable it to perform better. Load the pillows vertically to prevent the agitator (in vertical washing machines) from disturbing your pillows. Any washing machine works fine.
- When adding your detergent, make sure it’s gentle enough to protect your feathers and doesn’t leave any soap residue. The soap residue will cause your feathers to clump together and destroy the pillow's shape. Also, use only a small amount of detergent. Set your machine to a delicate cycle to protect your feathers.
- Avoid using hot water when washing your feather pillows. Yes, it might kill the dust mites and germs but your feathers won’t be spared either. Use cool or warm water to ensure your pillows last longer.
- After you’re done, rinse thoroughly and repeat with the spin cycle to get all the detergent out. This repeated process also gets rid of extra moisture with soapy residue in your feathers.
- Squeeze out all the excess water from the down pillows using two dry pillows and press them down. This process will push out the excess water from your pillows. Be careful not to wring or twist the pillows or you risk damaging the feathers.
- Place your pillows into a dryer and use the delicate cycle on no heat to blow out the excess moisture. Avoid using heat while drying or you may damage your feathers. Keep checking on the pillows and fluff them between cycles to break down lumps. That way, more air will flow freely allowing your feathers to dry faster.
- You can also throw in dryer balls when washing and drying the pillows to keep them fluffy.
- If you don’t have a dryer or prefer to air dry, make sure you place your pillow under direct sunlight and turn it after every few hours to dry on both sides.
Conclusion
Feather pillows is one of the best pillow fillings that offer you great support and luxurious comfort. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get the perfect pillow that fits your taste. With just a few easy steps, you can make a cozy feather pillow in the comfort of your home.
All you need to prepare is fabric, a tape measure, a pair of scissors, chalk, a thread, a needle, and a sewing machine. Cut and sew the fabric to your desired shape and size. Stitch the edges tightly to avoid the feather fillings falling out. If you feel that your pillow is out of shape, needs more fillings, or is flat, you can open up a small space and add in some more feathers.
Take note of our 10 easy steps on how to fill a feather pillow as this will surely come in handy anytime you want to achieve the perfect, cozy pillow without breaking the bank.