What is Inside a Seat Cushion

adding Dacron without glue

2009-08-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

Oh so tedious, to be sure. Why ? Dacron 91 was not large enough and I owed customer an ideal over the top I am so sorry solution. This was it ! She wanted ZERO glue smell, and I had removed her blend down without permission. This fully restores original appearance.

Glue-less Dacron Added.

2009-08-16T08:23:00.000-07:00

Oversized muslin, 1.5"margin left all around, even beyond the current seam allowed.

2009-08-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

Trimming my dacron with my pattern and sheers.

2009-08-16T08:21:00.000-07:00

Layering my ingredients, the joke is on me, see next photo description for my faux pas.

2009-08-16T08:19:00.000-07:00

The first one....but you already know ( laugh with me ) , after I did it this way, stuff then serge, I immediately realized serge then stuff was easier ! This is now getting quilted, next view.

2009-08-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

Using long running stitches, a doll needle, and maybe 11 yards mononbond thread ( red for easy observation ) I am quilting loosely enough not to pucker, but quilting to keep dacron from slipping and crowding together with use.

2009-08-16T08:15:00.000-07:00

Finished quilting top, side nearest viewer ready to be overlocked closed, see pins.

2009-08-16T08:13:00.000-07:00

Now that cushion tops are complete, reminder of where they need to go...inside these existing muslin covers. Sewn inside for permanence. I could have used many, many tags instead or staples, yes, I decided sewing was nicer.

2009-08-16T08:12:00.000-07:00

Matching the new cushion top to the existing casing, lining up the features. Ready to sew, using the seam allowances, layer them.

2009-08-16T08:10:00.000-07:00

See how puffy, this is ready to be put back over the foam. Ear first, you'll see why. Like a foot in your panty hose, makes life easier.

2009-08-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

Sewing the cushion tops inside the existing muslin covers, using the same seam allowance. Yes, the cushion tops were a tad larger, I shirred them in where neccessary.

2009-08-16T08:07:00.000-07:00

Muslin sleeve now in final postion, easiest to put over th ear first, then using your body, pull the cover with foam resting against your chest.

2009-08-16T08:06:00.000-07:00

Crest now restored and complete, with materials that will not shift.

Blend Down Series, open and revealed contents

2009-07-24T06:33:00.002-07:00

This is comparision contrast, this first a photo of my own sofa cushion, I made the down jacket myself. It's 4" foam and then 6 pounds of 25/75 down and feather in a non-divided casing.

Correct, half the feather is on top, half on the bottom, but the feather is not otherwise divided. I could get away with this on a square cushion. A long cushion needs divisions or baffles to keep the fill even.

The open ended plastic cover on the foam you see is how I got my down jacket over my foam.

2009-07-24T06:33:00.001-07:00

That same cushion ( long used and well loved ) , down jacket off, to allow you to quantify the feather used for that effect.

Back to the original subject matter

2009-07-24T06:33:00.000-07:00

Now that you have seen the quantity and the arrangement of my added 25 % down and 75 % feather, this cushion.... the differences are more obvious. Lots of folks bought blend down, they are not at fault for a poor purchase, the idea sounds pretty good.

Maybe some blend down cushions are made better ? Let's open them up and add them here ? slipcoverlady@juno.com, let's get more samples up here to show.

For this one, a Dacron sheet and a paper sheeting is next to the foam. Then feather is added atop that layer. Then down proof muslin encases all.

The quality, quantity and arrangement of the feather used is different, but there are two other important differences to note.

Thin soft foam is glued to a core of high grade foam, this is good. But the dacron in the center with the feather grabs the feather and matts that feather. The dacron sheet kills the feathers loft.

2009-07-24T06:32:00.003-07:00

The proof is that the feather comes out as a sheet, a very thin sheet.

2009-07-24T06:32:00.002-07:00

Restoring blend down cushions means making them cosmetically acceptable. If this could be seen by the customer in the future, it needs to be addressed.

2009-07-24T06:32:00.001-07:00

Once Vacuumed, I can steam the foam as I normally would to restore the pinched points.

2009-07-24T06:32:00.000-07:00

An example of what can be improved with steam. BTW this ear was cut plenty large, the original designer packed the ear with plenty of foam.

2009-07-24T06:31:00.002-07:00

The steam is not fixing everything, as is usual. I suspect there's some excess glue here at play, from the original making of the cushion.

2009-07-24T06:31:00.001-07:00

Steam improved the loft of the center of foam as well as restoring the square edge.

2009-07-24T06:31:00.000-07:00

Foam did come back well, and square.

2009-07-24T06:30:00.000-07:00

Traced now onto down proof for new simple covers. Down proof ? Yes, it's high quality, though no down will be added. It's now a 7" cushion, plenty of cushion even without the blend down cover.

So why did I remove it in the first place ? I could not trace the true and symetrical cushion shape, the feather dacron mass had shredded and travelled crookedly around the cushion.

Coming soon ! Instructions on re-design of 4 cushions shown.

2009-07-23T08:44:00.000-07:00

Accordian cushion instructions to accompany this job.

2009-07-23T08:39:00.000-07:00

Coming soon ! Redesign of these cushions, all new materials.

Instruction will show use of drain dry foam, aqua batt dacron and resizing of cushions.

Seat must be made taller for user ( see those knees in the air ) and back cushion, consequently made shorter.

New fill, new upholstery fabric, slipcovers too.