Hi Lenore and everyone For your bolster pillow, decide where you like to have your hands as you work - if you have to hold them too high, then a large diameter bolster wouldn't be suitable. I would experiment first with a rolled up blanket to find the right diameter. Then you can sew a cotton casing of that dimension and stuff it with whatever.
The sawdust would be heavy, but it packs well. If your bolster is long-ish, and sawdust-filled, I recommend a cradle for it, or it will flop, like a sausage. The straw is ok, but requires forcible packing to get a dense enough pillow. It helps to cut it into one-inch bits first (by 'cutting' I mean putting it through a machine, such as running a mulching lawnmower over some, or feeding it into a garden mulcher. I have done both). And, even though you pack and pack to get the pillow stuffed, there is hardly any used up of a bale, so there will be plenty left for the garden! If you can find someone who has a sheep's fleece available cheaply, remove from it the really grotty stuff, and wash the rest within an old pillowcase, in a washing machine. It will be lumpy, but you should be able to tease the lumps apart and let it all air dry. You could then put the whole thing in the dryer (within the pillow case) unless your fleeces shrinks a lot. Shrinking varies with the type/breed (another subject altogether). Washed fleece will also pack well and a whole fleece will be more than enough. If you were so inclined, you could card it before washing - but carding an unwashed fleece is an icky job. You can also make the bolster of firmly (very firmly) rolled wool blanketing. Put a fabric casing around it that you can cinch shut at the ends (with a ribbon or cord through a hemmed casing). You want the stuffing to be able to support your pins. If your stuffing is too light, you will need to put a weight inside for stability. For my wool (cleaned fleece) filled bolsters, I put in a smooth garden rock! Occasionally a long pin will graze its surface (eek, not a nice sensation). Others have used small juice cans filled with something heavy, for the weight. One of the quirky joys of lacemaking is the making of a new lace pillow :))) and I have a heap of unspun fleece leftover from my spinning days awaiting... Keep us informed of your bolster-making ;) On 7/27/06, Lenore English <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I'm thinking of making a bolster pillow and have lots of questions. I'd welcome some input as to pros and cons of working with a bolster pillow before I commit to this project. What size bolster is good for your lap, rather than a stand or table?
-- Bev in Sooke BC (where the fog is firmly settled into the strait, off Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada) blogging lace at www.looonglace.blogspot.com - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
