Eco friendly cushion stuffing

[Jenny Bridger]

i'm going to make a bolster cushion as i have been unable to find an inexpensive one - in fact i haven't even seen one yet in a shop!!

i picked up some scraps from a curtain shop that i was planning on making shopping bags from but realised i could make a cushion instead of continuing to search for one!

but i was to used a recycled and eco friendly stuffing for it - now i don't lind buying from a charity shop if needs be as that is still reusing and recycling but i thought i'd see what i could find home here first.

i thought about shredded newspaper/paper/magazines - but do you think it would last? i don't want it rotting down eventually inside my cushion!! the cushion is going to be to display my brooches and keyrings in a small handmade craft shop - and when i say small i mean small!!

any ideas?

[Le Bar du Vent]

I would use newspaper.
Since whan I was little, we've always used that to fill up Moroccan poufs. It makes for fairly dense but at least not collapsible filling. Fairly sound too. I guess shredded and then balled up would be better for your purpose. I'm curious about how it comes about. Keep us posted!

[Jenny Bridger]

well i cut the material today, out of one of the curtain scraps, not only have i got a cushion but also a small grocery bag! if i'd thought about it i would have separated the lining from the thicker material before i started! but i think even if i separate them now i should get 2 cushions and 2 bags! don't think i will get another set of handles for the bag though.

i'm keeping an eye on freecycle for anything suitable.

[Saras Texture Crafts]

Depends how long (timewise) you are looking to display the cushion... if it's only in a shop window, or display I don't see there would be any problem with using newspaper... you are not using it as a traditional cushion.

This is more of an aside really, but I found a site that might help you with your Recycling ideas/business products http://www.londonremade.com, oh and http://www.freecycle.org

I found them when I was reasearching an article I am writing for DIY magazine... not sure if it's helpful or not?

[Jenny Bridger]

thanks for the links sara - i'm a confessed freecycle addict - i have the daily digest email for 2 of my local groups - although for the decent stuff you have to go straight to the website or get the emails for every post - but that would really clutter my inbox.

the londonremade link seens more corporate based and i think i'm too far out of london for any of it too.


but thanks anyway

[Saras Texture Crafts]

No problem... make sure you blog about your cushion... would love to show you off on our front page here. Sara x