Quite a few years ago, I purchased (for way too many $$$$'s) a travel pillow. You know the big fluffed up 'C' type of pillow. I found it unuseable. I really disliked it. It just seemed to push my chin down onto my chest -- it was not a good pillow -- at least for me.
So I invented one for myself - but I have seen very similar versions since then, so there is not just one person who thinks those expensive 'C' shape travel pillows are not so good...
I actually use my 'travel' pillow every single night! I don't use a regular pillow at all. I lay flat on my back and I like my head to rest at the same level as the rest of me... One problem, which seemed to develop as I got older, my neck was often sore after a night like that.
I had to think of something to support my neck. After some experimenting with rolled up towels and scrunched up regular pillows, I thought I just need a small roll behind my neck. But that didn't work very well even tho it supported my neck, it tended to 'slip away' during sleep, or if I moved my head...
And now, because I have been making this pillow for myself now for well over 5 years, probably closer to 10, I cannot remember how I came to think that a "dog bone" shape would work...
And it does! So here follows my version of a very useful little pillow for every night, or for travel, or even to keep on the back of a recliner type chair to let you lean back and have an afternoon nap without waking up with a stiff neck!
I made myself a pattern. The sewing is very basic so I am not going into major details of how to sew this together but there are alot of photos so you can see the step by step...
Every Night and Every Day Neck Pillow
supplies: a piece of polar fleece or other 'comfy fabric' enough to be able to cut out 2 rectangles that are about 18" x 14"
thread, pillow stuffing, or left over bits of quilt batting, sewing machine, or even just a hand sewing needle and thread.
The pattern you make yourself - a large piece of paper, use a newspaper page if you need to and mark the lines with a crayola marker that doesn't bleed thro, or put layers of paper underneath so you don't leave marks on your table.
Step 1. Make the pattern. refer to the photo below. 1st mark a rectangle that measures 16" long x 12" wide
Step 2: mark a seam allowance of 1/2 inch all around your rectangle. (my pattern doesn't show the end seam allowance on this one so you just have to take my word)
Step 3: I fold the paper in half long ways and short ways, so you can use the crease to measure from. Use your ruler and draw a line 2 inches from each side of the folds, so that now it looks like a 'dog bone'. Check the shape you have made so that it looks like my drawn pattern.
Step 4: On the part of the pattern that forms the " |_| " draw your seam allowance so that the log or centre 'bone' part stays at 4 inches wide and 8 inches long.
Your lines don't have to be perfect, I find that this size works very well for me. If you are a bigger person you might want to make the length a bit longer, you might make the centre "bone" so that it finishes at 9 inches, but my suggestion is to start out with the standard then experiment on later tries.
Now the rest is super easy...
Step 5: Pin your pattern to your fabric. I like polar fleece because it is easy to sew and is soft and not scratchy at all...
Step 6: Cut your fabric in the pattern shape. Unpin from your pattern and make sure that the right sides of the fabric are facing each other.
Step 7: Now, I like to make a marking dot at each corner so I know when to turn the corner and still keep the 1/2 inch seam allowance.
Step 8: Start at the centre of one end of the 'dog bone' use one or two back stitches and sew all the way around making sure to maintain a 1/2 inch seam allowance. End so that you leave about a 4 or 5 inch opening
Step 9: Snip the outside corners so they don't bulk up, and snip the inside corners so that they turn smoothly, don't snip into your stitched line!
Step 10: Turn right side out
Step 11: Find your prefered stuffing or batting
Step 12: A bit at a time, and being patient, push stuffing into the furthest corners of the pillow, but don't make it really firm, just squishy...
Step 13: Last bit, hand sew the opening closed.
Step 14: Lay down and test it out....
Hope you find this to be a useful accessory.
Oh, one other thing this little pillow is great for...
laying on the ground (with or without a blanket beneath you)
and watching the clouds float by on a warm summer afternoon!
PS, this little pillow doesn't need a pillow cover and I rarely wash it, it is so simple to make that I just do a new one as needed -- about every 3 or 4 months...
PS, this little pillow doesn't need a pillow cover and I rarely wash it, it is so simple to make that I just do a new one as needed -- about every 3 or 4 months...
