Kitty? Machine? Or maybe a whole baby elephant? Nowadays there are pillow toys for every taste. They are colorful, soft, beautiful, and will definitely become a favorite toy for children. Toy pillows are essential items for any children's room, giving it its own unique style and serving as decoration.
The history of the pillow itself goes back centuries. Then they were small rectangular stands for the head, which helped noble nobles, pharaohs and rich people keep their hairstyles intact during sleep. In different countries, such stands were made from different materials: stone, porcelain, metals, wood and even precious stones. The use of such pillows was not a way to achieve a certain comfort, but rather a necessity.
The first to make soft pillows were the ancient Greeks. They filled them with bird feathers, hay and pet hair. Centuries later, pillows began to be used during horseback riding, placed in carriages, and even under the feet during prayer. And most importantly, they became accessible to all segments of society and differed only in the quality of the elements used. The most expensive pillows were decorated with unique patterns, precious stones and gold embroidery. They could easily be called objects of art and real masterpieces.
As a rule, such pillows are designed in the form of animals, cars and boats, or simply in the form of geometric shapes. For their production, only the most modern, high-quality and environmentally friendly materials are used. Therefore, they are absolutely safe for children of any age. With such pillows you can play in bed and on the floor, sit or sleep on them. Children love to have pillow fights, jump and frolic in them, and build barricades and entire fortresses out of them. Such pillows replace ordinary soft toys for children, help develop fantasy and imagination, and instill taste and a sense of style. Soft friends are great for role-playing games. The child can come up with different stories and act out scenes with pillows.
Also these days, special attention is paid to comfort and health, which is why orthopedic pillows have appeared for children and adults. They help support the head and neck during sleep and maintain proper body shape so that the spine can take a break from stress. That is why orthopedic pillow toys began to appear on sale, helping not only to avoid health problems for children, but also to take a place in their children's rooms as their favorite toys.
By playing role-playing games with pillows, the baby’s personality develops, the development of his cognitive processes is activated, and the foundations are laid for mastering new, more complex activities. While playing, kids reflect in the roles they try on themselves everything they see around them: events, adult behavior patterns, etc. Participation in role-playing games allows you to feel like part of a team.
In the 21st century, the range of pillow toys on the shelves of children's stores has become so wide that you can now choose a pillow for a child based on his preferences and interests, the required shapes and sizes, with different fillings and coverings. Or even have it made to order. Nowadays, stores amaze with the variety of soft toys. It is impossible to count all the manufacturers involved in the production of pillow toys. Such companies include Craftholic, SmallToys, Plush Land, 1TOY, ABtoys and Plan Toys.
Matveeva Anastasia
The creative project "Pillow-toy" provides an opportunity to show ways of using waste fabric to create interior elements.
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Municipal educational institution "Basic school No. 12"
Creative project on technology
9th grade student
Head: Naumova M.V.,
technology teacher
Tara, 2010
1. Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..2
1.1. Project goal………………………………………………………………………………………......3
1.2. Project objectives…………………………………………………………………………………..3
1.3. Justification for choosing the project topic……………………………………………………….4
1.4. Brief definition of the design problem…………………………………………….5
1.5.Tools and accessories for work……………………………………………………….6
1.6. Selection of fabric, filler and equipment ......................................7
2. Main part
2.1 The history of the appearance of the sofa cushion. ……………………………………………. 8
2.2. Rules for safe work………………………...................................10
2.4. Sequence of work……………………………………………………….14
3. Final stage
3.1. Environmental justification…………………………………………………………......15
3.2. Calculation of product cost………………………………………………………......15
3.3. Aesthetic assessment of the chosen option……………………………………16
3.4. Evaluation of the finished product…………………………………………………………………………………16
4. Conclusion
4.1.Sources of information……………………………………………………………………..17
Application
Organization of independent creative work on making a sofa pillow-toy.
- Get acquainted with the history of sofa cushions;
- Compare pillows made in different styles;
- Make a toy pillow with your own hands;
- Cultivate aesthetic taste.
The apartment in which we live, work and relax should be comfortable, cozy and of course beautiful. To achieve this there is no need to spend a lot of money. Aren't we familiar with apartments furnished with expensive fittings, which, nevertheless, give the impression of being boring and formulaic? At the same time, a small, modestly furnished room often reveals the good taste of the housewife. But for this you need to do a lot with your own hands.
A reliable “shelter” after a hard day is a sofa or armchair. And here you simply need a comfortable and beautiful sofa cushion.
Few people will deny themselves the pleasure of lounging on the sofa, surrounded on all sides by pillows. Sofa cushions are those pleasant little things that give an apartment a lived-in look, emphasize its individuality and are always ready to carefully offer themselves to a tired owner or guest. And a sofa cushion made in the form of a children's toy will certainly appeal to those children who come to visit you.
A pillow is man's best friend. Especially after work! There are a lot of beautiful ones on the store shelves. How to make not just a pillow, but a toy pillow yourself?
Making a sofa toy pillow is the best way to get rid of the remnants of scraps, braid, buttons, beads and fur, which I have enough for this job. And also express yourself through creativity. After all, any novice craftswoman can cut and decorate a pillow. A handmade toy pillow will decorate any faceless or boring interior.
- The sofa toy pillow should be coordinated in color and material with the upholstery, bedspread or cover on the sofa.
- It should serve as a color accent, a spot that makes the interior of the room unique and interesting.
- From the variety of options, I need to choose exactly the one that suits the interior of my room.
Selection of fabric, tools, fixtures, equipment
Tools and accessories
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Compass
- Ruler
- Tailor's chalk
- Tailor's pins
- Tape measure
- Nonwoven
- Iron
- Stuffing materials
- Sewing machine
Materials for templates:
- Graph paper
- Cardboard
- Tracing paper
- Choice of fabric.
By researching various materials used in the manufacture of pillows, I found the optimal solution between the cost of the material and the availability of its processing. To make a pillow using the patchwork technique, you can use leftover fabric that you always have at home, and the easiest to process is cotton fabric.
2. Selection of filler.
- Foam rubber.
Since my sofa toy pillow will have a flat shape, the best filler will be foam rubber. It does not wrinkle and retains its shape well.
3. Selection of equipment, tools and devices.
- Sewing machine.
- Ironing board, iron.
- Hand needle, pins, scissors, thimble.
- Cotton threads No. 40 – for machine work; and No. 30 – for manual work.
- Chalk, compass, ruler.
- Paper for drawing, patterns, books on making sofa cushions.
Although we cannot imagine life without a pillow, pillows were originally used only by wealthy people. The first pillows were found in ancient Egyptian pyramids. Pillows were invented by them in order not to spoil an intricate hairstyle in a dream. The pillow then consisted of curved planks on a stand. Gods began to be depicted on pillows, protecting the sleeper from dark forces. Up until the 19th century, wooden pillows were common in Japan. Traditionally, Chinese pillows were made of stone, porcelain or metal. They were also solid rectangular stands.
The first soft pillows appeared in Greece. Comfort was more valued here, and Greek pillows have no connection with Egyptian pillows. The bed was a cult object for the Greeks; they spent most of the day on it. Therefore, it was in Greece that soft mattresses and pillows were invented. The sophistication of making dyes and sewing techniques led to the transformation of the pillow into an object of art, and richly decorated pillows became expensive goods.
In the 5th century BC, every wealthy Greek had a pillow. The pillow sizes varied. They were filled with animal hair, grass, down and bird feathers. The cover was made of leather or fabric, it could be either rectangular or square.
In ancient Rome, at first they were distrustful of pillows. But the Romans soon began to appreciate pillows, especially down pillows. Goose down was used to make down pillows. Often military commanders exempted their subordinates from military service and sent them to extract down for pillows.
Back then it was believed that pillows had a magical effect. Nero, for example, put his snakeskin bracelet under his pillow to help him sleep more soundly. Octavian Augustus wanted to get the pillow of a Roman patrician. He was mired in debt, and all his property was sold off. Emperor Augustus ordered the debtors to purchase a pillow; according to him, he wanted to own a pillow on which a person with so many debts slept peacefully.
But there are many more positive stories related to pillows. Indian pillows helped the great Buddha restore his health. Buddha weakened from hunger and self-torture; he lay on the ground, barely alive. And suddenly he caught the wonderful aroma of the leaves of a tree growing nearby. Buddha got up from the ground and filled a bag with these leaves. This is how the pillow turned out, which Buddha put under his head and fell asleep. After sleeping on a wonderful pillow, Buddha began to feel better, and he had the strength to continue on his journey.
In Arab countries, pillows were most popular. The houses of the sultans were decorated with embroidered, painted pillows with tassels and fringes. Richly embroidered and decorated pillows were a sign of the owner's wealth.
In the Middle Ages, they began to use special small pads under the feet that protected the feet from the cold. The castles had stone floors; heating could not warm large rooms during the frosty period. Therefore, foot pillows were popular in those days. It was at that time that pillows began to be used for prayer; they were placed under the knees during long prayers. Cushions for riding horses were also common; they softened saddles.
In some European countries there was a funny custom. Married men put an ax under their pillow before going to bed. It was believed that if you say to your wife at night during the performance of marital duty, “Give birth to a boy,” a boy will definitely be born.
During the Christmas holidays, fir branches were hidden in pillows, which brought happiness and helped make wishes come true. Many fortune tellings are related to pillows. For example, in order to find out the name of their betrothed, girls put a broom twig under their pillows.
In Rus', embroidered pillows have always been part of the dowry. Somewhat later, decorative pillows appeared. The poor stuffed their pillows with hay and horsehair; down and feather pillows were considered a luxury.
During the Industrial Revolution, the making of decorative fabrics and pillows became mass-produced.
Safety rules when working with needles, pins and scissors
Needles and pins
1 . Store needles in a cushion or pincushion, entwined with thread. Store pins in a box with a tight-fitting lid.
2. Do not throw away a broken needle, but put it in a box specially designated for this.
3. Know the number of needles and pins taken for work. At the end of the work, check for their presence.
4. During work, stick needles and pins into the pad, do not put them in your mouth, and do not stick them into clothes, soft objects, walls, curtains. Do not leave the needle in the product.
5. Do not sew with a rusty needle. It does not penetrate the fabric well, leaves stains and can break.
6. Attach the patterns to the fabric with the sharp ends of the pins in the direction away from you, so that when moving your hands forward or to the sides you do not get pinned.
7. Before trying on, check to see if there are any pins or needles left in the product.
Scissors
1. Store scissors in a specific place - in a stand or work box.
2. Place the scissors with the blades closed away from the person working; when passing, hold them by the closed blades.
3. Use well-adjusted and sharpened scissors.
4. Do not leave scissors with blades open.
5. Monitor the movement and position of the blades during operation.
6. Use scissors only for their intended purpose.
Rules for operating a sewing machine.
1. Rotate the flywheel only towards you.
2. Select the thickness of threads and needles in accordance with the fabric.
3. Check the degree of tension of the upper thread, the stitch size, and the type of machine stitch.
4.Thread the threads in strict accordance with the instructions for the sewing machine (the upper and lower threading threads should be the same number and preferably the same color).
5. Remember that when sewing, the part of the product should be on the left side of the person working, and the seam allowances should be on the right side.
6. Place fabric under the foot, pierce it with a needle, lower the foot, and bring the threads behind the foot with ends 8-10 cm long.
7. Upon completion of work, raise the needle and foot, move the fabric to the side, tighten the threads and cut them using a knife located on the sleeve of the sewing machine.
8. Do not allow the sewing machine to operate when the fabric has come off the teeth of its rack.
9. When finished, place a piece of fabric under the foot and turn off the electric sewing machine.
Rules for working with an iron
1. Before using the iron, check that the cord is in good condition.
2. Turn the iron on and off with dry hands, grasping the plug body.
3. Place the iron on the stand.
4. Make sure that the sole of the iron does not touch the cord.
5. When finished, turn off the iron.
One of the oldest patchwork techniques is based on working with pieces of fabric of the simplest geometric shape - a square. Colored squares, sewn according to certain rules, resemble colorful chessboards.
This technique has been known since those ancient times, when very little fabric was produced, they were too expensive, and even scraps the size of a postage stamp were used; by the way, they gave the name “postage stamp” to one of the patterns made up of tiny squares.
Such sewing was especially often used in village families, where every piece of fabric was treated with great care.
Working with squares is a pleasure. First, draw a colored pattern on checkered paper - a sketch (one cell is equal to one square). Many people, without racking their brains, use ready-made patterns for cross stitch and knitting patterns. Based on the sketch, the number of squares made from fabrics of a certain color is calculated. You should cut exactly according to the template, otherwise it will be difficult to combine the squares when sewing.
Large patches (more than 6x6 cm) are cut taking into account the lobe - it should run parallel to any side of the square; in smaller ones, the lobe is not observed.
To get acquainted with this simple technique, sew a 30x30 cm sample from 25 square patches. Each patch is 6x6 cm, taking into account a 1 cm seam allowance on all sides of the square.
Cut out the squares and lay them out on a flat surface, arranging them according to color as in our sample.
The principle of joining squares into a fabric is as follows: first they are sewn into strips, and then the strips are sewn together. For a rectangular product, the squares are sewn into stripes along the shorter side - this is much more convenient. In our case (a square product) all sides are equal, so start with any of them.
Place the first two flaps of the top row right sides together, pin them together, aligning the edges, and sew exactly along the seam allowance line. Press the seam “on the edge” and then press it towards the darker square so that the seam allowances do not show through the fabric.
Attach the third square to the second with the right sides facing inward and stitch. Iron the seam towards the dark square. Sequentially stitch all the next squares of this row. The first page is ready.
Prepare all the remaining strips and combine them into a canvas: fold the first two strips with the right sides inward and pin them exactly along the machine seams, placing the pins perpendicular to the cuts. Next, stitch the strips along the seam allowance line and, removing the pins, iron the seam “on the edge” and then to one side. Connect the remaining strips in the same way and iron the finished sample.
Two-color “chess”. From two fabrics of contrasting color, you can create a simple checkerboard pattern. Sewing fabric with this pattern is very simple.
First, cut the same number of strips of both colors with a width equal to the width of the finished “checkerboard” square, plus a seam allowance on each side of the square, that is, the seam is added not only from the edges of the strip, but also the allowance is taken into account when measuring its length.
Cut the strips to the desired size and sew them into fabric, as shown in the diagram.
Sew strips with small stitches, alternating colors. Press the seams edgewise and then press them towards the darker stripe.
Line the stitched fabric into new strips of the same width as the previous ones (don’t forget about the allowances), placing them across the seams. Cut the canvas along the marked lines - strips of squares are formed.
Turn every second strip “upside down” - you get a “checkerboard” pattern. All that remains is to stitch the strips, iron them, and the canvas is ready.
"Chess" diagonally. This pattern is used as a decorative trim in the form of a border. To work, cut several strips of different colors, but of the same width and length (at least 50 cm). The stripe width is calculated as in the previous pattern.
Take several multi-colored strips 5 cm wide and 50 cm long, sew them along the long sides and press the seams to one side. Mark and cut the canvas into strips 5 cm wide. The resulting strips are made of squares.
Lay out the strips of squares, shifting one relative to the other one square to the right, and sew them one by one without disturbing the shift.
Iron the canvas and cut off the extra corners - you get a decorative border. You can decorate clothes with this trim, say, sew it on the bottom of a skirt or apron.
1. Making templates:
draw the drawing grid
draw the lines of the drawing, thinking through and taking into account the proportions
make templates.
2. Cutting out the body templates
- Determine the direction of the warp thread
- Align one edge with a triangle
- Cut edges
- Arrange the cut details by color on the wrong side of the fabric
- Trace the templates with a pencil
- Make a seam allowance of -1.5 cm on each side.
- Cut out the parts (5x5 squares) along the allowance line
- Torso processing
- Baste and stitch 10 squares in succession, forming a strip
- Connect the strips in series
- From the resulting fabric, cut out the parts of the body (front, back)
- Baste and stitch the parts of the body together. Leave the lower part of the body unstitched.
- Turn the body through the unsewn hole.
- Insert foam rubber and cover the bottom hole.
- Head processing
- Cut out a circle with a diameter of 12 cm from padding polyester.
- Decorate the edges of the circle with fur.
- Cut out and sew on the muzzle.
- Cut out and glue eyes, eyelashes, nose, mouth.
- Decorate the muzzle with a bow.
My work did not require the use of a large number of resources: energy costs, complex tools, expensive materials, energy-intensive equipment. When creating my project, I used only scissors, an iron, glue, and I believe that no damage was caused to the environment.
As a thrifty housewife, my mother gave me scraps of various fabrics; they remained with her after making sewing items, and I also used things for work that were no longer suitable for wear. Thus, there was no need to throw them away, therefore, no damage was caused to the environment, and the things received a second life.
Products made from scraps allow for waste-free production, since even the smallest scraps may be needed for work. By doing this, we benefit the environment without polluting it.
The cost of a sofa cushion made using the patchwork technique can be calculated as follows:
- We do not take into account the cost of the fabric, since we use the remnants of fabric from students in our class, used to make other sewing products.
- Foam rubber for making the torso. I used one that had already been used before.
- Threads. I used 1 spool for 8 rubles. The cost of the threads is:
C1 = 8 rubles.
- Fur. I used some of the fur from an old collar.
- Braid. I used 20 cm for the price of 4 rubles. The cost of the braid is exactly: 80 kopecks.
- The work was carried out during the daytime, so there was no consumption of electrical energy.
Total costs excluding labor costs amounted to 8 rubles 80 kopecks.
My work produces a positive emotional effect. It will become a bright spot of color in the interior of the room. Made with high quality.
At the market and in stores in our city, sofa cushions are sold, as a rule, of “Chinese” production. Their range is not very diverse, and the quality leaves much to be desired. In addition, we are very often not satisfied with their design and prices.
The pillow I made turned out to be elegant and bright. Of course, in the process of doing my work I encountered many difficulties, but it seems to me that I overcame them. A small sofa cushion made by me can serve not only as a decoration in the interior of my room, but also, on occasion, as a toy for small children.
I will make several toy pillows, different in shape, color and finish. I will give them to my loved ones, relatives and friends. This will be an advertisement for my products.
Good quality and aesthetic design will add variety and an element of novelty to the decor of modern apartments. Will attract the attention of small children.
Since this is a practical and useful thing, my friends will want to give the same pillow to their acquaintances or friends, or their children. And they will be able to place an order from me. And I will be happy to help them.
- M.V. Maksimova, M.A. Kuzmina / Shreds. – Eksmo-Press, 1998.
- M.V. Maksimova, M.A. Kuzmina / School of Home Economics. – Eksmo-Press, 2000.
- http://kata-log.ru/dosug/istoria-loskutnogo-shita.html- History of patchwork.
- http://www.remeslo.okis.ru/12-podushki.html- we sew toy pillows with children.
History of the pillow:
from antiquity
to the present day
Pillows are one of the elements of textile interior design. There are different types of pillows. We sleep on some pillows, decorate the sofa with others, and use others to heal ourselves.
In the first case, we are talking about pillows for the bedroom, in the second - about decorative pillows, and in the third - about orthopedic pillows. It cannot be said that some of these types are better and some are worse. Each pillow performs its own function.
Kilburne George Goodwin (1839 – 1924), "Taking Tea"
Of course, the first and main role of a pillow in our life is to serve as bedding. The word “pillow” itself comes from the Russian word “ear”. And where should she be if not on our bed?
George Goodwin Kilburne (1839-1924), "Afternoon Tea"
In the old days, only very wealthy people used pillows. And the ancient rich Egyptians generally tried not to leave for another world without a pillow. Archaeologists still come across ancient Egyptian burials, where they invariably find pillows, along with many other grave goods. But don't think that they needed pillows for a comfortable sleep. What was most precious to Egyptian fashionistas in the world was their complex hairstyles. And they invented pillows precisely to preserve them. The pillow then consisted of curved planks on a stand. And at the same time, gods began to be depicted on pillows, which, according to the ideas of the ancients, protected the sleeping person from dark forces.
In China, richly decorated pillows were considered works of art. And only in medieval Europe did they become a commodity for which, by the way, they paid a lot of money.
Kilburne George Goodwin (1839 – 1924),"Tending the Invalid A young Girl feeding a Cat"
If we return to the Chinese, I would like to note that traditional Chinese pillows are unlikely to please pampered Europeans. The fact is that they are solid rectangular stands made of stone, wood, metal or porcelain. Poor ancient Chinese! But, by the way, the ancient Egyptians from the common people also slept on so-called pillows made of stone. And the Japanese use wooden ones.
In Arab countries, pillows were very popular. Richly embroidered and decorated pillows were a sign of the owner's wealth.
Giuseppe Aureli (1858-1929), "Admiration"
Giuseppe Aureli (Italian, 1858-1929), "Le rest in a harem" ("Le repos du harem")
Rudolph Ernst (1854-1932), "The Reader"
Rudolph Ernst (1854-1932), "A Moorish Interior"
Rudolph Ernst (1854-1932), "Favorite Of The Farm"
Charles Joseph Frederick Soulacroix (1825- 1897)
One of the fastest and easiest ways to decorate and change the interior is to put several beautifully designed pillows on your bed or sofa. Unlike tapestries, which hung on the walls of castles and palaces and could not deteriorate for centuries, pillows were objects of daily use. Naturally, only a few have “survived” to this day. Therefore, most of the information about what pillows looked like before, what they were made of and how they were used, we can only glean from the paintings of artists who depicted the life of people of those times. Mostly, European artists began to depict pillows in the interior, starting from the 17th century.
Charles Joseph Frederick Soulacroix (1825- 1897
Madeleine Jeanne Lemaire (1845-1928), "Tea at the Hotel de Ville"
Comfort and life's pleasures have always been valued in Greece. For the Greeks, a bed was generally a cult object. Probably because many of them spent a lot of time there. It is not at all surprising that the first soft pillows appeared here. They had nothing in common with ancient Egyptian pillows and were created specifically for the enjoyment of sleep. Already in the 5th century BC, every wealthy Greek had a pillow.
The Romans also appreciated soft pillows. I don’t know if this is true or not, but they say that Roman military leaders from time to time exempted their subordinates from military service and sent them to extract down for pillows... And here everything turned out to be not so simple. It turns out that the ancient Romans believed that pillows had a magical effect. Nero, for example, put his snakeskin bracelet under his pillow to help him sleep more soundly. And Octavian Augustus insistently demanded that he be given the pillow of a Roman patrician who was so deeply in debt that all his property was sold off to pay off the debts. It would seem, why was the Roman emperor given this pillow? According to him, he wanted to own the pillow on which a man with so many debts slept peacefully.
Oseph Caraud (French, 1821-1905)
In medieval Europe, special small pads were used for feet. Since the floors in the castles were stone and there was no central heating, these pads protected the feet from the cold.
Joseph Caraud (French, 1821-1905), "Dressing up"
Jean Carolus (1814-1897), "Holding court"
It was at that time that pillows began to be used for prayer; they were placed under the knees during long prayers. In France in the 18th and 19th centuries, the right to kneel in a temple during prayer on a pillow immediately behind the king was generally strictly regulated and jealously guarded. This pillow even had a special name - carreau.
Carl Zewy (1855-1929), "Young Lady with a Letter" ("Junge Dame mit Brief")
In England, pillows began to be widely used only from the time of the Tudor dynasty. Before that, it was believed that it was only proper for women to use pillows immediately after childbirth and for very weak and sick men.
Joseph Caraud (French, 1821-1905), "L"Abbe Complaisant")
In Rus', embroidered pillows have always been part of a young girl’s dowry. The poor stuffed their pillows with hay and horsehair, because down and feather pillows were considered a luxury. The warriors also did not go on a hike without a pillow. But they filled it with cereals or oats. They used the cereals for themselves, and the oats for horse feed.
Alexey Korzukhin (1835-1894), "Separation"
Instructions
Many people think that the structure of the word “pillow” indicates a direct relation to an object that can be placed “under the ear.” But the interpretation of the meaning is folk. In fact, the etymological dictionary explains otherwise. The first word in the Old Russian language was “dodukha”, meaning something airy or inflated. The widespread use of the word "pillow" dates back to the 13th century, and the meaning is literally defined as "something dear and close."
The history of the first pillows is preserved in ancient Egypt. True, the purpose of these items among the pharaohs and noble Egyptians was different: they kept their hairstyles while sleeping. These could be wooden concave pillows on a stand, as well as stone, metal or porcelain, which depicted gods protecting people during sleep. The Japanese used similar items until the 19th century. Jade pillows, popular in China, were shaped like a person lying down with a special comfortable recess for the head. Gradually, people came to the conclusion that a pillow is necessary not for the safety of hair, but for comfortable rest.
Ancient Greece is considered the birthplace of the first soft pillows, and these ordinary everyday objects became wonderful works of art, as the covers were embroidered with beautiful patterns. Noble Greeks loved to lie on a soft bed, and the presence of pillows added significance to the owner.
The ancient Romans obtained the first pillows as spoils during their military conquests. They especially liked those filled with goose down, so the commanders sent the most accurate shooters to hunt wild geese. But most Romans used sleeping objects made from grass, bird feathers, or animal hair. Not everyone had the opportunity to purchase these items, since they were very expensive, so only wealthy people could use them.
If you imagine a medieval castle, with a cold stone floor, constant drafts, then the introduction of innovation will become clear: pillows became not only an attribute of a luxurious warm bed, but also, placed under the feet, represented a means of protecting them from the cold. The convenience of soft pillows was fully realized a long time ago. They did not forget to place them under their knees during prayers, on the saddle of a horse, in stretchers and carriages.
In the old days in Rus', soft feather and down pillows were a luxury for the rich, and the common people stuffed them with hay or horsehair. They formed an integral part of the bride's dowry. In the East, there was a custom to fill pillows with plants that emit pleasant odors, which were later prepared for medicinal purposes.
This well-known attribute of our sleep appeared a long time ago. The first mentions of objects used as pillows take us back to distant centuries BC. In the ancient tombs of the pharaohs The world's first pillows were found. Pharaohs used them to maintain their intricate hairstyles while sleeping. The pillow, which was placed on a stand, was also accompanied by two curved tablets with images of gods, supposedly designed to help the person who had gone to sleep, since his Ka (soul) was flying freely from the body at that time.
The stories are familiar to other equally interesting pillows. Eg, in Ancient China Depending on the degree of wealth, important mandarins rested on pillows made of stone, porcelain, or even metal pillows. There is even a known pillow made of precious metals - this is a rectangular stand, completely encrusted with jewelry.
Almost until recently, the most common pillows among the Japanese had wooden pillows. Here, too, it was possible to determine from the pillow what wealth its owner possesses. Because the rarer the type of wood from which it is made, the correspondingly more expensive the pillow.
The very first to use a soft pillow for sleeping smart ancient Greeks. They filled their pillows with light bird feathers, sheep's wool and dried grass. The Greeks sewed the pillow itself from thick fabric, and more often from tanned leather. They embellished this item in every possible way: either with skillful embroidery, or with beads, or with fringe. Of course, the pillow that the craftswoman worked diligently on cost a lot of money. Therefore, only the rich could afford such a work of art. Important, wealthy Greeks loved to lie on soft beds and various mattresses, so they did not skimp on decorating their bed. In general, having a pillow among the Greeks was considered a sign of good manners. In this regard, the workshops could offer their customers pillows for every taste and budget, not to mention different shapes and sizes.
In Ancient Rome Down pillows were so popular that the military nobility exempted some of their soldiers from military service specifically so that they could get down for their pillows. There is also an interesting story in history about a pillow and an emperor. Emperor Octavian Augustus wanted to have the pillow of his bankrupt subject under his head. He was convinced that the debtor’s pillow probably had magical properties that provided the sleeper with a sound, worry-free sleep - after all, a man who had been deeply in debt for a long time, and then completely lost all his property, slept peacefully on its pillow.
The facts of suffocation with a pillow in history are also well known.. In this way, they got rid of both adult unwanted rulers and very tiny heirs. Otherwise, ambitious court intriguers could not get closer to the coveted position in high society or power. Thus, when Emperor Tiberius was poisoned by order of Caligula, and he was in his death throes for a long time, they hastened to strangle him with a pillow. Or here’s another case when a church minister who flatly refused to bless Ivan the Terrible was strangled with a pillow. Many crown princes and greats of this world experienced death in their own bed “thanks to” the pillow: this is Paul I, and the son of Peter I - Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, and John X, and the newborn grandson of Louis XIV - Haile Selassie, who was strangled by his aunt.
But not all stories about pillows in bed are necessarily sad. Let us remember the Kama Sutra, where the knowledge accumulated over many centuries and generations is collected. She offers more than one love position that is unimaginable without the help of a pillow.
Or here are oriental fairy tales: a multi-colored couch, comfortably covered with luxurious satin and silk pillows, where the Sultan and his beautiful concubines recline.
During the Middle Ages Castles made of cold stone did not warm up well and therefore there were always problems with drafts blowing across the floor. The inhabitants of such mansions came up with pillows for their feet that protected them very well from the cold. Later, pillows were placed under the knees during prayer, on saddles for the comfort of riders, and they were equipped with stretchers, carts, and carriages.
In Rus', few people knew what a pillow was made of feathers or down - it was a luxury item. Peasants used pillows stuffed with hay and horsehair, and beautiful girls prepared embroidered pillows for their dowry.
Throughout the history of pillows, a huge variety of materials have been used as fillers. Sometimes it depended on custom, as in the east, where aromatic pillows are a traditional thing. Leaves of pleasantly smelling herbs were also placed in it. Later, such pillows were made for the purpose of treatment. Some peoples have a custom at Christmas to put spruce branches in the pillow, so to speak, for good luck. During fortune telling, Russian beauties placed a twig under their pillow to find out the name of the groom.
There are also funny, funny traditions associated with pillows. For example, students put a textbook under their pillow before an exam to better remember the material. Once upon a time in England there was a custom that if a husband placed an ax under his wife’s pillow, she would soon give birth to a boy.
Today, the old favorite - the feather pillow - is increasingly being replaced by its relatives filled with foam rubber and artificial fibers. But whatever the filling of your pillow, let it be comfortable for you.
Sleep peacefully and soundly with a healthy sleep! 🙂