Tuesday

Faux Boro Rice Pillow


That has to be the worst post title ever. Anyway, ever since I was exposed to the amazing world of Japanese Boro textiles, I have been a little obsessed with trying to recreate the feeling of these fantastic artifacts. I had planned to make the girls some rice pillows (the kind you put in the microwave and then use as little bags of heat on cold nights), so I figured, why not try out some Boro-like antics while I was at it. Since there aren't a lot of nineteenth century kimonos hanging around in North Cackalacky, I had to make do with what was available from the fabric store and distress it myself. I don't think I've quite got it yet, but I do love challenges like this.



Oh, by the way, if you want to make a rice pillow, it's really very simple. Make a pillow with a 3/8" seam allowance and leave a 3" gap open at one end (my pillow is 9"x15"). Turn right side out. Fill 2/3 full with a mix of dry brown rice and green lentils. Close the gap (I used a ladder stitch). Microwave on high for about 3 to 3 1/2 minutes and it will continue to radiate heat for about twenty minutes. If all that was too confusing, I'd be glad to do a video on it. Just let me know in the comments.

Bookmark and Share
Posted by Paul Overton at 9:31 PM
Labels: , , ,

5 comments:

  1. I love your rice pillow! It's gorgeous. Rice bags are great things... mine gets more use than the heating pad. It was a present shortly after I got married, a bit simpler than yours. It's a hand towel, the sort from the craft store with a strip of Aida fabric, folded in half and the other three edges sewn shut.
    ReplyDelete
  2. Aw, thanks Kristen! It's my first attempt, but I still like it okay. I've heard of making them out of washcloths and hand towels. I wonder what material would keep them warm for the longest time? Ideas anyone?
    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful work, Paul! I love the texture of all those patterns.

    My Mom did some buckwheat pillows a couple years back, and did a fleece lining. I'll bet you could get nice results by backing your patchwork in some wool.
    ReplyDelete
  4. That does sound good. Where did your mom get the buckwheat hulls? I love buckwheat pillows!
    ReplyDelete
  5. Love the look of your rice pillow! Really nice "fabric"! A word of caution regarding heating times in the microwave: rice pillows should never be microwaved for more than one minute at a time. Longer times create enough heat to actually cause the rice or whatever grains/hulls you are using to super heat and create red hot embers that will eventually ignite or cause serious burns.
    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)