Pillow idea for those who sew

[allinknots]

OK, everyone is always so helpful to me, that it's my turn to help.

Years ago, I went on a short trip to Japan. The hotel we stayed in had the most fabulous pillows! I learned that they were made with Buckwheat as a stuffing. They were the nicest pillows I ever had, and I wanted to ask to buy one from the hotel. I didn't ask since I can't speak Japanese, and I was afraid that they'd be offended or something.

When we came home, I researched buckwheat pillows on the internet, and found out that they are easy to make. So I ordered sanitized buckwheat and made my own pillow. I've been thrilled with this pillow ever since!

When I started apap, I was concerned that now I might need to use a different pillow. At first my mask was bumping into my buckwheat pillow too much. But then it occurred to me that I can redistribute the buckwheat to accommodate the mask.

So now when I go to bed, I kind of punch a slight hollow near the edge of the pillow where my mask will go. So far so good! When I roll over to my other side, I just kind of mush the pillow a bit on that side and I'm good to go.

The pillow was so simple to make it's almost embarrassing. I just used a pre-made pillow case, but cut the ends off so it wouldn't be so long. I put a zipper on the opened end so I can remove the filling if need-be to wash the pillow cover. I purchased the buckwheat online, and filled the pillow with the buckwheat. It kind of flies all over the place, so it's best to do this over some unfolded newspaper. (I made a scoop for the buckwheat by folding a Silpat cooking mat, but a pliable piece of tagboard would work too.)

I think the pillows I used in Japan had a top layer of some type of stuffing. Maybe next time I will experiment and put some pillow stuffing (sold in fabric stores) near the top of the pillow, and put the buckwheat mainly in the bottom. This would prevent the occasional piece of buckwheat working its way through the pillow fabric (which probably won't happen anyways if you use a high thread count pillow case to make the pillow).

PM me if you'd like to find out where I bought my buckwheat. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post the source on the board?

Hope this helps someone,
All in Knots

[sleeplessinaz]

Oh that is a nice idea but too much work when you can go to Costco and just buy a down filled pillow!! Does the same thing --allows to be mushed up to let your mask have some room.........

[marshaeb]

You're right, Allinknots, buckwheat hull pillows are great. For those who don't sew, don't want to or don't have the time, let me throw another option into the mix. I use a regular pillow with a buckwheat hull-filled pillow on top of it, which I use as a neck pillow. Actually, it's advertised as a lumbar pillow, but the amount it's filled and resulting level of firmness is perfect for me. And it costs about half of the specialized cpap pillows. You can read about it here (the customer review in there by "meb" is mine): http://www.amazon.com/Bucky-Baxter-Lumb ... 246&sr=8-2 Sweet dreams!!

Marsha

[allinknots]

Oh that is a nice idea but too much work when you can go to Costco and just buy a down filled pillow!! Does the same thing --allows to be mushed up to let your mask have some room.........

I beg to differ. A down-filled pillow does not do the same thing. It's difficult to describe, but a buckwheat hull pillow is...just...different. I've always felt that the buckwheat pillow gives me superior support. In addition, some people are allergic to down, and there is always the cleaning issue. (I've tried washing down pillows before without much luck, and I don't want dry cleaning solvents so close to my face. With the buckwheat hull pillow, I can unzip the pillow, dump out the hulls and wash the pillow covering in the washing machine, and then refill.

If your down pillow is working for you that's great! As the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" But those who aren't happy with their pillows might want to give a buckwheat hull pillow a try. I'm positive I've owned dozens of pillows in my time and I still stand by my opinion that this pillow is the best!

All in Knots

[Snoredog]

Can't we just fill it with Grape Nuts?


I think Bed, Bath & Beyond sells those little rascal pillows

You know you can order the ultimate Buckwheat sleepware just about everywhere:

[CRS]

Grape Nuts... hmmm....

What a great idea, Allinknots!! I had an old buckwheat pillow a long time ago; the cover was cotton duck (I think). Always wanted another one, maybe I'll make one! Would be great for CPAP. Thanks for sharing

[ReginaJ]

Another good use for buckwheat..... heating blankets. My best friend made one for me for Christmas a couple of years ago. It is long enough that I can wrap it around my waist or I can use it for the entire length of my back, which is fabulous. Here's what she did. She took a high thread count sheet and cut it into a long rectangle (16 inches wide x 35 inches long finished product). She quilted the buckwheat into 4 inch squares. She made a really cool pillowcase for it too that I use on it after I heat it up in the microwave for a couple of minutes. (Safety first! heh)

My daughter has intestinal spasms on a regular basis, so she uses this as a "tummy blanket" as well. The heat from it as well as the weight of the buckwheat are a magical cure for her.

I think that my next pillow will be buckwheat. I am using a tempurpedic pillow right now, but it is about dead.

[ractar28]

Please post the link. If I can link to a competitor of cpap.com (who provides this forum), I'm pretty sure any LEGITIMATE link would be allowed.

[Bert_Mathews]

http://www.asontv.com/health-and-beauty ... &s_cid=104

Here is a pillow and NO Sewing or mess....... If I did it the clean-up of buckwheat would take twenty vacuum cleaners!


BERT

[allinknots]

http://www.asontv.com/health-and-beauty ... &s_cid=104

Here is a pillow and NO Sewing or mess....... If I did it the clean-up of buckwheat would take twenty vacuum cleaners!


BERT

Yes, I had a Sobakawa before I made my own. I liked the Sobakawa somewhat, but I found that the dimensions were too small for my taste and that the pillow was not very full of buckwheat. In other words, it didn't offer the amount of support I liked. If the Sobakawa costs $26 for what it is, then my pillow would be worth at least $70.

Hey, Snoredog, I like your idea of using Grape Nuts, especially since there's a zipper in my pillow. That way I can have breakfast-in-bed <groan>! (Funny buckwheat t-shirt, too!)

All in Knots