I made a pouf! And I want to talk and talk about it, but….
First, it’s been about a million years since I’ve posted here and I can’t chat up my latest make without acknowledging that. There’s a lot of why behind that reality, but I think I’ll save that for later.
Today is all about things I’ve been planning/wanting to do for a long, long time that I’ve finally done. This website is one of those things, updating it and adding elements I feel speak to a new direction. It’s not finished, but definitely closer to done than not.
And the above pouf? Done.
If I had a making bucket list, this item would definitely be on it. I don’t have one and I almost never feel like, having made one of something, that I’ll never make it again, but…did I mention I made a pouf??
So much planning went into this pouf. First off, I scoured Pinterest for inspiration and tutorials.
I endlessly pondered fabric choices including using a much-loved, but never cut piece of mud cloth I bought years ago. For more than 6 months, I saved fabric, thread, and batting scraps. Every leftover bit, no matter how insignificant, went into a large trash bag for use in my pouf. I worried too. I needed to find the courage, yes, the courage, to attempt this project. I know that this is just fabric and just a pouf, but I really wanted it to succeed. So, I waited for the perfect day. No, not today, tomorrow and not this week, but next.
Inexplicably, last Monday became the day. My daughter is coming to visit and I wanted to create a beautiful, sanctuary-like guest bedroom for her and a pouf is, apparently, integral to that.
I gathered hand dyed fabric and a quilted pillow top, also crafted out of my hand dyes, some yarn to make piping, and a zipper. This tutorial gave me the basic measurements, but I made some changes, both in the measurements and in my use of a zippered bottom and a quilted top.
I had to steady my nerves, but the pouf came together incredibly easily and quick. The zippered bottom allowed me to efficiently fill the pouf with all my bits and scraps and makes adding additional filling in the future a breeze. Using fabric scraps instead of polyester fill created a heavier, sturdier, more sustainable piece.
Having envisioned the pouf as a compliment to a comfy chair, I bought a chair as well as a small table, both of which, again overcoming my fears, I assembled. Yikes!
The room is still a work in progress, but quilts adorn the bed and one wall while handmade, long, sweeping linen curtains drape over the window. The room feels quiet and clean and calming. Exactly what I want for my visiting girl.