Expert: Mark H. Miller - 11/13/2007

Question
Hi Mark - fast response!
I live in Burlington, Ontario but I am close to the Buffalo NY border and I can also order online.
thanx

Answer
Hi,

There are several approaches to changing the filling in your chair cushion,  the best would be to trace the outline of the cushion and add an extra inch around the entire perimeter,  then measure the thickness of the cushion along the front and add one inch to that,  then send it to an upholstery cushion supplier and ask to have them make a cushion inset filled with down & feather combination.

50/50 is extremely soft and not recommended.  25/75 would be my first choice,  10/90 my second choice and will be somewhat firm.  the first number is the percentage of down, the second number the percentage of feather.  Duck or grey goose, doesn't make much difference.  If you are an animal lover the birds are not killed or harmed to harvest the feathers.
"downproof ticking" otherwise the fillings will come out and you will have down and feathers all over your house.

An alternative would be to go to a store like IKEA,  they have excellent quality bed pillows and you should be able to stuff the cushion using a few bed pillows.  Doing that will be the least costly way to go, it won't be perfect but it will work and no one will know the difference.  If the corners or "ears" of the cushion need stuffing buy some plain Dacron batting in a fabric shop and use that to fill out the ears.

Using the latter method if there isn't enough filling material you can simply add another bed pillow.  

Do not use the down from bed pillows and then make your own inset, there is a complex system for sewing partitions inside the cushion.  And unless you use downproof ticking it will be a disaster.

Be prepared to fluff up the seat cushion every so often after you sit on it since an all feather and down cushion will flatten out, however that is the desired "look"

I hope this helps, please don't hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance.

Mark Miller.