PillowWeights

Inquiring with our cleaner, she informed us that the intense winds in Joshua Tree compelled her to store the pillows in a chest, as she often found them scattered across the property. Due to time constraints, she was unable to launder the covers and reposition the pillows. We decided to purchase pillow weights to resolve the issue, yet a thorough search online yielded no results.

We thought, “Why not try corn bags?” They not only altered the shape and balance of our pillows, but coyotes eventually discovered them. We experimented with sandbags, zip locks filled with sand, and even sewing straps into the pillowcases, but we disliked how it restricted the pillows’ movement. That approach was not for us. After trying numerous solutions from forums, we put the issue aside and tolerated lumpy pillows for another year. We couldn’t find a satisfactory solution that preserved the feel and design of our chosen pillows. A year later, during the COVID-19 lockdown, we decided to buy a sewing machine and revisit this project. After several months of ruining pillowcases (and possibly a washing machine), we discovered the perfect blend of materials that worked with even the most porous pillowcases, which involved using up all the sample transfer tapes from 3M and Avery Dennison.

Our challenge was to find an adhesive that could bond with the canvas material of our pillowcases, withstand the elements and the washing machine, yet be gentle enough not to alter the pillows’ appearance and texture. We managed to create a soft, mini weighted blanket thin enough not to affect the pillow’s shape. The straightforward part was making it soft and slim; the difficulty lay in attaching it to the pillow without upsetting its balance, feel, and aesthetics. We intended to use a soft hook and loop fastener for easy detachment, but finding an adhesive that met all our criteria without being obtrusive proved challenging.

Our breakthrough came with an adhesive typically sold in bulk for transportation and automotive purposes. Walker Tape Converting in Utah recommended a product they had experience with, boasting high environmental and chemical resistance. This was a familiar promise, as we had encountered other 3M tapes claiming the same, yet they would either bleed through the pillowcase fabric or create a crunchy texture upon touch. Many failed to adhere to canvas or other highly porous materials. However, when the sample of Avery Dennison FT1126 arrived, it surpassed all our expectations. Despite our efforts to find flaws, this transfer tape withstood machine washing, rain, high-heat drying, aggressive pressure, and remained soft to the touch. We had found our ideal adhesive.

Despite the challenges of shipping costs for a weight-based product, the overwhelming support encouraged us to proceed. It became clear that this hurdle was precisely why no one had undertaken this project before. The discovery of Avery’s FT1126, coupled with our entrepreneurial spirit, made our venture possible. The valuable feedback, the journey, and the ongoing learning have been incredibly rewarding.