Smooth Stuffing!

[Suffolkone1]

I have to stuff the back cushion of a conservatory settee so its about 4 ft long and 2.5 ft wide.  Try as I might I cannot get the stuffing level and I was thinking the best thing to do would be to put the stuffing inside a layer of the thickest batting I can get which I think is 8oz.   Any advice would be welcome.

[BrendaP]

What are you stuffing the cushion with?  A cushion that big really needs to be a block of foam, or traditional horsehair with padded rolls etc.

[Suffolkone1]

I am re-using the original stuffing but obviously it is totally out of shape.   Foam is not an option and its rattan conservatory furniture so horsehair is also not appropriate.  The original stuffing was inside those thin white paperish covers which are now in pieces!

[Greybird]

Could you perhaps use a couple of pillow pads, or if they are too long, make up the length with cushion pads. You could stitch the pads together down one edge and then stitch down the joining places through the outer cover so that it would look as if it was meant to be like that. It would be easier than trying to distribute unwieldy filling material.

[Suffolkone1]

Yes I had thought of putting individual pads inside but the client does not want any outside stitching and the pads would just move about.  I have ordered 12oz thick batting which, if I wrap this round the stuffing, hopefully will smooth over the content.

[BrendaP]

What was the original stuffing made of?

[Suffolkone1]

I think its called kapok.   Got problems smoothing out the lumps so hopefully the batting will do the job.

[Greybird]

Kapok is notorious for going lumpy. If you manage to tease them all out it will only be a matter of time before they are back.

[BrendaP]

Here are two lists of possible stuffings for cushions and pillows with all the pros and cons.
https://hullopillow.com/pillow-filling/

https://www.terrycralle.com/types-of-pillow-stuffing/