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Good Questions: First Aid for Pillow Corners?

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Help, Apartment Therapy! I purchased these pricey throw pillows from Room & Board on clearance and absolutely love them but recently the corners have begun to unravel! I'd like to think that we aren't the cause — all we do is lean against them every evening. I'd also like to think that throw pillows this expensive could stand up better to normal, everyday use. Is there anything I can do to stop the damage from worsening? Has anyone ever encountered this problem? Thanks, Trish.

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Thanks for your question, Trish. We'd certainly hate to imagine that this is the quality of Room & Board's products. Anyone have advice to halt the unravelling of these pillow corners?

(Include a pic of your query and your question gets posted first! Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to: boston (at) apartmenttherapy (dot) com)

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Good Questions, Room & Board, pillow, pillow covers

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Comments (14)

I've seen it happen. I have no idea how to fix it. Sadly no matter how much you pay for a throw pillow, it's all about the same quality when it comes down to how it was made. You might have been better off with a few cheaper ones to lean against.

posted by ChrisGal on June 1st 2009 at 9:31am
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Put a thin coat of clear nail polish on the underside of the fabric that's unravelling. That will usually stop it.

posted by Lisa (Montreal) on June 1st 2009 at 9:43am
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P.S. Just on the places that are unravelling -- not on the whole fabric.

posted by Lisa (Montreal) on June 1st 2009 at 9:45am
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Fabric stores usually carry a sort of clear glue/gel that is expressly for this purpose, it might be by the quilting supplies. If you can't find that, I'd just put some SuperGlue on it.

posted by Peggasus on June 1st 2009 at 9:49am
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Ditto on the clear nail polish. I've used it to stop pantyhose from unraveling/ripping when a hole starts, I don't see why it wouldn't do the same for your pillows!

posted by alaylam on June 1st 2009 at 9:51am
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Hmmm, I don't have any advice but between the unraveling cushions and their saggy sofas I'm beginning to wonder if Room and Board is all hype without the quality to back it up...

posted by creativeneurosis on June 1st 2009 at 9:54am
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If the pillow has a zipper, take out the insert, turn the cover inside out, and reinforce the seams with some stitches. If there isn't enough fabric I'd go for the nail polish solution.

And, if you saved the receipt, go back to PB & complain (clearance or not).

posted by Deborah on June 1st 2009 at 9:55am
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I would rip out the stitches surrounding the area and re-sew it by hand using a blind stitch. That's the only way you are going to completely get rid of the fraying area.

If you don't want to do that/can't do it, you can use Fray-Check to stop it from fraying further (http://www.amazon.com/Prym-Dritz-Fray-Check/dp/B0001DSIXW). I would apply it to the base of the area that is fraying, let it dry, and then trim off the excess fabric that has frayed. Just be careful not to cut into the fabric that has not frayed.

posted by lisao on June 1st 2009 at 10:06am
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1. Get a ballpoint pen.

2. Remove the ink by unscrewing the end and pulling the ink out.

3. Poke the edges of the pillow corner back under with the pointy, inkless end of the pen.

4. Take a similar colored thread and stitch the corner closed with very tiny coil stitches around the corner.

Voila! Pillow fray fixed with no glue (which will make it hard, sharp, and crusty).

posted by bfootnovellista on June 1st 2009 at 1:34pm
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Fray check has been mentioned and it works, but any fabric glue (they usually stay soft) would be better than fingernail polish or Super glue, if you can get some. I'd poke the fraying bits back into the pillow at the seam with a toothpick or something, then carefully use the toothpick with a tiny bit of glue on it to insert inside the part that is fraying. Pinch over the toothpick while gently pulling it out to keep the glue inside and you should be good. (If you succumbed to the Magic Mendit ads, this is a use!)

But I agree, I'd complain to the store -- pillow fights might lead to fraying, but leaning shouldn't!

posted by SherryBinNH on June 1st 2009 at 2:47pm
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In addition to trying one of the DIY fixes, I'd contact Room and Board customer service letting them know about the issue you are having. They may be willing to send you new pillow covers gratis.

posted by 1GH on June 1st 2009 at 5:09pm
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Another option would be to box the corners - I've done that to a few of my Danica ones and they look great.

http://www.marthastewart.com/goodthings/tailored-throw-pillows?autonomy_kw=pillow%20corner&rsc=header_1

posted by anaximander on June 1st 2009 at 5:33pm
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I would be wary of using super glue. It can turn a foggy white, especially when used on plastics (though I'm assuming this isn't the case). Also, for general fix-it use, it can be really brittle. Tacky glue is generally a better choice.

posted by safarikate on June 1st 2009 at 6:32pm
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I'll add my voice to the Fray-Check idea - I've used it on nylons, and it's much better than nail polish because that fabrics stay soft.

posted by Emika on June 2nd 2009 at 10:15am
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