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I hate it! It's like pillow-cameltoe.

Hahaha melanie!

I don't like it either. You can fluff without being that dramatic.

I fluff my pillows regularly and as part of the process do "karate-chop" them. But...I only do this to add volume and smooth them back out before I put them back on the sofa.

I'm fine with it...the problem I have is when people put TOO many pillows on their sofas. I was at a friend's house and they had every surface on their seating occupied by pillows. I had no clue where to put them when I sat down. i would have been sitting on the edge if I kept them in their spots.

Let's all do our part to keep the pillow population down!

Hear, hear meltendo! I am also in the camp which believes pillows are like birthmarks...a few well placed ones can accentuate overall apppearance, while having too many detracts. And say no to cameltoe of any kind, whether it be on a pillow or otherwise!

That picture cracks me up, it seems just a teensy bit over the top :) I suppose that from time to time I karate chop my pillow, but not because I think "gosh, I'd really like for my pillow to look like that".

Are you sure that the picture above is of a karate-chopped pillow and not a pillow someone made "bunny ears" out of? Cause that looks ridiculous unless someone likes to make animals out of their accessories.

I agree, Lisa, it sure DOES look ridiculous... I just don't get the purpose.

that is an extreme karate chop! i think it only looks good when it's subtle and on rather large overstuffed pillows. otherwise, it's just plain silly.

according to my august Domino Magazine I got in the mail yesterday (they have a whole page dedicated to decorating "mistakes"), 65% of interior decorators say "No!" to the karate chop.

Personally I think it looks weird and maybe your pillow needs a little more stuffing. Besides, who has time for that? Throw pillows get, well, thrown around! A pretty pillow should speak for itself. And amen to limited pillow population!

Sounds kind of fun to do tho - "the punch bag for small spaces!Take out your stress on your soft furnishings!"...

Obviously, the karate chop in the photo is way overdone. I think that in some instances, a subtle chop is acceptable -- as stated above on overstuffed pillows to create cozy, welcoming appearance and add texture. I am strongly against chopping pillows with any sort of strong graphic on it -- it just skews the intended design (sort of like squeezing a Barbie doll's head).

Oh, I agree with meltendo on the "pillow overload" thing! My own mom is the worst offender. Sitting in her chairs is an uncomfortable trial. I always end up chucking the excess pillows on the floor, which drives her crazy, but what else can you do?

I've never done it, but I never really thought about the karate chop before. It does look heinous on that particular pillow in the photo.

I think that is completely over the top in terms of the technique and yes, looks like bunny ears or pillow camel toe. However, the look on a lesser scale is a bit appealing to me. I think it makes the pillows look a little more casual, more roughed up and just generally less precious than throw pillows can look.

This question is also posed to designers in this month's Domino. The opted for NO, as well.

gregory cracks me up!

(he)

I'm with mviamontes, and think it's an interesting distinction to make—the chop as part of the process of fluffing a pillow, rather than the goal. The chop is a most efficient way to add fatness to a pillow, if followed by pressing the middle to avoid pillow cameltoe.

The cameltoe thing is just classic -- genius comparison! yeah, it's one of those "emperor has no clothes" things, like, um, did you seriously mean to do that?

HA. pillowtoe. it also looks like a silly fortune cookie.

I think that was more of a dropkick.

I chop my pillows. Since my pillows are down, the chop imposes a bit of shape. However none of them looks like the illustration. Since my

I've never heard of this, but I'm going to start today.

I've never heard of this either... Is this serious (because it looks sorta' stupid)?

Michael W.,
Yes, this is serious. And it used to be a real thing.... I'll never forget the scene in War of the Roses, when Kathleen Turner karate-chops her pillows. It indicates frustration she starts to build as she puts the last finishing touch on her redecorating, and the beginning of the end of everything else.

This is bizarre. I've never seen it before in my life!

Why anyone would do this is beyond me. It sort of looks like ears. Maybe the owner of this pillow lonely and desperate for company?

Kelly Wearstler's boutique hotel in Beverly Hills, Maison 140, has karate chopped pillows all over the lounge on the first floor, and it works.

I think the "karate chop" is alright but not as much as it was in that picture above...that was ridiculous lol! most designers don't do it THAT extreme! i like a little dent in it...just to make the pillow look not so perfect.

In the room photo, it works with the oversized solid pillows on the oversized couches. But not with prints, and not with small pillows, and not with small couches.

Only if you are attempting a wry 1970s decor or a salute to Architectural Digest ...

Tragic

I once read that the "karate chop" lets everyone know that the pillows are down since you can't do that with synthetic pillows. I guess that's similar to men who have bespoke suits leaving 1 or 2 buttons on the cuff undone - to convey that this is an expensive, luxury item. Not sure how relevant the karate chop is in today's cheap market for down.

I like a small karate chop to mix up the square lines a bit. But nothing overdone like the photo.

OK, I cannot stop giggling, picturing someone pillow-chopping away for so long just to get this look. And so much discussion on this topic! Anyone care to venture a guess how long this took? I mean really, each pillow, looks like it was "chopped" just so.

Actually, the back pillows on my living room couch sort of look like that all the time (the square, formed type that form that back of a shaped couch, not loose pillows). I was trying to figure out why they always seemed to lose shape after I fluffed them into position. Then I discovered my cat sleeping on the top of the pillow, with the pillow squished beneath her into just that shape. She looked lovely, but the pillow just looked misshapen. I had no idea she was a cutting edge interior designer.

That looks like a fortune cookie.

How can you not have seen this before? I feel like its everywhere. I dont like it.

Sometimes it looks alright when its subtle. What if they start making them with a pre-made karate chop?! that would be CRAZY. Coming soon to a Linens and Things near you!

-Eleazar
http://www.blogazar.com

I've now stopped giggling long enough to take the house tour. I've gotta say it's a beautiful home and I like that the homeowner has incorporated heirlooms with thrift store finds. As a mom with two kids, I wonder how much time the homewner, a mom of three and a busines owner, has to actually pillow chop on a daily basis.

Personally I like a very gentle and subtle mini-chop to the sides of my down pillows. Plumps them up, but doesn't look contrived.

That said, regarding the picture - it doesn't bother me a lot. If she likes it, I say go for it. Obviously a lot of people liked it at one point or there wouldn't be such a negative knee-jerk viceral reaction to it! All beloved fads eventually end up despised by those who consider themselves on the leading edge of what's "cool". The homeowner's only fault is trying to bring back the trend too soon. To all of you that hate the look - watch out - your kids are going to be all about the karate chop!

um, not to be a pill... but why is this important?

I actually avoided looking deeper into this particular house tour because of the plethora of karate-chopped pillows in the opening picture. Totally judged a book by the cover on this one. Sorry. Couldn’t help it – that “design technique” just grates me.
(And you’re right, Kat1, it’s not “important” per se, but this is an apartment decorating and design website so polls on whether their readers like a certain method of fluffing a pillow are going to come up from time to time.)

This reminds me of something unfortunate that happens to our couch pillows, thanks to our cat's um...fondness...for them.

Because of this, I'm going to have to say no.

Not only do I think BB and Beyond WILL come out with a pre-chopped pillow but I foresee them selling a gadget that chops your pillows FOR YOU.

I also dismissed this house tour after one look at the chopped pillows--it indicated to me that the house was probably decorated by a professional which is much less interesting to me than one decorated by the owners. I did not look further to see if this was the case.

I am almost ashamed to admit that not only do i hate this, every time I see a karate-chopped pillow I have an anger rise inside me (much like road rage) where I cannot understand how ANYONE ANYWHERE could ever think this looks good. I hate it.

But in the grand scheme of things - no it isn't important :)

I think the karate chop looks silly. I fluff the pillows on my couch daily and then punch them right in the middle so they don't look too perfect

now i when i go to friends homes, i'll be looking to see if they are choppers or not..

I karate chop my pillows and all other home accessories that get out of line.

I've heard it called the "Karl Springer Chop"?

okay shawn, i snarfed hard on that one

I just circle kicked my ottoman...

do you get to yell iiiiiiiiiiii eeeeeeee when you chop them?

You should, Kate (NC)....to really 'chop'!!!!

I hate them...but I grew up with them...when my mom made our beds or when we travel (around Germany) all the hotel pillows are STILL fluffed like this. LOL
I like it only in the comfort/familiarity way.

Yeah, they look sort of animated.. in this case, sacks of flour.

if you put buttons on either side of the pillow-toe chop, then these could look like cute animated cats...without the unfortunate accidents...
:-)