What Is a Gusseted Pillow?
A gusseted pillow has height added by a piece of fabric that is incorporated between the side seams of the top and the bottom. Gusseted pillows have a high loft or thick appearance, and are favored for their luxurious style and comfort.
Identification
In pillow construction, a gusset refers to a rib of fabric that creates a 90-degree perpendicular wall between the top and the bottom pieces of fabric. The gusset in a pillow may be any depth, generally from 1 to 3 inches tall. A taller gusset creates a pillow with a higher profile. A gusseted pillow can also be constructed in three sections, with top and bottom filled sections and intermediate filled section. This gives the effect of a pillow top, where the top and bottom sections are slightly larger than the middle gusset section.
History
Gusseted pillows, most commonly constructed with a narrow strip of fabric between the top and bottom pieces, are a favorite decorating accessory. The term gusset is derived from the French gousset, which was a section of Medieval armor inserted between two sections to increase mobility. In the early 1900s, a gusset became a sewing term, referring to a piece of fabric sewn between two others to increase size. The piece of fabric is a triangular or square piece that is inserted into a seam. Gussets are commonly used at the shoulder, underarm or crotch of garments. Modern tights and pantyhose have gussets inserted at the crotch seam.
Function
Pillows are generally rated by their appearance and comfort. Gusseted sleeping pillows are considered more comfortable than ordinary pillows because the fill maintains a higher loft and the pillow maintains its height all the way to each edge. Gusseted pillows provide superior head and neck support by encouraging head and neck alignment. Gusseted pillows are available in medium, firm and extra firm densities to enhance their ergonomic benefits. Gusseted decorative pillows have a chic and contemporary profile. The gusset on a decorative pillow can be made in a contrasting or coordinating fabric to enhance interior decoration.
Features
Gusseted pillows are available at a wide range of price points. Like traditional pillows, they may be filled with goose down, microfiber, foam or fiberfill. The filling type often determines the price of the pillow. Sometimes the edges of the top and bottom fabric are finished with cording, along the seams of the gusset. Gusseted pillows can be intended for sleeping, and used with a pillow protector and pillowcase. Gusseted pillows can also be made in a variety of fabrics and used as decorative accessories. Many chair seat pads are gusseted in style.
Considerations
Gusseted pillows require custom sized pillow protectors and pillowcases because they are generally thicker than standard pillows. Sewing a gusseted pillow, or a cover for a gusseted pillow, is more complicated than sewing a simple pillow with only a top and bottom piece. The length of a the gusset should be slightly larger than the circumference of the top and bottom sections of a pillow to allow for corners and to avoid puckering.
Tags: gusseted, pillow, Gusseted pillows, piece fabric, between bottom, between bottom pieces, bottom pieces, bottom sections, fabric that, gusseted pillow
