Hermes 70 cm Silk Scarf Turned into a Cushion

We all try and follow various philosophies in life right?

Use your good things...

During the packing of my belongings into boxes for the renovations, I realized how much crap and how many lovely objects ( to me anyway ) I possess.  But I store them in a drawer or another room only to guiltily stroke them intermittently.

As some of you may know I collect Hermes silk scarves.

But try as I might, I can't seem to wear a scarf everyday.

I had seen a few scarves made into pillows and thought I should try it myself one day.  I went through my stash and chose a scarf to make into a pillow.  

I chose a 70 cm silk scarf called Tres Kelly.

I saw this scarf on Tabitha of Bourbon and Pearls  and 

on Faux Fuschia ( click to see the scarves in action )

and wasn't going to follow those two acts. 

So instead of the scarf languishing in my drawers

I saved it from its fate of hanging out eternally with cedar balls.

Eh Voila!

It is quite big.  

I am glad I didn't choose a 90 cm scarf because that would have been humongous! 

But I should have also chosen a less puffier pillow to display the scarf better.

The reverse of the pillow is a beige suede with golden tones to match the accent color of the hardware in the motif.

It's not the perfect match but I quite like the two textures on the one pillow.  I could have chosen a better tone but then I think I would have never got it done so I just went with the best option.

I chose an established upholsterer in East Dulwich who had experience of making Versace scarves into cushions. She had not worked with Hermes before so assumed them to be the same. 

However she said the rolled edge of Hermes scarves was not as straightforward compared to Versace ones.

I wanted to expose the rolled hems of the scarf as it is a process that takes 45 minutes for an expert to hand sew and 

is a beautiful feature of Hermes scarves. 

But she said it constantly puckered and 

she was having to go back and constantly rearrange the material.

So she decided to just stitch the scarf under the reverse for a cleaner finish.  

But she did allow for the scarf to be used back to its original purpose so the process is reversible.

For that reason the cushion does not have a zip otherwise 

I would not have been able to salvage the silk into a scarf again.

So if you are handy and have a scarf you admire but never get around to wearing I think this would be a great compromise.

PS I have decided to extend my one year birthday giveaway until the 27th of December 8 a.m. as I will be moving boxes before Xmas and won't have much time! 

Good luck once again x