I never, ever understood the karate chop look, so I remain a fan of fluffy.

I've never karate chopped.

Likewise. To me the karate chop ones just look silly and I don't understand the rationale behind it.

I was just going through a bunch of couch pillow photos and some that I like have a slight bend at the top but are more flat and not near as FULL as the last photo I posted. I'm guessing they're not down pillows.

Oly - You mean the first set of photos I posted or FULL, but not karate chopped?

I don't know what to call the other non chopped pillow.

Everyone feel free to post photos of your pillows or pics of ones you like.

Don't care, just so long there are no more than two pillows to get in my way. Don't like sofa clutter.

This is cute - Along Came Polly (6/10) Movie CLIP - Stabbing the Pillows

I hate hard throw pillows that don't "squish." I don't karate chop my pillows, but I only like down inserts that give when you sit against them.

No chops...unless it's pork. :)

I think I may be the only poster in all of GardenWeb Land who likes it. Not severe, but I do a slight version of it. I've tried to figure out why .... WHY do I like something everyone else dislikes so much? Am I trying to be a rebel at age 46? Was I brainwashed by magazines for too many years? Am I taking frustrations out on my innocent pillows?

Nah, I just think it gives a finished look. But even my pillows are all, "Why do you do this to us, woman? Stop it!"

Lol, mizGG! I actually don't dislike karate chopped pillows...I just don't do it myself. Mostly...I just really like pillows that CAN be chopped!

If pillows look like that at our house, it's b/c a cat has been walking/lying on it!

Donna

I've never liked the karate chop look for pillows. Too contrived for my home, but to each, his own. I much prefer 2 smooth, flat pillows on each end, that are thin and soft enough to feel comfy leaning against. The fat ones are too uncomfortable for me.

I normally ordered the synthetic down inserts from United, but recently ordered two ply-a-fiber inserts that will hold a karate chop. DH was crazy about these new inserts, saying how comfy and supportive they were - (under his head and neck during his short afternoon naps on the couch). I tried them out, laying on the couch to watch TV the other night, and have to agree, they are much more comfortable. Since they do hold any shape you put them it, either fully full or a karate chop, from now on, this is what I’ll be using!

I would like to say that I prefer smooth and unwrinkled pillows, but must admit to being a very slight chopper. I mean, so slight as to be almost imperceptible - but it somehow makes me feel better to put a little dent in the top. And if that isn't a ridiculous thing to even find oneself taking the time to do, I don't know what is.

;-)

smooth

I'm kind of the same mindset as MizGG. While I don't "chop" my pillows, I like a nice full pillow and I like how they "settle". I only use down pillows (or inserts). i also go the 2 inch larger route. A down pillow, even a big fat one, will conform to the person and are nice and comfy. Then you can plump them back into shape!

I'm not a fan of the karate chop -- looks too "staged" . . . would rather just have plain pillows.

I admit to being a chopper! I chop then pull out on the corners (ears) a little...lol!

I've never been a chopper, so smooth all the way!

Full and smooth here, I never got the chopping and wondered back when watching HGTV when they were doing it incessantly if it would move to the bed pillows.

Some of these made me laugh!

As I was fixing pillows today I found some of the flat ones to be too...flat. We normally don't actually use our pillow, but we've all been more lax lately. (I'd never say anything to guests about them. I just say no to use because DH is very hard on pillow - squishing them in half, etc. I'd be replacing often.)

Heidesign - I was hoping you'd pop in. Do you order the woven or nonwoven exteriors? I know the woven is washable. I see they have a video now on their site showing the different types of pillows which was kind of helpful. I wish I could remember what type of pillows I ordered for my bedroom ones. They don't hold a karate chop and the Perma Soft sounds like the familiar name. I'm going to go back to watch the video to see the comparison between the synthetic down and the Ply a fiber.

Wow! I looked at those ply a fiber pillows. I might give those a try - they are SO much less!

Either way but on my leather sofas down pillows work best and with a chop. Anything else doesn't stay in place as well.

Tina - Fwiw, the faux down is around the same price.

In the video he describes the Ply a fiber as a limp fiber. Heidesign, do you think it will hold up as well as the synthetic down overtime?

Sheeisback - If I remember correctly, your original pillow order was for the Perma Soft. That’s what I used to use with most of my clients, until I discovered the faux down and now, the Ply-a-fiber, which I really love. I, too, found that the Perma Soft pillows ended up being too flat. I admit to liking a little chop, or at least a bend, in the upper line of the pillows. And of course, as you know, always buy inserts that are one size larger than the pillow covers for best fullness and to fill out all the corners. To answer your original question, I always buy the woven covers so they can be laundered when necessary.

I do think that the ply-a-fiber will hold up as well as the faux down.

Kitch4me’s pillows, with a little chop, look just like I’d prefer all mine to look like. Hers are perfect, IMO.

Thanks Shee. I have not tried the faux down.

What is the purpose of the chop? Just a certain "look" ? Is it supposed to look like "something"? I honestly don't understand it. (Obviously not a chopper here :)

I've never even heard of it more less thought about an indent at the top being put there on purpose. I think they both look fine except the setup in the last of your examples.

I have a couple of pillows with undersized inserts so I thought I'd check out the Ply-a-fiber at United. Put two in my shopping cart and was pleased how the two came to less than $5. Then I discovered that the cheapest shipping option (UPS ground) is $16. No way.

I don't think the indent looks good or bad in and of itself, unless every freaking pillow in the room has it and then it looks contrived and fussy.

I chop. My husband undoes the chop. So, it all depends on who used the room last as to whether the pillows are chopped or not.

Linelle - Yeah, for all the pillows I need the shipping is $30, but when I did the math it still only ended up to about $10 a pillow. Sounds like the more you need the better the break down is.

Sheeisback, I guess so. It must be the size of the box that ups the cost?

I clearly have too much time on my hands today because I started googling 'karate chopped pillows.' So woodie2, it appears the purpose is to make the pillows look fuller or more comfortable (particularly with down pillows that don't hold a shape) or to emphasize the fabric's sheen. The little indentation gives a space for light to gather I guess. Anyway, I'm not a chopper!

I don't mind a soft chop--MizGG and Kitch, yours are very nice! But I just now got my kids trained to get the pillows back on the sofa. At this point, that's about all I can ask.

For me, it's not whether the pillows are chopped, but how they fit on the sofa. The OP's last photo would drive me crazy, chopped or not.

No chopping for me, I'm lucky to even be able to keep pillows on the sofa.

"I've never even heard of it more less thought about an indent at the top being put there on purpose." Ditto, until I watched some ridiculous HGTV-ish show where a high-end realtor was "chopping" all the pillows. I just thought, "this is pointless/ridiculous/HUH?!" I still don't get it.

I believe I noticed the pillow thing either here or blogs years ago. I don't watch HGTV.

I've come to the conclusion I like a slight bend in the pillow so it's not totally square, but I want it poufy taking up so much space like in my last photo. Yeeeah, still not sure which inserts I'll be ordering.

Bumping.

Heidesign - I was looking for this thread to double check that it was the ply a fiber inserts I wanted to get this time. I don't know how I missed your last reply on here. Thanks for the feedback. You mentioned ordering only one size up. Do you recommend 1" or 2" larger? I wasn't sure if that was a typo or if the type of insert made a difference for this. In the past I went with 2". I don't want an overly plumpy pillow. Thanks!

I like my pillows to look like pillows -- not something that someone has chopped into submission!

No chops...unless it's pork. :)

What about lamb?

I barely care so not going to do the chop, chop on pillows. I only like 2 pillows on the sofa, I use them to lift my book higher when reading, or resting my forearms on . Otherwise I don't like them taking up room.

No karate chop. Just fluff and place. ;)

I think it depends on the sofa size/seat depth. We manufacture sofas with as much as 25" seat depth so that large pillows can be added, and we display them with the karate chop. Lately, however, I think we are trying to offer sofas that do not require as many pillows, and that is my own personal preference, but I do not make the final decision. I also think it is more of a 1970s or 1980s look, but don't tell my boss. On the other hand, I used to make oversized silk pillows for my mother, and she put the karate chop on them because of the way I filled them, but that was back in the 1980s. She put them in ther living room, which was never used except for Christmas.

Oh for crying out loud! I don't like karate chopped either but was told I had to do it :o I'm going RIGHT NOW and smooth out the seven pillows on the sectional!

No chop. Looks too intentional. Anything messed up on purpose, for show, doesn't have a place in my home. I can mess things up unintentionally well enough!

Thanks Theclose! (I like your screen name) I did order 2" larger inserts and after still debating back and forth between the ply a fiber and faux down, I went with the ply a fiber. When you're ordering almost $100 in inserts (that's with shipping) that you don't intend to replace for quite sometime it can make the decision a little more analytical, ha. I could return them if I didn't like the inserts, but at a 10% restocking fee and I'd have to eat the shipping. They'll be good!

I'll post some photos of the finished pillows in the room. I've been talking about this way too long now.

I can't wait to see them Shee!! (And so sorry, I owe you a message, will catch up soon!)