WHICH MATERIALS DO I USE?
In the old days Moroccans left the filling of the pouf to the maker. He filled the pouf with natural wool mixed with straw and sewed up the seam permanently. These days wool is very expensive, luckily there are a bunch of alternatives.
FABRIC
In Morocco poufs are often filled with leftover pieces of fabric. You can use old clothing, bedsheets and pillows. Just make sure your textiles are clean and perfectly dry before using them as stuffing.
POLYETHER FLAKES
I fill my poufs with polyether flakes. This is a shredded residual material of custom-cut blocks of polyether foam. I recommend getting the pre-filled pillows, the flakes are very static and tend to cling to everything except the inside of your pouf :) Get your pillow slightly larger than your pouf size, if you can’t find the exact size you need use multiple cushions.
IKEA PILLOWS
Most of us have an Ikea nearby, the FJÄDRAR feather pillows have the right consistancy to fill your pouf. Get 3-4 65x65cm to obtain the right amount of filling.
HOW TO FILL YOUR POUF?
People usually do not fill their poufs enough. The secret of a nicely shaped pouf is very generous stuffing.
There is a large zipper opening at the bottom of the pouf. Start filling the bottom and the sides. Then fill the center of the ottoman. Make sure that the filling is distributed evenly.
Do not be afraid to over fill the pouf. The hand sewn seams are very strong as well as the zipper.
Zip up the ottoman, press it well, sit on it, roll it into shape, and if necessary add more filling. Repeat this until the pouf has the desired shape and sturdiness.