The term given when a skilled craftsperson has performed the stitching is, "hand-stitched". What you need to be looking out for is the more rows, the higher quality the bed. At Winston's Beds, we have made the UK's first-ever 7-row hand-stitched mattress.
Hand-side stitched borders are much better than machine stitched borders. This is because a hand-stitched border creates a broader and more sturdy sleeping surface, as there is less dipping at the edges of the mattress, as a result of the thread being passed through the pocket springs and fillings of the mattress to create a firmer and more supportive edge. With a machine-stitched border, the thread is there for decorative purposes only.
Handcrafting a border is a highly skilled and labour-intensive process. The borders of the mattress are sewn in rows to hold the fillings and springs in place. Our craftspeople, with years of experience, have perfected the skill. Our beds are stitched right through the border and springs depth, this technique is applied only to the top-quality mattresses, due to the specialist process and time that is required to make it. Do not be fooled by machined borders which try to create the look of handcrafted borders, but give none of the support.
By using an upholstery needle and a natural high tensile twine, our craftspeople stitch the border, springs and fillings of the bed together. This is a traditional process that can take hours to complete (16 hours for a 7-row collection), as it must be completed by hand.
Teasing is a labour-intensive process. The method involves separating the fibres of the natural fillings by hand. It is necessary to tease the natural fibres of our horsehair, working through the strands to remove any impurities, to achieve an even layer of natural and soft filling.
Our craftspeople internally stitch all mattresses in our 2 to 7-row collections with natural fillings. This time-consuming stitching ties the edge of the bed to the fillings. We also make sure to avoid the use of any spray adhesives or glues.
By creating a firm edge, the stitched mattress does not droop or sag out the sides. The bed stays contained in the perimeter and giving it rigid and firmer support right up to the edge, thus extending the sleeping surface of the bed.
The higher the number of rows of stitches, the more support, durability and luxurious of the mattress. Our unique mattresses can have two, five or even seven rows of stitching.
Our mattresses are available in the following sizes:
Please click on the link below to see the UK's first-ever 7-row hand-stitched mattress.
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