Hi everyone! My name is Beth and I am the one attempting to create beauty out of chaos around here! Sometimes I even create chaos out of beauty :). Either way, I love to share my DIY home stories with all of you! [Read More …]
Yes she is my big sister, but even if she weren’t I’d still be inspired by her laundry room makeover!…
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Trend Alert: Karate Chopped Throw Pillows
April 12, 2011
Before you gloat in telling me that this isn’t a new trend. I know.
Decor Pad
Karate chopped throw pillows have been around for awhile now.
Phoebe Howard
But in recent months I feel like they are sneaking their way onto more home blogs, so I felt the need to call them out.
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What pray tell is a karate chopped pillow?
Phoebe Howard
It is when you extend your arm and in your best Miss Piggy impression you scream “Hiiiiiiiiyyyyyaaaaaaaaahhhhh!” while chopping downward at the center of your pillows.
Decor Pad
Okay, perhaps not everyone does the Miss Piggy thing. But they should. It’s fun.
House Beautiful
But with or without the Miss Piggy hi-yah, the karate chop motion will create a nice center crease in your pillow and “give it bunny ears” as my four year old pointed out today. Hmmm. Bunny ears. Who doesn’t want those?
Living rooms, mudrooms, and bedrooms are not exempt from designers’ martial arts antics. If there is a pillow to chop, it will be chopped.
Decor Pad
So what do you think of this (not so recent) trend? Do you like it? Do you do it? And if so, have you tried the Miss Piggy hi-yah while chopping? Talk to me. *wink*
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Hahaha – one must ALWAYS do Miss Piggy impersonations whilst decorating! And my pillows stay floofed for exactly 2 minutes before being karate chopped off the couch by my energetic 3 yr old
The mood has to strike me to do the karate chop to my pillows for the look, Beth. : ) Sometimes I like the look, sometimes I'm "eh" about it. Although, I must say it is a great stress reliever!
ahahaha this is too funny! I plump up my pillows but j don't usually do the karate chop (although I'm totally with you on the miss piggy hi-yah!) great post!
I love toss pillows almost as much as cookies. I noticed the karate chop trend when I purchased new pillows the other day. I didn't think I liked it then, but seeing your lineup I do! Plus it seems like a great way to get out a little pent up anger
Chopped pillows…no, I leave my chopping on the cutting board where I can do maximum damage whilst dealing with stress. Pillows are called "throw" pillows – there for, they are "thrown" onto the couch, bed, chair, etc – until someone decides to "throw" them on the floor again. LOL – around here, it's more about function than form.
This post totally made me smile. Thanks for the Miss Piggy visual When I first saw the "karate chopped" pillow look, I was like, "What the heck is that about??"… Now it's not so bad? Hmm. Still on the fence about it.
Hahaha I seriously just laughed out loud. The funny thing is, my husband was leaning over my shoulder while I surfed some blogs the other day and commented on the "weird angular pillows" too! He thought they were sewn to have those points!! I had to explain they were fluffed that way. It provoked a raised eyebrow face.
Umm is it lame if I'm not a chopper?? We're more of a smashed pillows kind of house. Kids and hubs laying on them. Hehe. But lets talk more about the fabulous mirrors in the pictures. I want more of that eye candy!
I'm guessing this trend started after a designer was so incredibly fet up with her difficult clients that she chopped the suey out of her pillows. I love throw pillows and if you want to chop yours fantastic. But mine are just fluffed.
Totally with Vivienne on this one – I have three small boys and they karate chop (and kick and punch) everything in my house too. I'm lucky if I can even get the pillows to stay on the couch at all. I was thinking it had something to do with the division of pattern, not a literal translation! Ha!
I like to karate chop a lot of things… but my pillows are not included.;) I have always thought it was kind of weird. I am all about any sort of 'fluffing' or adjusting, but karate choppin' pillows just ain't my thang. But, to each his own.
Beth, It's so funny that you posted this about the pillows, my friend Bonnie over at Hopeless Romantic, makes fun of me for doing the karate chop on my pillows.. I have done this for years She came to visit me last year and said NO NO But I have to say Yes I like it..
Well since you asked, I'm not really a fan of the karate chop pillow look. It feels like maybe we're trying too hard to conform. I prefer a more natural look. … Just one girl's opinion.
I love the Miss Piggy reference. Some pillows are not choppable, most of mine aren't, but that's ok because I don't love it… I'm more of a fluffer myself.
Oh, you are too funny! I want you to know I have refrained from ever karate chopping my pillows! I do have to say I think you just answered my ?…everytime I see a pillow like that…"why, I mean how in the heck did they do that"? Now, I know!
wow, who knew? I didn't have a clue about karate chopped pillows before this post. But you're right, people are totally doing that! Hmmm… mine would only stay karate chopped while my darlings are gone to school… then they will become full on kung-fued!
you're so amusing, Beth, even first thing in the morning
I am pretty excited when my throw pillows are actually on the furniture…I usually don't bother with the martial arts but maybe that would provide some much needed stress release!
Karate chopped pillows look a bit too contrived for my taste. A little too perfect. I like my throw pillows to appear more casually thrown. Great pics, though. Thanks for sharing.
This post made me smile, and the comments are great too! I have been looking for a way to relieve some end of day stress, and I am thinking a karate chop here, and a karate kick there might help! Seriously, though, I love that look. After all, what's the point of investing in down filled cushions if they don't look the part? Thanks for the light-hearted start to my day
This post made me laugh. Very cute. I honestly hadn't noticed the karate chopped pillow trend…i think I'm more the type to want my pillows straight and tidy looking, but maybe I'll try the karate chop look for a change. I may even make the "hi-ya"…if my hubby and kids aren't looking! lol.
I am spending the next two days undergoing lots of invasive, serious medical testing, and am quite nervous about the procedures and outcomes. In an effort to get my mind off of it, I decided to check out your blog to see if you had any new posts. "… in your best Miss Piggy impression you scream "Hiiiiiiiiyyyyyaaaaaaaaahhhhh!" made me laugh so hard out loud! Thank you so much for not only karate chopping some pillows, but also some of the tension in the air this morning! I'm fairly certain that I'm going to be smiling at random times all day!
I'm not a karate chopper either usually. I have on occasion chopped my down filled pillows on my sofa during a photo shoot, but normally they are just fluffed and its a good day when they stay there for more than 10 minutes. I will now and forever picture Miss Piggy's Hi-YA when I see them now though. Thanks, it will make me smile.
I have been karate chopping my pillows for a long time now but only on the sofa. I don't do that to decorative pillows on the beds. Not sure why but I have ALOT of pillows on the beds and like the look of them all lined up pretty! Love the Miss Piggy visual:):) XO, Pinky
The Muppet Show was the best. Miss Piggy was always someone I admired and feared. So mercurial . Maybe if she had more pillows to take her aggression out on, she wouldn't have had to take it out on all the guests .
It's not for me, but I'm not that into pillows. Shocking, but true. I like them neet looking. One, once in a while, chopped is attractive. It breaks the look up.
I don't like it, but I also like my belongings to be useful – I don't want to have to karate-chop something every time I get up from the couch. Plus some pillows don't hold the chop, and some just look better without it.
It is NOT called that. OMG. I don't do it, by the way. But I think the mirrors in the first picture are like freaky eyes staring back at me. I do. Shudder
I've never noticed that before…I guess I am behind the times! I prefer my pillows just fluffed but thanks to my crazy little boys I am lucky to even be able to find my pillows on the couch/bed…usually they end up on the floor after a pillow fight! Interesting trend tho!
hmmm… I really need to finish sewing my spring pillow covers so I can chop away. We recently picked up some old muppet movies from the 80s for my daughter, she loves saying hiya! Since our last name is Ham we have always called her Miss Piggy, now she understands why.
I thought it was a silly thing to do until I tried to take a photo of a pillow. Then I learn pillows photograph horribly without a little chopping action! Janell
The first time I saw someone karate chop a pillow was Chad Rogers on Million Dollar Listing on BRAVO TV. I thought he was nuts at the time, but now I do it too. I agree with Katie's comment about having a flat-topped pillow on a bed. But my living room pillows get a good chop/zsush frequently.
AMEN to you for calling this out I'm getting ready for a craft fair, and was ordering pillow samples. In readnig the descriptions I found that many mentioned how well the passed the "chop test." I was amused, but not that much, because blogworld had made me immune to thinking it was weird. But when I was showing the pillow samples to my friend adn my boyfriend, and mentioned some passed the chop test, they stopped me and thought I was bananas. We had a blast all trying a karate-chop to the pillows. It's a great way to take out anger! But really…I don't get why it's such a trend. I like my pillows nice and fluffed and square. If I wanted a bunny-chopped pillow, I'd order a pillow with ears!
When preparing for guests, I ALWAYS karate chop!!
Great! Now I'm running around the house karate chopping all my pillows it be hip and cool!!
I don't like it! I prefer the "flat top"!
Hahaha – one must ALWAYS do Miss Piggy impersonations whilst decorating! And my pillows stay floofed for exactly 2 minutes before being karate chopped off the couch by my energetic 3 yr old
Now I can't stop saying "Hiya!" in my head. I'm traveling for work so maybe I'll karate chop the bed pillows
I think both ways look good. I prefer the 'flat top' on a bed, but there is no rational reason why I think this.
The mood has to strike me to do the karate chop to my pillows for the look, Beth. : ) Sometimes I like the look, sometimes I'm "eh" about it. Although, I must say it is a great stress reliever!
ahahaha this is too funny! I plump up my pillows but j don't usually do the karate chop (although I'm totally with you on the miss piggy hi-yah!) great post!
I love toss pillows almost as much as cookies. I noticed the karate chop trend when I purchased new pillows the other day. I didn't think I liked it then, but seeing your lineup I do! Plus it seems like a great way to get out a little pent up anger
Mmm…no, thank you. I don't like gettin' wedgies. How do you think the pillows feel?
: )
Julie M.
I have 4 boys. Everything gets a karate chop at some point, whether I want it to or not.
I don't know that I even really noticed it until you pointed it out…
Chopped pillows…no, I leave my chopping on the cutting board where I can do maximum damage whilst dealing with stress. Pillows are called "throw" pillows – there for, they are "thrown" onto the couch, bed, chair, etc – until someone decides to "throw" them on the floor again. LOL – around here, it's more about function than form.
I can totally picture you going Miss Piggy on your pillows. Too funny. I could take it or leave it.
This post totally made me smile. Thanks for the Miss Piggy visual
When I first saw the "karate chopped" pillow look, I was like, "What the heck is that about??"… Now it's not so bad? Hmm. Still on the fence about it.
Hahaha I seriously just laughed out loud. The funny thing is, my husband was leaning over my shoulder while I surfed some blogs the other day and commented on the "weird angular pillows" too! He thought they were sewn to have those points!! I had to explain they were fluffed that way. It provoked a raised eyebrow face.
pillows are lovely to look at but a pain to have! who wants to constantly toss 'em off the couch or bed? not me!
this title cracked me up! it was exactly what i thought it was too.
and nope, don't like the look. now what do YOU think?;)
silly me, I didn't realize that was a trend. It just looks like dented in pillows to me.
Umm is it lame if I'm not a chopper?? We're more of a smashed pillows kind of house. Kids and hubs laying on them. Hehe. But lets talk more about the fabulous mirrors in the pictures. I want more of that eye candy!
I'm guessing this trend started after a designer was so incredibly fet up with her difficult clients that she chopped the suey out of her pillows. I love throw pillows and if you want to chop yours fantastic. But mine are just fluffed.
Totally with Vivienne on this one – I have three small boys and they karate chop (and kick and punch) everything in my house too. I'm lucky if I can even get the pillows to stay on the couch at all. I was thinking it had something to do with the division of pattern, not a literal translation! Ha!
I like to karate chop a lot of things… but my pillows are not included.;) I have always thought it was kind of weird. I am all about any sort of 'fluffing' or adjusting, but karate choppin' pillows just ain't my thang. But, to each his own.
Embarassing, but I now realize that there is one particular pillow (on my bed) that I subconciously "chop." Weird, huh? Thanks for the fun post!
Beth, It's so funny that you posted this about the pillows, my friend Bonnie over at Hopeless Romantic, makes fun of me for doing the karate chop on my pillows.. I have done this for years She came to visit me last year and said NO NO But I have to say Yes I like it..
Pattie
Well since you asked, I'm not really a fan of the karate chop pillow look. It feels like maybe we're trying too hard to conform. I prefer a more natural look. … Just one girl's opinion.
Some pillows I chop and some I don't. Not all pillows are chop-ready if you know what I mean.
Love the image of miss piggy with her chops. I love miss piggy.
I love the Miss Piggy reference.
Some pillows are not choppable, most of mine aren't, but that's ok because I don't love it… I'm more of a fluffer myself.
Oh, you are too funny! I want you to know I have refrained from ever karate chopping my pillows! I do have to say I think you just answered my ?…everytime I see a pillow like that…"why, I mean how in the heck did they do that"? Now, I know!
I thought EVERYONE chopped. Hmmm….. I must do it a lot bc my little 14 mo old baby girl does it….gotta train them young ya know…xoxo Shelli
wow, who knew? I didn't have a clue about karate chopped pillows before this post. But you're right, people are totally doing that! Hmmm… mine would only stay karate chopped while my darlings are gone to school… then they will become full on kung-fued!
Does it really have to be done that way? Hehehe, I love the "Karate Chop". Could a kick be applied too?
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Ha ha! Love your method– never thought to do it that way! I do love the way they look.
you're so amusing, Beth, even first thing in the morning
I am pretty excited when my throw pillows are actually on the furniture…I usually don't bother with the martial arts but maybe that would provide some much needed stress release!
Karate chopped pillows look a bit too contrived for my taste. A little too perfect. I like my throw pillows to appear more casually thrown. Great pics, though. Thanks for sharing.
This post made me smile, and the comments are great too! I have been looking for a way to relieve some end of day stress, and I am thinking a karate chop here, and a karate kick there might help! Seriously, though, I love that look. After all, what's the point of investing in down filled cushions if they don't look the part? Thanks for the light-hearted start to my day
Kerri
mydecoratingaddiction.blogspot.com
This post made me laugh. Very cute. I honestly hadn't noticed the karate chopped pillow trend…i think I'm more the type to want my pillows straight and tidy looking, but maybe I'll try the karate chop look for a change. I may even make the "hi-ya"…if my hubby and kids aren't looking! lol.
I am spending the next two days undergoing lots of invasive, serious medical testing, and am quite nervous about the procedures and outcomes. In an effort to get my mind off of it, I decided to check out your blog to see if you had any new posts. "… in your best Miss Piggy impression you scream "Hiiiiiiiiyyyyyaaaaaaaaahhhhh!" made me laugh so hard out loud! Thank you so much for not only karate chopping some pillows, but also some of the tension in the air this morning! I'm fairly certain that I'm going to be smiling at random times all day!
I'm not fussy about the karate chop idea. I don't think all the pillows should be "chopped" though – show some individuality!!
I don't get the katate chopped pillow thing at all. Is there a point to it, besides the expenditure of aggression on the part of the chopper?
I'm not a karate chopper either usually. I have on occasion chopped my down filled pillows on my sofa during a photo shoot, but normally they are just fluffed and its a good day when they stay there for more than 10 minutes. I will now and forever picture Miss Piggy's Hi-YA when I see them now though. Thanks, it will make me smile.
I have been karate chopping my pillows for a long time now but only on the sofa. I don't do that to decorative pillows on the beds. Not sure why but I have ALOT of pillows on the beds and like the look of them all lined up pretty! Love the Miss Piggy visual:):) XO, Pinky
When I worked for Pottery Barn several years back, we'd chop both sides then the top
So they were full and fluffed!
The Muppet Show was the best. Miss Piggy was always someone I admired and feared. So mercurial
. Maybe if she had more pillows to take her aggression out on, she wouldn't have had to take it out on all the guests 
.
Well the name was new to me! Never knew they called it karate chop – lol. Love it!
Jeanine
Well the name was new to me! Never knew they called it karate chop – lol. Love it!
Jeanine
chop! throw! fluff! stack! pile!
guilty! guilty! guilty! guilty! guilty!
very cute post, Beth!
Lynne
{with karate chop love}
I've been karate chopping for awhile now….but I have never called it that… I love it! You literally made me LAUGH OUT LOUD.
It's not for me, but I'm not that into pillows. Shocking, but true. I like them neet looking. One, once in a while, chopped is attractive. It breaks the look up.
I don't like it, but I also like my belongings to be useful – I don't want to have to karate-chop something every time I get up from the couch. Plus some pillows don't hold the chop, and some just look better without it.
It is NOT called that. OMG. I don't do it, by the way. But I think the mirrors in the first picture are like freaky eyes staring back at me. I do. Shudder
I've never noticed that before…I guess I am behind the times! I prefer my pillows just fluffed but thanks to my crazy little boys I am lucky to even be able to find my pillows on the couch/bed…usually they end up on the floor after a pillow fight! Interesting trend tho!
Blessings, Grace
you crack me up. I love me some karate chop pillows. I love your name for them. and your recipes always make me HUNGRAY!
hmmm… I really need to finish sewing my spring pillow covers so I can chop away. We recently picked up some old muppet movies from the 80s for my daughter, she loves saying hiya! Since our last name is Ham we have always called her Miss Piggy, now she understands why.
I thought it was a silly thing to do until I tried to take a photo of a pillow. Then I learn pillows photograph horribly without a little chopping action!
Janell
Will Karate Chopped Throw pillows be an event in the 2012 Summer Olympics? If so, I need to work on my forearms now.
The first time I saw someone karate chop a pillow was Chad Rogers on Million Dollar Listing on BRAVO TV. I thought he was nuts at the time, but now I do it too. I agree with Katie's comment about having a flat-topped pillow on a bed. But my living room pillows get a good chop/zsush frequently.
AMEN to you for calling this out
But really…I don't get why it's such a trend. I like my pillows nice and fluffed and square. If I wanted a bunny-chopped pillow, I'd order a pillow with ears!
I'm getting ready for a craft fair, and was ordering pillow samples. In readnig the descriptions I found that many mentioned how well the passed the "chop test." I was amused, but not that much, because blogworld had made me immune to thinking it was weird.
But when I was showing the pillow samples to my friend adn my boyfriend, and mentioned some passed the chop test, they stopped me and thought I was bananas.
We had a blast all trying a karate-chop to the pillows. It's a great way to take out anger!
i love that bravo episode! i was just googling it to talk about how i karate chop pillows now too. i can’t find the video.
so funny. great post. -natalie