Are Rocking Chair Cushion Sets Necessary?
Many people have the misconception that rocking chairs originated in America. It is true that the early settlers in America made them a popular household item; the rocking chair idea started in Europe and was a common item on cradles dating back to the late 1300's. They were added to wooden horses as children's toy in the late 1600's. The earliest mention of 'rockers' being added to chairs was documented in the early 1600's. Some have attributed the invention of the rocking chair to Benjamin Franklin, however there is a receipt of sale that has the words 'converted chair' dated a few years before Benjamin's idea.
Rocking chair cushion sets today are mass produced and the man or woman the owner of the rocking chair merely proceeds to a store and picks the material pattern and type, the shape, softness, and the quality. Price is of some consideration. Often the Internet will have these cushion sets for much less even though there is a shipping cost associated with the purchase.
If you are handy with a sewing machine you can be like grandmother and make your own rocking chair cushion sets. After you travel to the sewing center, select and purchase the material, then design the pattern, stuffing, and sew the cushion. You will spend more in time and money than by purchasing from the store.
Rocking chair cushion sets transform hard unforgiving rocking chairs into soft cushiony places to rest and relax. The materials are selected according to where the rocking chair will be located. If it will outdoors on a porch, you should select a plastic material that can be wiped free of moisture or a material and stuffing that is forgiving of snow, rain, and blowing dust and debris.
If your rocking chair is made of bamboo, you may not want a cushion. Bamboo rocking chairs have a tendency to give a little more as bamboo material is somewhat elastic and these rockers are often quite comfortable without a cushion. Bamboo rocking chairs are almost always given a coat of clear lacquer or in some cases, non-yellowing spar varnish. The coatings are great for the protection from snow and rain.
Bamboo materials in chairs often leads us to a rocker made from rattan; rattan is a member of the palm tree family. Rattans are extensively used for making furniture and baskets. Cut into sections, rattan can be used to make several types of furniture.
Rattan accepts paints and stains like many other kinds of wood, so it is available in many colors. The inner part of the rattan plant can be separated and worked into wicker. Due to resistance to splintering, rattan can be used as staves or canes. Like bamboo, rattan is very forgiving and you may not need rocking chair cushion sets except for decorative purposes and style.
