I am so excited that autumn is finally here. The leaves on the trees are just beginning to change colors and the air has a crispness that is almost intoxicating. I love autumn!

I love waking up in the morning and breathing in the fresh air. Because of this habit, I always leave one window in my bedroom slightly open. I love feeling the crisp air on my face while I sleep. I don’t, however, want to be cold while I am sleeping. For this reason, I love my down blanket. It is just right for the cool evenings. In addition to being beautiful, my down blanket is very functional. The air is not so cold outside that I need a down comforter, but I definitely need more than a basic blanket, and for this reason a down blanket fits the bill perfectly.

As autumn turns into winter, I will add a second down blanket. When winter finally arrives I will swap out my down blankets for my down comforter. Oh, and I guess I’ll close the window too.

Sweet dreams,
Susan

Summer is upon us, and in full blast here in Eastern Pennsylvania. I have to admit that this is probably my favorite time of year. I love the sunshine, the warmth, and the fact that everything around us is in bloom.

For me, there is a downside to this time of year. I’m a redhead, with fair skin, and a bit of Irish in my family history, so I have three strikes against me when it comes to getting tanned. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a sun goddess by any means, but I don’t want to be so white that I scare small children!

I am a true believer in protecting my skin with sunscreen - I kind of don’t have a choice. But I would also like to appear a little sun-kissed. Like many people, I’ve probably tried every self tanner you can find in grocery and drug stores. Either they smelled or went on streaky, or looked very artificial. I gave up and decided that I would resign myself to being ghostly white for the rest of my life. Then a friend from QVC gave me a bottle of Monne Express Self-tanning Spray (A73134), a product she was about to launch on air. I tried it, and had great success! I spray it on and blend it into my skin using an old shower scrunchie. Immediately, I have a nice, soft glow. Because it’s tinted, I know exactly where it goes, and after showering, the tan is till there. It also has a wonderful smell, kind of soft and floral.

I will never look like I’ve been on a tropical island for a month, and I’ve accepted that. I also apply sunscreen on a regular basis to avoid damage from the harmful rays of the sun. But I’m happy knowing that at least I won’t glow in the dark anymore.

Happy Summer!
Suzanne

Northern Nights pillows are naturally fluffy but sometimes they need a little help to reach their fullest potential. If you are taking your Northern Nights pillows out of the box for the very first time or if you have had your favorite pair for years, chances are they look a little flat. Well, we’ve been doing this for a long time and we have found a trick that recaptures fluffiness.

First, take off any packaging, pillow protector, or pillow case. Next, place your pillow in the dryer along with a damp washcloth. It is important to make sure that the washcloth is only damp and that all of the excess liquid has been wrung out before putting it in the dryer with your pillow. The third step is to dry the pillow(s) on medium heat, not high, for about twenty minutes or until the washcloth is completely dry. Finally, take your pillow out of the dryer, put it on your bed and enjoy!

Tip for every day fluffing:
1. Take two of the four corners of your pillow into your hands.
2. Vigorously tap your pillow three to four times on a firm surface.
3. Rotate and repeat this process three times until pillow is completely fluffed.

Hope this helps and sleep well,
Kari Steinnes

It’s finally Springtime, and I think Mother Nature is realizing it too! It’s the time of year to plant flowers, clean up our yards, and find any excuse to spend time outdoors. This is also a great time to change your sheet selections.

While our flannels are wonderful for the colder months, many of us are ready for something cooler, yet just as cozy. That’s where Jersey Knit sheets can make a big difference. They have the baby-blanket softness of flannels, but with the coolness of sateen or percale. Want to know why? It’s all in the way they’re put together.

Knit sheets are just what the name suggests – “knit,” rather than woven. This means that the threads are looped around each other, just like the scarves your grandmother used to make. And just like your favorite t-shirt, they have softness and give to the fabric.

When shopping for Jersey Knit sheets, there are some things to look for. Because they are not woven, you won’t find thread count listed. Instead, the quality of Jerseys is counted by the amount of cotton used. This is one of the most important factors in the quality, and will be listed as either ounces per yard, or grams per meter (usually the latter). But don’t look for numbers that are too high – this will make the sheets too heavy. Typically, the better sheets have 140 to 170 grams of cotton per meter.

If you prefer the look of a crisply made bed, stick with sateen or percale. But if you’re someone who sleeps in an old t-shirt, and would like to have that same feeling in your bedding, Jersey Knit sheets are the way to go.

Sleep well –
Suzanne

Choosing the correct pillow is one of the most important decisions we make toward getting a better night’s sleep. The proper pillow should offer support without sacrificing comfort, and it should be designed to meet your individual needs. There are so many different types of pillows to choose from, so how do you know which pillow will be right for you?

Click here to watch Serine walk you through how to pick the proper pillow

If you find that you tend to stack two or more pillows together in an effort to get more support, a gusset pillow may be just what you are looking for. Gussets offer a greater sweet spot for the head and neck and allow the fill to spread out evenly all the way to the edges of the pillow. There is more surface area where you can receive excellent support to the neck and the crown of the head. A gusset pillow will also help place your head in a more natural alignment than two pillows stacked.

Perhaps you fight with your pillow throughout the night, punching it and trying to get it into the shape you need for better support and comfort. An adjustable pillow is what you need; one that will contour to the head and neck regardless of the position you sleep in. Down pillows can be soft or firm, and usually work best if you are looking for adjustability. Down will contour around the head and neck, changing shape as you change positions throughout the night. For sleepers who change position often or who need to maintain a more natural alignment while sleeping, down pillows work beautifully.

Do you fold your pillow in half trying to get a firmer feel and better support? If this sounds like you, try a pillow with an inner design. We make several pillows that have inner designs which are created to offer a firm support in the center of the pillow. The inner portion of the pillow is usually filled with a type of feather for firmer support, while the outer pillow area is filled with down for comfort and adjustability. Look for pillows with designs like Down Around™, Slumber Core™, Tria, Embrace, or even Uncrushable™. A pillow that has an inner design should not need to be folded.



Don’t be discouraged if it takes a little time to find the perfect pillow. Once you have identified the best pillow for you, the restful nights of sleep you receive make it worth the effort.

Sleep well,
Serine Steinnes

I wanted to personally thank everyone who participated in our live on-line chat on March 15th. We learned a lot about the questions and suggestions that are on the minds of our viewers. We answered as many questions as possible in the time allotted but there were several that we just didn’t have time to address. Over the next couple of weeks we will try to get to the questions that we didn’t answer during the live chat. We appreciate your patience, and please stay in touch with us.

So many of you asked questions about care and longevity for our Northern Nights products that I thought we should cover it this week. All Northern Nights products use high quality materials that are intended to last, but the specific lifetime will be unique for each item. Many Northern Nights items come with a manufacturer’s warranty inside the box which should give a good indicator of how long the product is intended to last. A good estimate is 3-5 years for pillows, featherbeds, and mattress pads, and 5-10 years for comforters and blankets. Of course, this also depends on how well the product is cared for and how often it is shaken and lofted. Well cared for products can last much longer but these are good estimates. Suzanne can give a range for sheets and flannel products. Caring for featherbeds is easy. Please use your featherbed cover to help protect your investment. Shake and fluff your featherbed regularly, at least once each week, to help it remain fluffy and make it last longer. Wash the cover with regular laundry. The featherbed should be professionally laundered or dry cleaned every 3-5 years. The featherbed can fit under the fitted sheet or rest on top with the cover zipped over.

Comforters and Down Blankets also require regular shaking and lofting in order to maintain their fluffiness. A duvet cover used over your Down Comforter will protect it and help it to last years longer than leaving it uncovered. Duvet covers are a matter of personal choice based on fashion. They usually come with buttons on one side and can be a bit tricky to get over your comforter. If you can get two corners inside the duvet cover and hold them in place, it’s fairly simple to pull the duvet cover down over the remaining two corners of the comforter. Both Comforters and Blankets can be machine washed if you have a large enough machine. Wash on gentle cycle, cold water with mild detergent. Dry on air, no heat, until thoroughly dry so the comforter/blanket doesn’t mildew. Pillows can be shaken and lofted as needed and are also machine washable. Use cold water on a gentle cycle and dry on air without heat and a couple of clean tennis balls. Tennis balls help maintain the fluffiness of the pillow and prevent fill from clumping on one end or the other.

There were also many questions asked concerning how to know which product is right for you. This is such a personal choice that it can be difficult to offer specific suggestions.

Here are some loose guidelines to consider.

Featherbeds are the easiest way to get support, comfort, and an adjustable feel to your mattress. Some featherbeds are firmer and provide more of a mattress extension feeling of support. Others offer sink-in adjustability that contour more and envelope the body while you sleep. Choose the level of firmness or adjustability that best fits your needs and preference.

If a featherbed is too much bulk on the mattress for you, we sometimes offer a down mattress pad in the line. We don’t have any at this moment, but have plans to introduce a new one in fall. We do have a down mattress pad on QVC.com in a few sizes but will not get any additional stock in this item in anticipation of the new down mattress pad that will launch later in the season.

We also plan on bringing back the pet bed for those of you that have expressed how much you miss them. Look for new pet beds this fall.

Comforters come in all types of designs, fill powers, and thread counts. If you prefer less maintenance, choose a design that is closed such as a Baffle Box or Box Stitch. These designs may flatten more quickly than open designs but they will prevent the down from shifting from one area to another and will require less shaking/lofting and less maintenance. If you find that certain areas tend to flatten more quickly, try fluffing the comforter more often or even placing it in the dryer without heat for a few minutes to push air into it. Open designs such as Karo Baffle, Box Step, or 4 Corner Baffle Box usually create a fluffier comforter but will require more regular maintenance and shaking to keep them fluffy. Open designs also tend to stay fluffier a little longer than closed designs without baffling.

If you are looking for a very fluffy comforter, higher fill powers combined with high fill weights and a design that has baffle in the seams is the best choice.

If a lightweight cover is what you seek, take a look at our numerous Down Blankets. We have several to choose from in various colors and fill powers and all will provide a lighter choice than a traditional Down Comforter.

California King size bed owners should order a king size blanket or comforter, and a California king size featherbed. The king size comforter and blanket will drape nicely over either king or California king size beds.

If you are on waitlist for any of our products, we are usually able to fill these orders within 60 days of receipt of the order. There are some exceptions, but 60 days is our average. Pillows are the most difficult product category to suggest because they are such personal choices. I am working on an easy guide of how to purchase the right pillow for you and hope to send it out next week, so please look for it in the near future. In the meantime, I have just a few quick pointers below. Firmer support and a more propped up feel on your pillow is usually provided by pillows that come with a gusset, more feather fill, and an inner construction or design. Softer, more adjustable pillows that offer a contouring feel are usually filled with down and can have a gusset or a regular edge. More to follow on pillows next week…

The final set of questions that I wanted to address this week concerns where our Northern Nights products are manufactured. It is our goal to offer the very best quality possible under the Northern Nights brand, as well as to provide a great value to our customers. As a result, we source product from all over the world, using fabric manufacturers that meet our high quality standards at a value that we can pass on to all of you. Only the manufacturers with the highest level of working standards and quality meet our qualifications. Some of these manufacturers are located in Europe, and others are located throughout Asia. We have been purchasing down and feather from the same family farms for decades in Europe, Asia, and Canada. Our fabric sources also come from strong relationships where quality and high working standards are essential. We will continue to bring you products at a value with the very finest quality in the future.

I hope this helps answer some of the questions that we missed.

Sleep well,
Serine Steinnes

We wanted to thank all who attended our live Northern Nights chat on line at QVC. It was fantastic to see all of your questions and we truly enjoyed answering you personally. We find it extremely rewarding to communicate with all of you directly and hope that the experience can help provide you with some guidance regarding your questions. It is important for us to remember that not everyone has the same sleeping needs. Different people have different needs and preferences. Having the ability to read your expressed needs and preferences enables us to address those needs in the Northern Nights product line and will help us to explain the products more effectively on QVC.

In our future blogs we will be addressing the questions that we did not have the opportunity to answer during the live chat. The list is not short and it makes me realize that our next chat could be even longer. Again, thank you for all your participation and please look for our future blogs.

Many Thanks,
Serine, Suzanne, Susan, and me (Kari)

See the transcript from the Northern Nights® live chat

More and more people are realizing that sleep is not just a time to close their eyes; it’s a time to escape and refresh from the hectic day to day life that we all experience. Knowing this, it’s becoming very important to dress your bed in luxurious and comforting items. We all want those luxuries to last though, and to get our money’s worth. Since my focus is on the items that touch your skin more often, I’ll center on those areas. Here are some tips to help when buying linens, and to maintain that luxury, which we all deserve.

When washing high thread count sheets, we recommend that you wash them in cold water, with a gentle detergent. Avoid fabric softeners when washing cotton sheets, as the softener will coat the threads and take away from the breathability.

Layering your bed with down blankets and comforters helps you to be able to adjust your temperature, just like layering your clothes does. Of course, I always recommend using a duvet cover with a down comforter as it will protect it and you won’t have to wash it as often, but you can also use a duvet cover for your blankets. This will help, especially in the warmer months, to protect it from wear and tear, and you’ll also need to wash it less often. I keep covers on both my comforters and blankets. As I mentioned before, I have a number of cats, and having this added layer of protection helps with cleaning up after shedding, and from little claws.

When it comes to buying your sheets, thread count is important, but so is the feel of the fabric. Not all thread counts are created equally. Some manufacturers will use “plied” threads (multiple yarns twisted together to create one thread) to boost the thread count number. This is a big controversy in the industry right now, as many feel that a plied thread should be counted as one, and not as the number of yarns twisted together (Northern Nights agrees with this philosophy). The number of plies can affect the hand of the fabric, so your best bet is to try to feel the fabric if you can. I have felt 500 tc that is extremely soft, and some that is stiff and not fluid. By feeling first, you can tell if your sheets have the substance and the softness you’re looking for.

Always check the label to see if your sheets are all cotton or a blend, as that can affect your sleep experience. Cotton will be breathable and more lightweight, where blends with polyester will be heavier, and less likely to wrinkle.

Hopefully, that’s a start for you. Remember, you want a bed that will welcome you at night, and will help you be more productive each day. By using a brand that you trust, and textiles that feel good against your skin, you’re on your way to a better night’s sleep.

Kari, Susan and I will be available for a live chat on Saturday, March 15 at 2pm EST, to offer more tips and answer any questions about your Northern Nights bedding. Please come and visit with us!

Sleep well –
Suzanne

Featherbeds have been around for hundreds of years, in one form or another, and yet they can still cause confusion in terms of how to care for or use them. They come in a variety of designs, with something intended to benefit almost any user. Some are thick and fluffy, some are lower profiled, some are marshmallow soft, and others offer firmer support. Depending on what you are looking for, you can probably find it with one of the Northern Nights featherbeds.

Our Down on Top design featherbeds are the top of our line today. They offer more of a sink-in, cloud-like feel. They offer similar benefits to our old Presidential line of featherbeds, but with new improvements and benefits. Softer and more luxurious in feel, these featherbeds really make you feel like you are in a Bed and Breakfast. We used to offer Down Mattress Pads that could be combined with a regular featherbed to turn it into a down topped featherbed, but with this new design we no longer need to sell the two separate pieces. It’s all offered in one featherbed!

Sleepers who have deeper mattresses often look for a lower profiled featherbed. A simple Baffle Box design or a 2” Gusset Featherbed with Baffle Box or Baffle Channel works great if you already have a very thick mattress. Northern Nights sheets should fit beautifully over both this type of featherbed and your mattress.

If a firmer support featherbed is what you are looking for, Uncrushable feather fill and a 2” or 3” Gusset are the way to go. This fill combined with the smaller Gusset will provide a firmer feel that is very supportive, even if it’s not the fluffiest looking featherbed.

Regardless of what you choose, your featherbed will still require some regular maintenance. It will need shaking and fluffing at least once a week to keep it fluffy. Use your cover to help protect it from spills. Have it dry cleaned or professionally laundered every 3-5 years so it stays fresh. If you find that your featherbed shifts on the bed while you sleep, place it under your fitted sheet. It may still migrate but it will do so less. Placing a mattress pad over the featherbed will also help eliminate excess shifting. Of course, you can also sleep directly on the cover.

If pets share your featherbed with you, I suggest placing it under the fitted sheet and always keeping it covered with additional sheets or bedding, especially with cats. Unfortunately, there isn’t a cotton fabric made that can prevent our furry feline’s claws from poking through!

To all my featherbed users out there….
May you sink into clouds of comfort every night!

Serine

Have you ever heard the Urban Legend that cats should never sleep with babies? I have and I took that seriously when Abbey was very young, although I never really understood why. I made sure to keep my cat, Figaro, out of the crib when she was asleep. I told myself that he did not want to sleep in the crib anyway. After all, Figaro had the entire guest bedroom to himself. He could always be seen sleeping at the top of the bed, curled up into a little ball all snug and warm, purring away.

It was not until Abbey grew too big for her crib that I understood what that saying was all about. The entire time Abbey was sleeping in the crib, she never slept with a pillow. In the crib, she would lie on her back, with her thumb in her mouth and her head turned to one side, her little body covered with baby blankets for warmth. No pillows were ever in the crib, just baby blankets and the occasional small stuffed animal. As soon as Abbey moved from the crib to her bed I noticed a change in Figaro’s sleeping habits. As I was making Abbey’s bed for the first time, I was so excited as I put the featherbed on. I was thrilled as I covered the featherbed with new pink sheets, and as I folded the hospital corners on the flat sheet I was ready to jump in for a little nap myself. I was beaming as I put on her brand new down blanket and so pleased with myself as I lofted her new all down pillow and placed it at the top of the bed. I was busting with excitement and could not wait until it was nap time. Abbey was going to love this bed! This was going to be the most comfortable bed in the world and I knew it….and so did Figaro. No sooner was the bed made when Figaro came right into the room, jumped up onto the bed and curled his furry black body at the top of Abbey’s brand new bed. He was lying smack dab in the middle of her brand new down pillow! All of the shooing in the world would not keep him away from this particular pillow or from his girl Abbey.

If you ask me, I think that the Urban Legend should be rewritten. “Once your cat discovers your all down pillows, your night’s sleep will never be the same. Oh, and pillows should not be used in a crib.” To this day, almost six years later, you can find Abbey sleeping in her bed lying on her back, head turned to one side, covered with her down blanket and her head on her down pillow with Figaro right next to her. We’re still working on the thumb.

Sweet dreams,
Susan

A friend of mine purchased a Northern Nights pet bed for her Labrador a couple of years ago. We were making pet beds then and all of my friends with dogs were anxious to give their family pets the same comfort and luxury that they enjoyed with their featherbed. My friend set the new pet bed out and her Labrador seemed to love it. He climbed on and snuggled down into it contentedly. With no concerns, she went to work the next morning. The sight she came home to has become a great story to tell at dinner parties ever since.

When she walked in the door, she instinctively knew that something was wrong. There were pieces of denim fabric lying about the room and a feather blew through the air in front of her as she walked toward the living room. The scene of the crime was the far corner of the living room. It was here that her mild-mannered Labrador had been sleeping calmly on his new pet bed when she left for work that morning. She was shocked to see nothing left of the pet bed. It had been attacked, the denim fabric shredded into strips which were scattered throughout the room. Feather was everywhere, behind the television, between books on the shelves, even on light fixtures attached to the ceiling. She told me that she vacuumed for days. Every now and then she still finds a feather in some unexpected place.

I guess the moral of the story is that you should be completely certain of your dog’s love affair with his bedding before leaving them alone together. It probably helps to have a really good vacuum too.

Sleep Well,
Serine

They say that pets and children have the ability to find the most comfortable places to sleep. I’ve found that this is true. You may have heard me being teased about having six cats. There’s a story behind that, and in a nutshell, it goes like this: I fostered cats that were waiting for permanent homes for a local rescue organization. While I did have two of my own, the additional four never made the cut with other families, so now I have what I lovingly call my “six pack.”

I also have every bed in my house outfitted with Northern Nights sheets, featherbeds, down blankets and comforters. Go figure. . . With all that cuddly softness, you would think that I get a cozy night’s sleep each time I go to bed, wouldn’t you? You would be mistaken.

Here’s why. Cats were once highly regarded as royalty and as gifts from the Gods. It’s in their blood and they don’t let us forget it! Besides ruling the house, they also own the bed, with every ounce of luxury it offers, so when they claim their spot, they’re not giving it up. I have a queen sized bed, but with six cats nestled into their chosen locations, I don’t get much room for myself. I often wind up in a contorted position, with cats between my feet, beside my head, and under my arms. Somehow, the seven of us manage to sleep through the night without injuring each other though, so I really can’t complain. They bring so much laughter and unconditional love into my home that bedspace is an even trade.

Maybe I should upgrade to a king sized bed.

Sleep well, and sweet dreams!
Suzanne

In the early days at QVC, we worked on a rotating set that was divided up into three different areas. While one of the three was live on air, we would dress the other two sections and get them ready for product sells that were coming up later in the hour. During a break in the live show, someone would yell out, “rotate,” and the set would rotate around so that the next section would sit in front of the cameras ready to go live on air.

One night I was preparing for a show at 3:00 AM, dressing one of the three sections of the set while the live show focused on another section. We all worked as a team trying to make sure that shows flowed smoothly on air. It was very late and I was quite tired from a day of working in the office and being on air. I had just finished dressing the bed and was standing on the edge of the elevated set admiring my work. I only vaguely heard the booming voice that asked for a set rotate. Suddenly the earth moved under my feet, literally! I was so caught by surprise that I couldn’t catch my balance and I fell over backward. This would not have been so bad except that I was standing on the edge of the set. I lost my footing and fell right off the set, which was elevated five feet off the ground. Luckily I landed backside first into a large box that had a featherbed. It was soft, but it took two people to pull me out of the box.

This is just one of the examples of how graceful the Northern Nights ladies can be. The good news is that none of our current bedroom sets have wheels!

Sleep Well,
Serine

QVC is live television, all day, all the time. Things don’t always go the way we would expect them to. . . Things crash in the studio, we pronounce things incorrectly, and we fall on our behinds. It’s the final of these examples that I would like to share with you today.

I was in the middle of a one hour show, presenting Northern Nights Flannel Sheets. During one of the product discussions, I rested my knee on the bed, placing one of the pillows on that leg, so that I could reach it when describing some of its details. This is something I do often, but what happened next was a total and complete surprise! Apparently, one of the cords that we wear had become entangled on the heel of my shoe. When I moved to put my foot back on the floor, my foot wouldn’t move the way it was supposed to, and I wound up pulling myself to the ground!! Luckily, I wasn’t in the camera shot at the time, but I found myself sitting on my rump, on the floor, beside the bed. Also luckily, I didn’t get hurt, but I started giggling uncontrollably, as quietly as I could so as not to be heard over the air.

By the time the camera came back to the live shot, I had managed to get myself back up and situated. However, for the remainder of that show, the host and I could not look at each other for fear of breaking out in laughter. Afterwards was another story, and to this day, I double and triple check to be sure that all of my equipment cords are tightly wrapped so that I don’t find myself on the floor.

Its okay – you can laugh at me too; I do it all the time.

Good sleeping!
Suzanne

Have you every asked yourself the question, “How do I clean my featherbed?” It won’t, after all, fit in my washing machine. The good news is cleaning a featherbed is not as complicated as you might think. First of all, all Northern Nights ® featherbeds come with machine washable zip covers. Washing your cover could not be simpler. Simply remove the featherbed cover from the featherbed, wash the cover in cold water on the gentle cycle, do not add bleach and tumble dry on low heat. For a wonderful fresh feeling, I like to wash my cover weekly. As far as cleaning the actual featherbed, it should be professionally laundered every 3 to 5 years. It can also be spot cleaned by taking a cloth and dampening it with water and mild detergent. Clean the specific area with the damp cloth while taking care not to over saturate the featherbed.

Wishing you the sweetest of dreams,
Susan Bacus

PS - Never underestimate the benefits of a good featherbed cover. In addition to protecting your featherbed, featherbed covers help to prolong the life of your investment.