---
title: "Discontinued Fabric Code? What Happens to Your Cushion Order"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/discontinued-fabric-code-alternatives/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Élodie Marchand, The Colorist of New Orleans"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/"
published: "2026-04-29"
updated: "2026-09-24"
keywords: "discontinued fabric code, fabric code not on chart, old fabric version cushion, discontinued cushion fabric alternatives, fabric chart changes"
---

# What if my fabric code is discontinued or no longer on the chart?

*A missing code on the chart is a question, not a verdict. Sometimes the cloth is still on the shelf, waiting.*

Also asked as: Have you changed the color codes?; I can't find lavender or mint anymore

> **The quick answer:** A fabric code missing from the chart is not always discontinued: some codes are dropped only because they're chosen less often and stay in stock to order. Others are replaced by a new fabric under the old code, and some are truly discontinued. If a fabric you ordered is discontinued, the workshop contacts you with alternative charts before production starts.

![Dusty rose and white stripe seat cushion with two plain rose box back cushions on a wooden balcony bench over city roofs](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/dusty-rose-stripe-balcony-bench-cushion-city-view-1600.webp "A built-in balcony bench gets a deep striped seat and two solid dusty pink back cushions, with geranium planters along the rail.")

## Key facts

- Fabric ranges are reduced or replaced over time.
- A new fabric can take over an old code.
- Some codes leave the chart only because they're chosen less often, and stay in stock.
- Discontinued or out-of-stock fabrics are not offered.
- A previous version can be shown to you and noted on your order.
- If an ordered fabric is discontinued, you're contacted with alternative charts before production.
- Production starts once you choose the new code.
- Palm-sized swatches, about 4 x 4 to 6 x 6 in, are the surest way to check a new fabric that has taken an old code.
- An out-of-stock code has to be re-woven at the mill, which adds time, so switching to an in-stock code is often faster.

## Four reasons a code slips off the chart

1. Chosen less often: taken off the chart, still in stock, still orderable (L54 was one)
2. Replaced: a new fabric now wears the old code
3. Out of stock: not offered, even if you spotted it in the background of a photo
4. Discontinued: gone, and alternative charts are sent

## Before you order a code you remember

- ✓ Ask whether it's still in stock, even if it's off the chart
- ✓ Ask to see the previous version if a new fabric took the code
- ✓ Have "old version" noted on your order
- ✓ Request close-ups of the neighboring codes in the same series
- ✓ Order a physical swatch if the shade has to match

## What won't happen to your order

- ✗ Production starting on a fabric that's no longer there
- ✗ A substitute chosen for you: you pick the new code yourself
- ✗ An out-of-stock fabric offered just because it appeared in a photo

## When a code changes its coat

Fabric ranges are pruned and refreshed over time, and now and then a new fabric takes over an old number. So the lavender you saved last year may belong to a different cloth under the same code. Let one color speak and the others listen: if that one shade matters, ask to see the previous version, and the workshop notes on your order that you want the old one.

The [fabric code](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#fabric-code) entry explains how codes work. The [swatches before ordering](https://cushionguide.com/guides/fabric-swatches-before-ordering/) Pattern puts real cloth in your own daylight, and the [dye lots](https://cushionguide.com/guides/dye-lots-matching-cushions-later/) Pattern covers matching cushions you already own. For the current range, start with [linen-look fabrics](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/linen-look-fabrics/). Which shade are you trying to find again, my friends?

> **Tailor's margin:** A fabric code off the chart may still be in stock: L54 was removed only because fewer buyers chose it, and it could still be ordered.

> If a cushion fabric you ordered is discontinued, production waits: you get alternative color charts first and pick the new code yourself.
>
> — Élodie

## Buyer questions

**A common question:** Some fabric codes I saw before are gone. Did the codes change?

**The workshop's answer:** Some fabrics are reduced or replaced over time, and a new fabric can take an old code. The workshop can show you previous versions and note on your order that you want the old one.

**A common question:** L54 is in your photos but not on the chart. Can I still get it?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. It was taken off the current chart only because it's chosen less often, not for quality reasons or discontinuation, and it's still in stock.

**A common question:** What happens if the fabric I ordered gets discontinued?

**The workshop's answer:** In past cases the workshop got in touch, explained, and sent alternative color charts, pet-friendly ones in one case. You pick a new code, the order is updated, and production starts.

**A common question:** Is every code on the chart actually available?

**The workshop's answer:** Not always. One patterned base code had been discontinued and the chart was due for an update, while the other codes in that series were available and close-ups were sent. A fabric in the background of a photo was out of stock and not offered.

## Questions buyers ask next

### Can I order a fabric I saw in a listing photo but not on the chart?

Often, yes. Ask about that exact fabric, because some are off the chart but still in stock. If it's out of stock, though, it won't be offered, even when it appears in a photo.

### Will a new fabric under the same code look identical?

Not necessarily. A new fabric can take over an old code, so ask for close-ups or order a physical swatch whenever you're matching cushions you already own.

### Do chart changes affect patterned fabrics too?

Yes. One patterned base code was discontinued while the rest of its series stayed available. Stripes, plaids and patterned velvets sit on extra charts, so ask which codes are current.

## Related at the atelier

- [How do I tell which fabric a color code is?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/fabric-code-prefixes-explained/): The prefix of a fabric code tells you the material, because each code family is one fabric.
- [Can I see close-ups or samples of the fabric before I order?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/fabric-samples-close-up-photos-before-ordering/): Yes: close-ups and real-life photos of specific fabric codes and color pairings are sent on request, and samples from the fabric-samples listing are the recommended way to judge texture in hand.
- [Do you have animal-print fabric like zebra, cheetah or cow print?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/animal-print-zebra-cushion-fabric/): Yes: a patterned chart includes animal prints, among them a zebra-style design coded P-02, and it can be used for chair cushion covers or even the 79 × 118 in (200 × 300 cm) L-shaped corner sofa.
- [Custom cushions for Lithuanian apartments, country homes and seaside cottages](https://cushionguide.com/places/custom-cushions-lithuania/): Custom cushions in Lithuania should pair linen's natural colors with warmer textures for winter.
- [Custom Throw Pillows in Mustard: How Light Changes the Color](https://cushionguide.com/readings/mustard-pebble-weave-macro-piped-pillow-corner/): Judge custom throw pillow colors in daylight, not on a screen: screens can shift a shade slightly, and warm lamplight deepens a mustard that morning light at a window shows cleaner.
- [Lumbar Pillow in Royal Blue Velvet: How the Sun Changes It](https://cushionguide.com/readings/royal-blue-velvet-lumbar-golden-yellow-shams-sun/): A royal blue velvet lumbar pillow changes with the seasons because velvet pile holds light: in strong summer sun it shifts from bright royal to near navy across one cushion, and under winter lamps…
- [What to write in a custom cushion order note: sizes, codes and extras](https://cushionguide.com/guides/custom-cushion-personalization-note/)
- [Matching fabric from a previous order: dye lots, add-ons and discontinued colors](https://cushionguide.com/guides/dye-lots-matching-cushions-later/)

*With color and care — Élodie*

---

Written by Élodie Marchand (https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/) for CushionGuide (https://cushionguide.com/about/). The site explains made-to-measure cushions and the partner workshop makes them; measurements are in inches first. This Markdown mirrors the page at https://cushionguide.com/answers/discontinued-fabric-code-alternatives/