The Cutting Table · a checklist answer
How big are the fabric swatches, and can I get bigger ones?
Also asked as:How big are the swatches?Is it possible to get 4-inch squares?
A swatch no bigger than a postage stamp can still tell the truth about color, my friends. Here's what it shows, and what to ask for when you need more.
SaveThe quick answer
Standard fabric swatches are small, about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 in (3-4 cm) square, enough to judge true color, weave and texture. Velvet can be sent as 4 x 4 in (10 x 10 cm) squares if you order through the fabric-samples listing and ask in a note, and some sample orders have arrived around 6 in (15 cm) square.
Key facts
- Standard swatches are about 1 1/4 x 1 1/4 in (3 x 3 cm) or 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 in (4 x 4 cm).
- Some sample orders have arrived as pieces about 6 x 6 in (15 x 15 cm).
- Velvet swatches can be sent as 4 x 4 in (10 x 10 cm) squares on request through the fabric-samples listing.
- Larger physical swatches are not generally available.
- Photos of finished cushions and customer photos in your colors are the alternative.
- The sample fee covers shipping and can be refunded or deducted from a later cushion or sofa order.
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Describe the room at four in the afternoon: the floor, the wall, the one color you love. That is where a good fabric choice begins. — Élodie
Leave your details and the workshop will call you to confirm measurements, fabric, foam and piping. No prices, dates or payment on this page: it is a request, not an order.
What a small square can tell you
A swatch doesn't need to be large to be truthful. Standard ones are about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 in (3-4 cm) square, enough to show true color, the weave and the hand. Hold one by a window at noon, then under your lamps at dusk, and it will tell you more than any photograph. Daylight never lies; your screen sometimes does.
Most buyers want bigger, and I understand. Some sample orders have gone out as pieces about 6 in (15 cm) square, and velvet can come as 4 x 4 in (10 x 10 cm) squares on request. Beyond that, larger physical swatches aren't generally available. The swatch Pattern walks through ordering. What light does your room get in the late afternoon?
A sample order that works hard
- Buy the fabric-sample option once and list every code you want in the note; they ship together.
- For velvet, order through the fabric-samples listing and write "please send 4 in squares."
- Look at each swatch in morning daylight and again under evening lamps.
- Ask for photos of finished cushions and customer photos in the colors you're weighing.
- Mention your sample order when you buy the cushions; the fee can be refunded or deducted.
Three ways to see a color bigger
| Option | Size | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Standard swatch | About 1 1/4-1 1/2 in (3-4 cm) square | True color, weave and texture |
| Velvet square, on request | 4 x 4 in (10 x 10 cm) | How the pile catches light as you tilt it |
| Finished-cushion and customer photos | A whole cushion | The shade at full size, in a real room |
A 1 1/2 in fabric swatch is small but honest: hold it in daylight for true color, then ask for finished-cushion photos to see the shade at full size.
Élodie
Buyer questions
- A common question
How large are your swatches, and do you do bigger ones?
The workshop's answerStandard swatches are small, about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 in (3-4 cm) square, to show true color and texture. Velvet can come as 4 x 4 in squares: buy them through the fabric-samples listing and add a note asking for 4 in squares.
- A common question
Do you sell fabric samples, and what size are they?
The workshop's answerYes. Buy the fabric-sample option on a listing and list any extra colors in a message, and they ship together. Those swatches were about 6 x 6 in (15 x 15 cm). The sample charge covers shipping only and can be refunded or deducted when you order the cushions or sofa.
- A common question
Can I see bigger swatches, or the colors made into cushions?
The workshop's answerLarger physical swatches aren't available. Instead, the shop sends photos of finished cushions and customer photos in the colors you're considering, and says they're true to the real color.
- A common question
Do I pay for each swatch separately?
The workshop's answerNo. The swatches themselves are free; one small flat fee per sample order covers shipping. That fee has often been deducted from a later cushion or sofa order, and close-up photos in chat cost nothing.
Questions buyers ask next
How long do fabric samples take to reach the US?
Samples travel by FedEx to the US once they leave the workshop. Ask for current dispatch and delivery times when you order them, and allow a little longer in busy periods before you expect them at the door.
Is a digital mockup a good stand-in for a bigger swatch?
It helps with shape and layout. Once you've picked colors, the shop can send a digital mockup of your cushion in that fabric, plus close-ups and finished-cushion photos. For color-critical projects, back it up with physical samples.
Which fabrics can I get swatches of?
Any fabric the shop sells. Buy the Fabric Sample option once, on a cushion listing or the fabric-samples listing, and write the exact fabric codes you want in the personalization or note box.
