The Cutting Table · a question, worked through
Can I get a French edge instead of piping?
Right, then. The answer depends on what you're ordering, and one word decides it: tufted.
Pinned by Maggie
The quick answer
You can get a French edge only on a tufted cushion; covers sold on their own, such as replacement covers, are made with piping only. Where a piece normally carries French trim, such as round bolsters and backrests, the trim can be left off and the piece made without it.
Get a quote for a cushion covers
Key facts
- A French edge is only made on tufted cushions.
- Covers sold on their own, such as replacement covers, come with piping.
- Round bolsters and backrests that normally have French trim can be made without it.
- Piping can be a different fabric from the body, such as velvet piping on linen.
- Self piping, cut from the cushion fabric, is the guaranteed color match.
- Tufted French-edge floor cushions and backrests are normally 4-5 in (10-12 cm) thick.
- Round armrest bolsters are about 8 in (20 cm) in diameter as standard, and 10 in (25 cm) is possible.
- Cushions as thin as 1 in (2 cm) are made without piping; from about 1 1/4 in (3 cm) up, piping fits.
Have it made
Have Maggie’s workshop cut this for you
Have the tape measure handy when they call. Old cushions shrink and sag; the seat underneath does not. — Maggie
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.
Why a replacement cover gets piping
A French edge is a rolled edge, pinched into a firm line by hand stitching on a filled, tufted cushion. The workshop makes it on tufted pieces only. An empty replacement cover arrives with nothing inside to roll, so covers sold on their own are made with piping.
Piping isn't the consolation prize, dear. A straight welt is a kind of honesty: it outlines the shape and guards the seam where the edge wears. The cocoa velvet bolster in the photo wears self piping, and nobody has asked where its French edge went.
Going the other way is easy too. Round bolsters and backrests that usually carry French trim can be made without it. So which are you ordering, a tufted cushion or a cover for foam you already own?
See cushion covers and bolster pillows, the glossary entry for the French edge, and piping: matching, contrast or none.
French edge or piping, piece by piece
| What you're ordering | Edge you can get |
|---|---|
| Tufted cushion | French edge is possible |
| Replacement cover sold alone | Piping only |
| Round bolster with French trim | With the trim, or made without it |
| Backrest with French trim | With the trim, or made without it |
Writing the piping into your order
- Body code and piping code written separately in the personalization box
- 'Piping same color' plus the code, if you want self piping
- A different fabric for the piping, such as velvet on a linen body, if you like
- Outdoor fabric paired with outdoor piping, not indoor velvet
- Self piping on a striped body, the only guaranteed match
A French edge is made only on tufted cushions; round bolsters and backrests that usually carry French trim can be made without it.
Margaret Holloway
Buyer questions
- A common question
Can my replacement cover have a French edge instead of piping?
The workshop's answerNo. Covers sold on their own are made with piping only; a French edge can only be made on tufted cushions.
- A common question
Can the round bolsters and the backrest be made without the French trim?
The workshop's answerYes. Both the bolsters and the backrests can be made without the French trim.
- A common question
Can the piping be a different fabric from the cushion, like velvet on linen?
The workshop's answerYes. Body and piping can be different fabric types; write both codes separately. The workshop advises against pairing outdoor fabric with indoor velvet piping.
- A common question
Can I get solid piping to match one color in my striped fabric?
The workshop's answerStripe collections have no matching solids, so solid piping comes from another chart and may differ slightly in tone; the workshop picks the closest shade. Self piping from the same fabric is the guaranteed match.
Questions buyers ask next
What exactly is a French edge on a cushion?
A box-style edge pinched into a firm roll by rows of hand stitching just above and below the seam. It keeps a crisp line on a tufted cushion and resists sagging where people sit on the edge.
Can the piping match the cushion exactly?
Yes. Self piping is cut from the cushion fabric itself, so the color is an exact match. You can also choose a contrast color or a different fabric by writing its code next to the body code.
Where does my piping choice go when I order?
In the personalization box, for example 'Body: code, Piping: code', or 'piping same color' with the code for self piping. If the form has no option for it, message the code to the workshop.
