--- title: "French Edge vs Piping: Which Cushions Can Have Each" url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/french-edge-vs-piping/" section: "The Cutting Table" author: "Margaret Holloway, The Piping Queen of Newport" author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/maggie/" published: "2026-06-14" updated: "2026-06-14" keywords: "french edge vs piping, french edge cushion, cushion piping, replacement cushion cover piping, bolster without trim" --- # 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.* Also asked as: Could they be French edge in velvet?; Only piping? > **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. ![Cocoa brown velvet bolster with self piping lying on rumpled linen bedding in front of a mauve headboard, sage wall](https://cushionguide.com/media/bolster-pillows/cocoa-velvet-bolster-mauve-headboard-sage-wall-1600.webp "Cocoa velvet with a pinkish cast, chosen to melt into a mauve headboard and rumpled linen sheets.") ## 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. ## 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](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/cushion-covers/) and [bolster pillows](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/bolster-pillows/), the glossary entry for the [French edge](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#french-mattress-edge), and [piping: matching, contrast or none](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-piping-matching-contrast-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 > **Tailor's margin:** Replacement cushion covers come with piping only, because the workshop makes a French edge on tufted cushions alone. > 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 answer:** No. 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 answer:** Yes. 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 answer:** Yes. 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 answer:** Stripe 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. ## Related at the atelier - [Are the cushion covers removable and machine washable?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/removable-machine-washable-cushion-covers/): Yes, every zippered cushion cover is removable and machine washable, velvet and linen included, on full cushions and cover-only orders alike. - [How do I get a price for replacement cushion covers?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/replacement-cushion-covers-price/): Price replacement cushion covers on the cover-only listing: pick the size range for each piece and the price appears on screen. - [Can you make replacement covers for an IKEA Friheten sofa?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/corner-sofa-bed-replacement-covers-and-backrests/): No, fitted replacement slipcovers for an IKEA Friheten sofa aren't made; the workshop makes seat cushions and backrests instead, including a lounge set of two backrests, two armrests and a mattress… - [Cushion zipper placement: back edge, underside and odd shapes](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-zipper-placement/): The zipper goes on the back edge of the cushion, the side that faces the wall, window or chair back, or on the underside, where nobody sees it. - [Box edge, knife edge, bullnose: cushion edge styles explained](https://cushionguide.com/guides/box-edge-vs-knife-edge-cushion/): A knife edge cushion is two panels sewn together with one seam around the middle of the edge, so it tapers soft and relaxed; a box edge cushion adds a side band, or gusset, between top and bottom… - [Custom Cushion Covers in Five Velvets: A Pairing for Each Season](https://cushionguide.com/readings/five-velvet-cushions-fanned-oak-floor-piping/): Custom cushion covers let one cushion change with the seasons: zip off an ivory velvet with gray piping for summer and zip on emerald with coral piping for the holidays. - [Cut-to-size foam vs a finished cushion: the honest comparison](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cut-to-size-foam-vs-finished-cushion/) - [Ordering new cushion covers for foam you already own](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-covers-for-existing-foam/) *Stitch straight — Maggie* --- Written by Margaret Holloway (https://cushionguide.com/masters/maggie/) 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/french-edge-vs-piping/