The Cutting Table
The Cutting Table, page 7
Each answer starts from one question buyers ask again and again, then gives the short version, the workshop's reasoning, other ways the question is put and the follow-ups buyers ask next.
765 answers · 28 topics
Piping & welt (continued) 16
Can I get solid piping to match a color in my striped fabric?
Sometimes: striped and patterned fabrics have no solid in the same tone, so solid piping for a striped cushion comes from another chart and may differ slightly.
Do corduroy cushions have piping?
Corduroy daybed covers and modular floor sofa pieces are made without piping on purpose, because the ribs already give the cushion its lines and definition.
Does the modular floor sofa have piping or a flat seam?
A modular floor sofa comes with a flat seam by default, with no raised piping or welt, and every piece, ottoman and backrests included, is sewn to match.
Does piping cost extra on a custom cushion?
No, piping doesn't cost extra: it is included in the cushion price, and a contrast piping color from the fabric charts is free too.
What piping color goes best with my cushion fabric?
The best piping color depends on your body fabric and your room, and the workshop will suggest pairs and send photos before you decide.
Where is the piping color chart?
There is no separate piping color chart: piping can be cut from any fabric on any of the fabric charts in the listing images, more than 150 options.
Zippers & removable covers 29
Can you make a cover with elastic, like a fitted sheet, instead of a zipper?
No, mattress covers are made with a zipper only, not with elastic like a fitted sheet.
Where does the zipper go on my cushion, and will it show?
The zipper goes on the cushion's back edge, the one against the wall, window or chair back, or on the underside, and it comes standard on every cover at no extra charge.
Can I get a tufted bench cushion with a zipper so I can wash the cover?
No, a tufted bench cushion can't also have a removable zippered cover, so you choose one or the other.
Can I buy replacement covers to change my floor sofa's color?
Yes, replacement covers for a floor sofa are sold on their own, without foam: you choose your sofa model, a color and the pieces you need.
Which daybed cover do I need: a bedding set or a fitted cover?
A daybed cover is a bedding set, an elastic fitted cover, a zippered box cover or a skirted cover.
Will your replacement covers fit a teddy floor sofa from another brand?
Teddy sofa replacement covers usually fit another brand's sofa when the dimensions match: seats of 78 x 39 x 6.5 in (200 x 100 x 17 cm) and L-shaped backrests of 39 x 39 x 15 in (100 x 100 x 39 cm)…
What's in the covers-only set, and what size are the covers?
A covers-only set dresses one single floor sofa with four zippered covers: two seat covers of 78 x 39 x 6.5 in (200 x 100 x 17 cm) and two L-shaped backrest covers of 39 x 39 x 15 in (100 x 100 x 39…
Can you make a new cover for my tufted or button cushion?
No, a tufted replacement cover can't be made on its own, because tufting passes through the filling, and a plain new cover won't fit a tufted cushion properly.
Can I order an extra set of covers with my floor sofa so I can swap colors?
Yes, you can order an extra cover set with your floor sofa: buy the sofa from its listing and the workshop sends a separate custom link for covers in the color you choose.
Does the covers-only floor sofa listing include the foam and metal frame?
No, a teddy sofa covers-only order is just the empty fabric covers, with no foam inserts and no metal support bars.
Can I order a spare set of covers in another color, now or later?
Yes, spare covers in any chart color can be ordered with your cushion or at any time later, because the shop keeps your exact sizes, including for custom-size sofas.
Can you make slipcovers for the sofa I already own?
No: the workshop doesn't make fitted slipcovers for a whole conventional sofa (arms, back and skirt) or for an unrelated multi-piece set, such as a five-piece sofa with a storage ottoman.
Can you make custom-size covers for a modular sofa from another brand?
Yes, custom size modular sofa covers can be made for another brand's sofa, in any size, as long as you give the exact dimensions of each piece in the personalization box.
What measurements do you need to make a cover for my own foam?
To order a replacement cushion cover, send the exact length, width and thickness of each foam piece; the thickness, or fillable depth, is what makes the cover snug.
Can you make teddy sofa covers for my own mattresses, plus the backrests?
Yes: empty covers can be sewn to fit your own floor sofa mattresses, with matching L-shaped backrests.
Can you make zippered throw pillow covers for inserts I already have?
Yes, throw pillow covers can be made for your existing inserts: order through the zippered cushion cover listing and write your sizes in the Exact Size field.
Can I buy just the cushion cover without the foam insert?
Yes: a cushion cover only, without foam, is sewn to the exact length, width and thickness of the insert you already own.
Where does the zipper go on a trapezoid cushion, and will the foam come out?
Ask for the zipper on the shorter back edge and the workshop puts it there, so the long front edge stays clean.
Can you sew just a new cover for my trapezoid or tapered cushion?
Yes, a cover alone can be made for a trapezoid or tapered cushion you already have.
Do tufted floor cushions have a zipper or removable cover?
No: tufted floor cushions have no zipper or removable cover, because they are filled, tufted with buttons that pass through the filling, then hand-stitched closed.
Can you make a washable zippered cover for a crash pad or a crib-mattress play mat?
Yes: fully zippered, machine-washable box-style covers are made for crib mattresses used as floor play mats and for sensory crash pads.
Will a replacement cover fit my own insert snugly?
Yes, a replacement cover can fit your own insert snugly if the measurements are right: the fabric has a slight stretch, so fitted covers are cut about 3/8 to 3/4 in (1 to 2 cm) under the measured…
Can I choose which side the zipper goes on?
You can choose which edge of a custom cushion cover the zipper is sewn on.
How much cheaper is just the cover than a full cushion with foam?
A cushion cover only costs less than the same cushion with foam, because no foam is included.
Can you make a zippered cover for a mattress I already have?
Yes, a zippered box cover can be made to fit a mattress you already own, at any size, including sizes well beyond the listed ones.
My cushion cover zipper is stuck. Is it broken?
A stuck cushion cover zipper is usually not broken: the fabric or the tape underneath has caught in the teeth.
How do I wash a tufted cushion if the cover doesn't come off?
Wash a tufted cushion by spot-cleaning it gently by hand with a cloth, or put the whole cushion in the washing machine if it fits.
Can I replace just one sofa cover instead of the whole set?
Yes: a single floor sofa cover can be bought on its own, so one broken zipper or torn base doesn't mean a new set.
Can I buy empty zippered covers for tufted cushions and fill them myself?
Yes, as plain zippered covers in your exact sizes, but they will not be tufted.
Ties, straps & non-slip bases 22
Can you add ties to outdoor cushions so they don't blow away?
Outdoor cushions can have ties added to the seat and the backrest, on the back, corners or sides, including extra-long ties for beach houses and windy decks.
What is a non-slip base on a cushion, and how does it work?
A non-slip base is the cushion cover's bottom panel sewn from grippy anti-skid fabric instead of the regular fabric.
Can you add velcro instead of ties to keep my cushion in place?
Velcro is possible only by agreement: the workshop's standard answer to a sliding cushion is ties or a non-slip bottom, and it usually suggests one of those first.
How do I stop my kitchen chair cushions from sliding?
To make kitchen chair cushions non-slip, tie them to the back posts first: two ties at the back corners hold best on spindle, ladder and cross-back chairs.
Can you make custom dining chair cushions with ties?
Yes, custom dining chair cushions with ties are made to your exact seat measurements, with the ties sewn at the back to hold the pad to the spindles or ladder-back.
How do I keep back cushions from sliding or falling off?
Keep back cushions in place by matching the fix to what they lean on: sewn fabric ties if the back rests against a frame, railing or slats, and a non-slip backing if it rests against a flat wall or…
Will the non-slip bottom damage my wooden bench?
No, a non-slip cushion base won't damage wood, because it is a fabric backing, not an adhesive or a rubber coating.
Can you add ties to a custom cushion so it stays on the bench?
Yes, fabric ties can be sewn onto any made-to-measure cushion, from bench cushions to chair pads and odd-shaped seats.
How do I keep a cushion on a lift-up storage chest lid?
Ask for ties on the hinge side only, so the cushion for your storage bench lid stays attached when the lid swings up.
My floor sofa's non-slip pad shrank or tore. Can I buy just that piece?
Yes, floor sofa replacement non-slip pads are sold on their own; past replacements were priced to cover production and shipping only.
Is a non-slip bottom included, or does it cost extra?
A non-slip bottom is not included as standard; it is an optional add-on that costs extra, and the price scales with the cushion's size.
Do ties cost extra on a custom cushion?
Cushion ties are often sewn on free, and on some orders they carry a small per-cushion charge.
Does a floor sofa have to go against a wall, or will it slide in the middle of a room?
No wall is needed: a floor sofa can stand in the middle of a room because metal support bars along the sides and back hold the backrests upright and keep the cushions from slipping.
Do the floor sofa mattresses stay together when it's used as a bed?
Mostly, yes: floor sofa mattresses rarely slide apart in bed mode, because non-slip fabric lines the underside of the mattresses and the ottoman, and the pieces are heavy.
Can I wash the non-slip bottom of my floor sofa?
No, don't machine wash the non-slip bottom of a floor sofa; wipe it clean instead.
Buyer questions
- A common question
My striped fabric doesn't come in a plain version. What can I use for the piping?
The workshop's answerStriped lines only come in stripes, with no solid in the same tone. Use the same striped fabric for the piping, or pick a solid color from another chart.
The full answer: Can I get solid piping to match a color in my striped fabric?
- A common question
Do zippers cost extra, and which edge do they go on?
The workshop's answerThey're standard on every cover at no extra charge. The zipper goes on the back edge, against the wall, window or chair back. If the order isn't clear, the workshop asks; on one 23 5/8 x 17 3/4 in (60 x 45 cm) cushion it went on the longer edge.
The full answer: Where does the zipper go on my cushion, and will it show?
- A common question
Can I buy a second set of covers in another color to change the look later?
The workshop's answerYes. Extra cover sets are sold separately in any color on the listing, so you can switch colors or keep a spare. A second set has also been quoted for a custom 96 in (244 cm) sofa, and covers from the matching teddy-style listing swap onto this sofa.
The full answer: Can I order an extra set of covers with my floor sofa so I can swap colors?