The Cutting Table
The Cutting Table, page 9
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
Outdoor & water-resistant (continued) 19
Can you make custom cushions for an outdoor daybed or double chaise lounge?
Yes, seat and back cushions for outdoor daybeds and double chaise lounges are made to your exact sizes in weather-resistant outdoor fabric.
Is your regular cushion fabric waterproof?
No, the standard cushion fabrics are indoor fabrics and are not waterproof.
Do you have a striped fabric that works outdoors?
Yes, striped outdoor cushion fabric is on the outdoor charts: code V-38 is a water-repellent, UV-resistant outdoor stripe.
Can you make outdoor cushions 6 inches thick, with ties and no piping?
Yes, custom outdoor cushions with ties can be made to any size and thickness, including 6 in (15 cm), in water-resistant outdoor fabric.
Can a tufted cushion be made for outdoor use?
A tufted cushion can be made in outdoor fabric, but the tufting lets water inside even when the fabric is outdoor-grade.
Can I use your linen, velvet or chenille cushions outside?
No: linen, velvet, chenille and the other indoor-listing fabrics are not made for open-air use.
Can a very long outdoor bench cushion be made in one piece?
Sometimes, but an extra long outdoor bench cushion is often made in sections, because pieces of about 75 to 142 in (1.9 to 3.6 m) can pass the maximum single-piece length.
How much do custom outdoor cushions cost?
Custom outdoor cushions are priced per project, from your measurements, the number of pieces, the outdoor fabric and options such as piping, ties, tufting or backrests.
Washing & care 15
Are the cushion covers removable and machine washable?
Yes, every zippered cushion cover is removable and machine washable, velvet and linen included, on full cushions and cover-only orders alike.
Can I wash the whole cushion, or only the cover?
Wash the cushion cover, not the whole cushion: fillings sit in their own inner liner, so the outer cover unzips and machine washes at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle any time, while the insert is…
Can I wash the white non-slip bottom on the floor sofa?
No, the white non-slip bottom of a floor sofa must never go in the washing machine.
Are the cushion fabrics stain-resistant, and can I use a protector spray?
The fabrics are not sold as stain-treated; the real protection is a removable cover that machine washes at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle.
Are the floor sofa covers removable and machine washable?
Yes, every floor sofa cover unzips, comes off and machine washes at 86°F (30°C) max on a gentle cycle.
Why won't my cushion covers zip shut after washing? Did they shrink?
No, the fabric covers don't shrink when washed at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle.
Which cushion fabric is easiest to clean with kids?
The easiest cushion fabric to clean with kids is any of the common ones, because every cover unzips and machine washes at 86°F (30°C) on a delicate cycle.
How do I clean a tufted cushion if it can't go in the washer?
Clean a tufted cushion in place, by hand: wipe the surface gently with a damp cloth, and use a little mild soap and water for marks.
Can I still machine wash a cushion cover with a non-slip base?
Yes, a zippered cushion cover with a non-slip base stays machine washable, velvet included.
Can I take the cover off a tufted cushion to wash it?
No, a tufted cushion's cover can't be removed or machine washed, because the buttons are stitched through the cover and the filling together; it is spot clean only.
Can I put the cushion covers in the tumble dryer?
Cushion covers are best air dried, on a line, outdoors or in the sun; if you use a dryer on the fabric covers, choose the low setting, medium at most, and never high heat.
Can I iron my cushion covers to get the shipping creases out?
Yes, you can remove creases from cushion covers with steam or an iron on a low setting, and shipping creases also fade on their own over time.
How do I wash the cushion covers, and at what temperature?
Wash cushion covers at 86°F (30°C) at most, on a gentle, delicate or cold cycle, with mild detergent and no bleach.
Is the quilted sofa topper, or the pet couch protector, machine washable?
Yes: the quilted sofa topper and the pet couch protector covers both go in the washing machine on a gentle cycle at 86°F (30°C) or below.
Can velvet cushion covers go in the washing machine?
Yes: velvet cushion covers unzip with a hidden zipper and are machine washable at 86°F (30°C) maximum on a gentle cycle, the same care as every other fabric in the range.
Pets, kids & durability 16
What is the pet-friendly fabric made of, and is it real leather?
The pet-friendly cushion fabric is a 100% polyester woven upholstery fabric rated 88,000 Martindale cycles, well above heavy-duty commercial grade, and it is not leather.
Can you make a custom dog bed or cat cushion, and which fabric should I pick?
Yes: dog beds and cat cushions are made to your measurements on a custom order link, and the workshop recommends its pet-friendly fabric chart, which washes at up to 86°F (30°C).
What size kids' floor sofa or play bed should I get for a toddler?
For a 2-year-old, a 24 x 50 in (61 x 127 cm) kids floor sofa works well if you have the space.
Is the kids' floor sofa okay for a playroom, and is there any flame retardant in it?
The foam is standard furniture-grade foam with no added flame retardants, the workshop says, and the fabrics come from a mill certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (03.T.3239).
What cushion fabric holds up to dogs jumping and lying on it?
For dogs that jump and lie on a bench cushion, choose the pet-friendly Giza collection over linen: it stands up to claws, jumping and everyday pet wear much better and is easier to clean.
With pets or kids, should I get a tufted cushion or a removable cover?
Choose an untufted cushion with a zippered, removable cover if you have pets or kids.
Can you make a washable sofa topper to protect my couch from pets and kids?
Yes, a quilted sofa topper can be made to your couch's size: a slim, washable layer that sits on the existing cushions without adding height.
Do you have a waterproof or wipe-clean fabric for toddlers?
The standard indoor cushion fabric is not waterproof, but it is durable, easy to clean and machine washable at 86°F (30°C) or lower through zippered covers.
Is linen a bad idea for cushions with kids?
No, linen works with kids: the workshop's linen is durable and hard-wearing, and the covers come off to machine-wash at 86°F (30°C), so stains needn't be permanent.
What fabric should I pick for a playroom or reading nook cushion?
For a playroom or reading nook cushion, pick the soft fabric, which the workshop describes as very durable and very easy to clean, or velvet, the other performance choice.
Is a corduroy floor sofa good with cats and dogs?
Yes, a corduroy floor sofa works well with cats and dogs: the workshop describes its corduroy as pet friendly and scratch-resistant, and the covers come off for the washing machine.
Can you make a padded cushion for our hearth or bench corners, with a crawling baby at home?
A padded fireplace hearth cushion for a toddler can be made slightly larger than the stones, with a recess underneath so it sits over them.
What's the most scratch-resistant cushion fabric if my cats claw furniture?
No cushion fabric is truly claw-proof, but tightly woven, loop-free fabrics snag far less, because claws catch on loops.
Which cushion fabric is best if you have both kids and pets?
For a home with kids and pets, choose velvet or soft fabric, a wipe-clean microfiber: velvet is the most stain-resistant, soft fabric is the easiest to spot-clean, and both are the most durable in…
What's the most durable, easiest-to-clean cushion fabric for a house with kids?
The best cushion fabric for kids is either the workshop's soft fabric, a wipe-clean microfiber a little tougher than linen, or its velvet, which stands up to daily child use and is the easiest to…
Is velvet a good cushion fabric with cats, dogs or small kids?
Velvet cushions hold up well with pets and small kids: the tight weave resists snagging from claws, velvet spot-cleans easily, and the covers machine-wash at 86°F (30°C).
IKEA fits 14
Can one cover fit two mattresses stacked on my daybed?
One zippered cover can enclose two stacked mattresses: order it at the mattress length and width plus the combined height of both.
Can I choose my own fabric, colors and piping for the Hemnes daybed set?
Yes, a Hemnes daybed cover set can be made in velvet or linen as well as the default corduroy, with the cover and piping in any colors from the fabric charts.
What size cover do I need for my IKEA Hemnes daybed?
Measure your own mattress, not the wooden frame, and write its length, width and thickness.
What size cushion fits on top of an IKEA Kallax used as a bench?
A long 1x4 IKEA Kallax laid on its side has a top of about 15⅜ x 57⅝ in (39 x 146.5 cm), and that is the cushion size.
Can you make a cushion to fit my IKEA furniture?
Yes, a cushion can be made to fit IKEA furniture, from a Trofast storage unit to a Småstad toy chest or a bench.
Can I get just a replacement mattress cover for my IKEA daybed?
You can get just a replacement mattress cover for an IKEA daybed by choosing the Cover Only option on the daybed cover set listing.
Can you make replacement covers for an IKEA Friheten sofa?
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…
How tall are the daybed backrest cushions, and do I have to size them myself?
For a daybed cover set you give only the mattress size; the backrests and bolster armrests are made in proportion to it automatically.
Should I add a little to my mattress measurements so the daybed cover fits tight?
For a fitted mattress cover, send the mattress's exact measurements, because the workshop adds the seam and fit allowance itself when it cuts.
Will a made-to-measure daybed cover fit a Brimnes, a twin or a thick mattress?
The IKEA Hemnes daybed cover is made to measure, so it fits a Hemnes, a Brimnes, a standard twin or any custom mattress.
What comes in the Hemnes daybed cover set, and is the mattress included?
The IKEA Hemnes daybed cover set includes one zippered mattress cover made to your mattress size, two filled backrest pillows and two filled bolster armrests, with piping at no extra charge.
Buyer questions
- A common question
Can you make custom cushions for a double chaise lounge?
The workshop's answerYes. Both pieces are made to your sizes, for example a 51.5 x 35 in (131 x 89 cm) back and a 51.5 x 49 in (131 x 124 cm) seat. Sunbrella itself isn't used; the workshop's own outdoor fabrics are weather-resistant and made for outdoor use, ordered through the outdoor listing and its charts.
The full answer: Can you make custom cushions for an outdoor daybed or double chaise lounge?
- A common question
Can you make water- and stain-resistant cushions for an outdoor sofa set, and what would it cost?
The workshop's answerYes. Seat cushions for two 37 x 22 in (94 x 56 cm) seats, one 43.5 x 22 in (110 x 56 cm) seat and a 31.5 x 16 in (80 x 40 cm) bench came in below the listed total; backrests were quoted as an add-on.
- A common question
Do the covers come off, and how should I wash them?
The workshop's answerYes. Covers come off completely through the zipper and machine wash at 86°F (30°C) on a delicate cycle. K-18, 926, L-07 and N04 share that care, with 926 or L-07 slightly easier to spot clean, and even grease marks from a damaged parcel should wash out.
The full answer: Which cushion fabric is easiest to clean with kids?