---
title: "Soft fabric cushion material: what the 901–946 range is"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/what-is-soft-fabric-poly-cotton/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Élodie Marchand, The Colorist of New Orleans"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/"
published: "2026-01-29"
updated: "2026-01-29"
keywords: "soft fabric cushion material, poly-cotton cushion fabric, is soft fabric polyester, washable cushion fabric, performance weave cushion"
---

# What is 'soft fabric' made of? Is it natural or synthetic?

*A name like 'soft fabric' tells you how it feels, my friends, not what it is. Here is what sits behind the 901 to 946 codes, told plainly.*

Also asked as: What is soft fabric made of?; Is the soft fabric polyester?

> **The quick answer:** Soft fabric is a poly-cotton blend: the workshop's name for its best-selling upholstery weave, codes 901 to 946, thick and durable with a soft hand. Earlier replies called it 100% polyester; either way it is not chenille and not pure cotton. It wipes clean and machine-washes at 86°F (30°C). For natural fiber, choose cotton-linen.

![Deep teal solid box cushion with self piping on a weathered gray wooden bench on a lake jetty with rope and lantern](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/deep-teal-dobby-outdoor-bench-cushion-lake-jetty-1600.webp "A single block of deep teal on silvered timber, set against lake water of almost the same color. The rope and lantern are the only props.")

## Key facts

- 'Soft fabric' is a range name covering color codes 901 to 946.
- Most later replies describe it as a polyester-cotton blend; earlier ones said 100% polyester.
- It is not chenille and not 100% cotton.
- It is wipeable and easy to clean.
- Covers are machine washable at 86°F (30°C).
- It is the best-selling, most-preferred everyday fabric, used on the tufted floor cushions among others.
- Cotton-linen is the natural-fiber alternative.

## What soft fabric is

- ✓ A **range name**, not a fiber: color codes 901 to 946 on their own chart.
- ✓ A **poly-cotton blend** in most later replies; earlier replies said 100% polyester.
- ✓ A **thick, durable performance weave** with a soft hand.
- ✓ **Wipeable**, and machine washable at 86°F (30°C).
- ✓ The workshop's **best-selling everyday fabric**, used on the tufted floor cushions among others.

## What soft fabric is not

- ✗ Not **chenille**, whatever the gentle name suggests.
- ✗ Not **100% cotton**, and not a natural fiber.
- ✗ Not **linen**: it looks close, but smoother and more uniform, without slubs.
- ✗ Not **velvet**: there is no pile, and velvet keeps its own chart.

## Where the weave earns its place

Soft fabric belongs where life is busy: a [bench cushion](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/bench-cushions/) by the back door, a family room, a floor cushion that gets dragged around. It is smooth, doesn't collect dust and wipes clean, which is why it reads as a [performance fabric](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#performance-fabric) more than a luxury one.

If the brief is natural fiber, turn to [cotton-linen](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/linen-and-cotton-linen/). If you want plush pile, [velvet](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/velvet/). Daylight never lies; your screen sometimes does, so hold a [swatch](https://cushionguide.com/guides/fabric-swatches-before-ordering/) by the window before you choose a shade.

> **Tailor's margin:** Soft fabric on a cushion chart is a name, not a fiber: codes 901 to 946 are a poly-cotton blend that washes at 86°F (30°C).

> If a cushion must be natural fiber, the soft fabric chart is the wrong one: it is a poly-cotton blend, and cotton-linen is the natural choice.
>
> — Élodie Marchand

## Buyer questions

**A common question:** What is your 'soft fabric', and does it clean easily?

**The workshop's answer:** Soft fabric, codes 901 to 946, is a thick poly-cotton performance blend, not chenille. It cleans easily, machine-washes, lasts for years and is the workshop's most-preferred everyday fabric; velvet is the alternative.

**A common question:** Is the soft fabric a natural material?

**The workshop's answer:** No. It is a poly-cotton blend: very durable and easy to clean, but not 100% cotton. Cushions come in velvet, linen or soft fabric, each with its own color chart.

**A common question:** What are the soft fabric and the corduroy made of?

**The workshop's answer:** The soft fabric is a polyester-cotton blend and one of the best sellers. The corduroy covers are polyester.

**A common question:** Which fabric cleans up best with kids and pets in the house?

**The workshop's answer:** Indoors, soft fabric: durable, smooth, doesn't collect dust and wipes clean. Velvet is also easy to clean. Covers wash at 86°F (30°C).

## Questions buyers ask next

### Why do some replies say polyester and others poly-cotton?

Earlier replies described the range as 100% polyester; later, more frequent replies say poly-cotton blend. Either way it is a durable upholstery weave, not chenille and not pure cotton. Ask for the current label if fiber content matters to you.

### Can soft fabric covers go in the washing machine?

Yes. Covers are machine washable at 86°F (30°C), a cool cycle, and the fabric is wipeable, so small spills can be wiped first.

### Is purple available in soft fabric?

No. Purple is offered in velvet but not on the soft fabric chart. Each family has its own color chart, so check which one a code comes from.

## Related at the atelier

- [Are your cushion fabrics performance fabrics, like Crypton?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/performance-fabric-cushions-stain-resistant/): Yes, the shop describes its cushion fabrics as performance fabrics made for durable daily use: machine washable, pre-shrunk and suited to high-use rooms.
- [Do you have white, cream or natural fabric for cushions?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/white-cream-natural-cushion-fabric/): White, cream and natural cushion fabrics are all available: plain white L-01 linen, white velvet, and a natural linen series chart of neutral shades.
- [Do you have 100% cotton or linen fabrics, and do they cost more?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/100-percent-cotton-linen-cushion-fabric/): Yes, 100% linen cushion covers are made from a dedicated 100% linen chart, alongside 100% cotton fabrics, heavy pure linen and linen-cotton blends, viscose and terry-like fabrics; hemp isn't offered.
- [Custom Bench Cushion in Cream Bouclé, Styled by Oak Alone](https://cushionguide.com/readings/cream-boucle-bench-cushion-caramel-piping-oak/): A cream bouclé bench cushion looks finished without props when its piping is matched to the wood beneath it.
- [Custom Bench Cushion in Stripes: Ties, Non-Slip Base, Zips](https://cushionguide.com/readings/sea-green-taupe-navy-striped-box-cushions-stack/): On a custom bench cushion in a stripe, fastening starts with the face: stripes are matched on one face only, so that face points out and the zipper sits on the back wall.
- [Custom Bench Cushion for a Stair Landing: Mistakes to Skip](https://cushionguide.com/readings/pale-cream-weave-bench-cushion-oak-stair-landing/): A custom bench cushion for a pale stair landing should match the room's lightness, not fight it.
- [Real linen or linen-look? Reading a cushion fabric label honestly](https://cushionguide.com/guides/real-linen-vs-linen-look-cushion-fabric/)
- [Linen bench cushions: which 'linen' is on your bench, and how it wears](https://cushionguide.com/guides/linen-bench-cushions/)

*With color and care — Élodie*

---

Written by Élodie Marchand (https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/) 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/what-is-soft-fabric-poly-cotton/