The Pattern Room
The Pattern Room
Measuring, foam, fabric and finishing, written out as patterns: measured diagrams, worked sums in inches first, and the common mistakes, so you can skip them.
139 patterns
The quick answer
The Pattern Room is the atelier's set of 139 how-to patterns for made-to-measure cushions: measuring benches, window seats and bays, choosing foam density and thickness, fabric, piping, ties and zippers. Each pattern uses inches first, shows measured diagrams and walks through past projects step by step.
Measuring & making patterns 102
Step-by-step patterns with measured diagrams.
Accent chair and sofa chair seat cushions, replaced to the old shape
Adirondack chair cushions that follow the slope of the seat
How to measure a window seat cushion when the walls aren't square
Replacement cushions for a nursery glider, piece by piece
Replacement covers for a floor sofa: fit, color change and single pieces
Why mildew grows under a window seat cushion in winter, and what helps
Porch swing cushion sizes: measuring a 4, 5 or 6 ft swing
Corduroy modular floor sofas and cushions: wale size, nap direction, why no piping
Standard cushion sizes, and when yours isn't one of them
Matching throw pillows and lumbars to a seat cushion, color by color
Making a paper template a cushion workshop can actually use
Floor cushion thickness: how thick before you stop feeling the floor
What to write in a custom cushion order note: sizes, codes and extras
Tufted floor cushion couch sets: what's in the set and which size to choose
Can you sleep on a floor sofa? Bed size, firmness and sheets
How to measure an IKEA Hemnes daybed: two stacked mattresses, one cover
Measuring wicker and patio furniture for replacement cushions
When a custom cushion is the wrong size or color: remakes, fixes and what to send
Outdoor cushion care: cleaning, drying and storing them for winter
Bar stool cushions sized to round, square and saddle seats
How to measure dining chairs for seat pads with ties
Will a window seat cushion fade? Choosing fabric for sun through glass
Boneless sofas and couches explained: foam, metal bars and the box they arrive in
How exact is a made-to-measure cushion? Handmade tolerance explained
Replacing patio swing cushions on canopy swings and vintage metal gliders
What to measure for a custom daybed mattress cover
Measuring a T-cushion for an armchair or sofa, ear to ear
How to order a custom cushion size that isn't in the size menu
Soft headboard cushions that hang from a rail, not a board
Every cushion shape, drawn once, with the numbers it needs
What a Prop 65 warning on a cushion does and doesn't tell you
One printable cushion measuring worksheet for any shape you order
Measuring a 3-sided bay window seat cushion, panel by panel
How to measure an L-shaped bench or corner banquette for cushions
How to order fabric swatches that actually settle the decision
Cushion covers for allergies: natural fibers, known fills and covers that wash
Corner floor cushion sizes: reading the quarter circle
Measuring rounded corners, oval wicker seats and bistro benches
Outdoor chair cushions: measuring patio chairs for seats and backs
How to measure a bench for a custom cushion (the bench, not the old pad)
Ordering new cushion covers for foam you already own
Striped cushions: which way the stripes run, and why
Zabuton and meditation floor cushions: choosing size, thickness and fill
Pet-friendly cushion fabric: what holds up to claws, hair and muddy paws
Specifying custom cushions for a client, line by line
From your drawing to your doorstep: how a custom cushion is made
Dry-fast foam for outdoor cushions: when you need it and when you don't
Assembling floor sofa metal bars, and keeping the sofa from sliding
Making templates for boat cushions, V-berths and cockpit benches
How to draw a custom-shaped cushion so it isn't made mirror-image
Replacing a discontinued cushion by copying the one you have
Velvet floor cushions: pile, tufts and the marks a box leaves behind
Velvet seat cushions: how the pile catches the light on a chair
Faux leather seat cushions: easy to wipe, but know the trade-offs
How to match a new cushion to your sofa, paint or wallpaper
Hanging egg chair cushions and hammock pads, measured from the old one
How long does cushion foam last, and how do you keep it in shape?
Cushions for 7-sided and rounded bay window seats in older homes
Commercial seating cushions for cafés, rentals and offices: what to specify
Getting a custom cushion quote: what to send so it's right the first time
RV and camper dinette cushions: measuring seats that become a bed
CertiPUR-US foam explained: what the seal certifies and how to check it
Cushion fabric pilling: why it happens and how to handle it
Can indoor cushions go on a covered or screened porch?
New foam cushion smell: how long it lasts and how to air it out
How to wash removable cushion covers without shrinking them
How tall should a back cushion be? Sizing backrests to your seat
IKEA Kallax bench cushion sizes for every unit and combined run
How to measure a curved cushion with a chord, a rise and one formula
Matching fabric from a previous order: dye lots, add-ons and discontinued colors
How to dimension a notch so a cushion fits around posts and casings
Bouclé and teddy cushions: living with loops, snags and pets
Your cushion arrived vacuum-packed: what happens in the first 72 hours
Foam density vs firmness: why a dense foam can still feel soft
TB 117-2013 and US fire rules for cushions, in plain English
Sunroom and three-season room cushions: fabric for sun, heat and damp
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 on a cushion: what it covers and how to check it
Performance fabric on a cushion: what the word does and doesn't promise
How to find cushions without added flame-retardant chemicals
Replacement sofa and couch cushions: measuring, foam and covers
Bolster pillow sizes: choosing diameter and length for a seat or daybed
The best cushion fabric for kids: spills, sticky hands and covers you can wash
The best fabric for kitchen banquette cushions, spills included
Why the color on your screen isn't the cushion you'll get, and how to choose
Reading nook bolsters, back pillows and a seat depth that invites a nap
Dacron-wrapped foam: why a good cushion is cut slightly oversize
Stain first aid for cushions: coffee, juice, mud and muddy paws
Caring for a tufted cushion: re-sewing a button and cleaning by hand
How to make a rocking chair cushion template that fits the seat
Cushions for lift-up storage benches: where to split and how to hold them
Piano bench cushions: sizing the top and choosing a thickness for playing
Papasan cushion size: how to measure the bowl for a round cushion
How to keep back cushions upright on benches and banquettes
Is a floor sofa right for you? Floor couch height, back support and space
Cushion tie placement for chairs, porch swings and benches
Kids' play couch sizes: choosing a floor sofa by age and room
Velvet bench cushions: how the pile behaves and how to care for it
Cushion zipper placement: back edge, underside and odd shapes
Cushion measurements explained: length, depth, thickness and units
U-shaped banquette cushions: measuring three runs that never quite match
How to make a daybed look like a sofa with back cushions and bolsters
Measuring a chaise lounge or sunbed cushion, hinge point included
Side-by-side comparisons 27
Two or more ways to make the same cushion, weighed on the table.
Down-wrapped or all-foam? Choosing the top of a seat cushion
Real linen or linen-look? Reading a cushion fabric label honestly
Cut-to-size foam vs a finished cushion: the honest comparison
Window seat dimensions and the cushion sizes that fit them
Corner floor sofa layouts: L-shapes, U-shapes, open or closed corners, straight runs
Waterproof outdoor cushions, honestly: fabric, seams, zippers and foam
Choosing cushion fabric: seven families compared for real homes
Made to measure or off the shelf? A fair test for your seat
Which piece owns the corner? Joining L-shaped bench cushions
Floor seating for real evenings: cushions, corner seats and low sofas
Choosing a custom cushion maker online: twelve questions first
How to stop a bench cushion sliding: ties, a non-slip base or velcro?
Slipcover, new covers or new cushions: pick the right fix
Martindale rub count and double rubs: what the numbers tell you
What a custom cushion costs, explained by what goes into it
Window seat cushion thickness compared: 2, 3, 4 and 5 inches
One long cushion or two? Splitting a long bench or window seat
Bullnose and waterfall-front cushions, explained by the edge
Linen bench cushions: which 'linen' is on your bench, and how it wears
The best foam for a bench cushion depends on the bench
Online maker, local upholsterer or your own sewing machine?
High-density foam, memory foam, latex or fiber: which cushion fill?
Back cushion filling compared: shredded foam, a solid wedge or fiber
Tufted bench cushion or plain? Buttons, looks and washability
UV-resistant outdoor cushion fabric compared: solution-dyed acrylic, olefin, polyester
Matching, contrast or no piping: choosing the line around a cushion
Box edge, knife edge, bullnose: cushion edge styles explained
Patterns with a calculator 10
Worked sums on paper, and a Studio tool to check them.
How to measure a trapezoid cushion so the numbers close
How to raise floor sofa seat height, layer by layer
5-sided bay window cushions: working out angles, sections and seams
Measuring a hexagon cushion, or an octagon, without a protractor
Banquette seating dimensions, from seat height to how many fit
Banquette cushion thickness: getting table height and knee room right
Foam density conversion: lb/ft³ to kg/m³ for cushion foam
A 1-to-10 cushion firmness scale for how your family actually sits
How thick should a bench cushion be? Work back from seat height
How much fabric do you need for a bench cushion? Yardage worked out
Buyer questions
- A common question
Can you copy the seat and back cushions on my armchair?
The workshop's answerYes. Send photos of the chair with the seat and back cushion measurements and the workshop replicates them, quoted per chair, with the shipping cost on the quote. A 4 in cushion costs less than a 6 in one, and same-color piping has come at no extra charge.
The full pattern: Accent chair and sofa chair seat cushions, replaced to the old shape
- A common question
How do I measure a chair seat that's wider at the front than the back?
The workshop's answerMeasure the seat itself, not a product page: the depth plus the front and rear widths, for example 21 in deep, 19 in at the back and 20.5 in at the front. Shaped seats also need the widest width and the depth at left, center and right. The shop sends a sketch to confirm before cutting.
The full pattern: Adirondack chair cushions that follow the slope of the seat
- A common question
Our house is about 120 years old and the window seat is a little wonky. What happens if my numbers don't add up?
The workshop's answerThe workshop draws every shaped cushion to scale and checks that the drawing closes. If it doesn't, you'll be asked to re-measure specific edges, measure both diagonals or send a wide-angle photo, and you can get a blank outline lettered A, B, C to fill in. A drawing that closes within 1/4 in (0.6 cm) is accepted, and nothing is cut until you confirm.
The full pattern: How to measure a window seat cushion when the walls aren't square