CushionGuide
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The Masters

The seven masters of the atelier

Seven American upholsterers, seven benches from Puget Sound to Casco Bay. Each one reads the cushions they know best, answers the questions buyers ask, and signs the work in their own hand.

The quick answer

CushionGuide is written by seven American master upholsterers, each at the bench in a different city and each reading the cushions they know best. Ask Harlan on velvet; Maggie on piping & welt; Élodie on color matching; Callum on outdoor & water-repellent cushions; Hana on floor seating; Rosa on porch swings; Nate on templates & odd shapes.

The workshop wall

  1. Since 1968 · 58 years

    Harlan Pruitt

    The Elder of High Point

    High Point, North Carolina

    • velvet
    • corduroy
    • tufting & buttons
    • floor cushions

    165 readings92 answers19 patterns

  2. Since 1981 · 45 years

    Margaret Holloway

    The Piping Queen of Newport

    Newport, Rhode Island

    • piping & welt
    • kitchen banquettes
    • L- and U-shaped seating
    • dining chair pads with ties

    255 readings96 answers20 patterns

  3. Since 1991 · 35 years

    Élodie Marchand

    The Colorist of New Orleans

    New Orleans, Louisiana

    • color matching
    • fabric selection
    • velvet sheen
    • stripes & ticking

    199 readings148 answers21 patterns

  4. Since 1984 · 42 years

    Callum Reid

    The Weather Man of Casco Bay

    Portland, Maine

    • outdoor & water-repellent cushions
    • sunbeds and loungers
    • boat and RV cushions
    • porch and patio benches

    186 readings95 answers17 patterns

  5. Since 1996 · 30 years

    Hana Lindqvist

    The Quiet Geometer of Seattle

    Seattle, Washington

    • floor seating
    • IKEA fits (Hemnes daybed, Kallax)
    • small apartments
    • kids' playrooms & floor sofas

    163 readings95 answers19 patterns

  6. Since 1985 · 41 years

    Rosa Delgado

    The Porch Keeper of Savannah

    Savannah, Georgia

    • porch swings
    • rocking chairs & gliders
    • papasan and hanging chairs
    • window seats in old houses

    245 readings93 answers20 patterns

  7. Since 1994 · 32 years

    Nate Kowalski

    The Pattern Engineer of Detroit

    Detroit, Michigan

    • templates & odd shapes
    • trapezoid and bay-window geometry
    • L and U layouts
    • foam density & firmness

    183 readings146 answers23 patterns

  8. Pinned to the wall

    283 years at the bench between them, and one shared cutting table.

    Measure twice; the fabric remembers.

  • 7masters, seven cities
  • 283years at the bench, combined
  • 1,396photo readings
  • 765Cutting Table answers
  • 139measuring and making patterns

At the bench since

283 years of cutting, piping and closing seams between the seven of them.

  1. 1968Harlan58 years
  2. 1981Maggie45 years
  3. 1984Callum42 years
  4. 1985Rosa41 years
  5. 1991Élodie35 years
  6. 1994Nate32 years
  7. 1996Hana30 years

Who reads which cushions

Every page in the Cushion Atlas is read by the master who knows that seat best. Product and specialty decide first; then the work is shared so no bench runs dry.

Buyer questions

  1. A common question

    Can you make a curved cushion for a church pew or a round fire pit bench?

    The workshop's answer

    Yes. Measure the inner curve along the front edge and the outer curve along the back with a flexible tape, or a string laid along it and measured flat; then the depth at both ends and the middle and the straight end-to-end distance, plus a photo. The shop redraws the curve for approval, and very long curves are made as matching segments.

    Read the answer: Curved Bench Cushion: How to Measure a Pew or Fire Pit Bench

  2. A common question

    What does 'with or without piping' mean, and does the corduroy daybed cover have it?

    The workshop's answer

    Corduroy covers are made without piping because the ribs already give the lines, and they're sewn to look exactly like the product photos. Other fabrics, such as velvet, can have piping in the same color or a contrasting one.

    Read the answer: Corduroy Cushion Piping: Why Daybed Covers Go Without It

  3. A common question

    Can the piping contrast with the cushion, like a white cushion with black piping?

    The workshop's answer

    Yes. Any fabric from the charts can be piping, for example an HM-08 body with HM-05 piping, or a white body with black piping. Same-fabric piping is fine too, and the piping choice doesn't change the price.

    Read the answer: Contrast Piping Cushion: Any Chart Color, No Extra Cost