SaveA Reading by ÉlodieCustom Throw Pillows
A geometric jacquard throw pillow on olive velvet, and how to measure for one
Ink black and bone cream against deep olive velvet, lit by a brass lamp and a gray window. One pillow, chosen well, and measured better.
Swatch strip measured from the photograph
- deep walnut#413b2a26%
- soot black#11100726%
- umber#6f684f21%
- sand#baaf9c14%
- linen#e9e4da13%
The quick answer
Custom throw pillows are measured on the flat cover, seam to seam, never on a plumped pillow. On a tufted Chesterfield like this olive one, also measure the back height above the seat and the seat depth, so one large-pattern pillow sits in front of the buttons without crowding you. Covers can arrive without inserts, so measure the insert you own too.
The palette, read from the lamp down
Five colors, and only two of them belong to the pillow.
- Ink black#1E1D1BThe geometry. Large shapes read clearly against busy tufting.
- Bone cream#EAE2CFThe ground of the weave and the piping, a clean frame on dark green.
- Pewter gray#8A8984The quiet middle tone that keeps black and cream from shouting.
- Deep olive velvet#4E5430The sofa. Its pile turns from moss to near-black between the buttons.
- Aged brass#B08D4AThe lamp. Brass beside olive says study, not showroom.
One pillow on a busy sofa, and how to measure for it
A buttoned Chesterfield is already a pattern, my friends, so the only pillow that belongs on it is one with shapes big enough to be seen.
Look at how the photograph is built. Olive velvet tufted into a grid of shadows, a brass lamp glowing behind, an open book on the table, and gray window light on the other side. Warm lamplight deepens the olive toward moss; the window cools it. Into all that texture goes a single throw pillow in a black and cream jacquard, its geometry large enough to hold its own. A knife edge keeps the pillow slim, and cream piping draws the outline against the green. The eye sits down first, and here it sits on the pillow.
Measuring for this seat. Four mistakes come up again and again:
- Measuring a plumped pillow. Lay the cover flat and measure seam to seam across the middle.
- Forgetting the sofa. Measure from the seat to the top of the back, and the seat depth. On a Chesterfield the pillow must sit in front of the buttons, not ride over them.
- Assuming covers arrive filled. A cover-only order comes without inserts, so measure the insert you own.
- Measuring straight from the box. Steam out shipping creases first; a creased edge measures short.
What does your sofa back measure from seat to top? Put that number into the pillow cover studio, and read matching throw and lumbar pillows before choosing a second.
Pinned by Élodie: one pillow, five details
Five pins, from the cream cord on green velvet to the brass lamp and the open book.
- Geometric jacquard pillow
Large-scale shapes read clearly against busy tufting.
- Cream piping
Frames the pillow cleanly against deep green.
- Chesterfield buttons
All that tufting is why one bold pillow beats several small ones.
- Brass lamp
Brass and green hint at a study setting.
- Open book
Suggests a reading corner behind the sofa.
- Geometric jacquard pillowLarge-scale shapes read clearly against busy tufting.
- Cream pipingFrames the pillow cleanly against deep green.
- Chesterfield buttonsAll that tufting is why one bold pillow beats several small ones.
- Brass lampBrass and green hint at a study setting.
- Open bookSuggests a reading corner behind the sofa.
The nonslip base that went through the wash
A buyer in the US had corduroy covers on a teddy-style sofa, each with a white nonslip base. About a month in, they washed the whole cover, base and all. The grip coating came off, the fabric felt dry and sticky, and a seam had started to open.
The workshop explained that the nonslip layer has to come off before washing and should only ever be wiped. It sent two new seat cushion covers, and the buyer paid only the shipping. The lesson for every cover with a grip bottom: take the nonslip base off, then wash at 86°F (30°C) or below with mild soap.
Buyer questions: spare covers, mystery squares, creases
- A common question
Can I buy a second set of covers, or covers for only a few of the pieces?
The workshop's answerYes. There is a covers-only listing with no foam, so you can swap covers while one set is in the wash, or change color. You can order covers for just some pieces, such as two straight backrests, and the extra set can be a different color.
- A common question
My pillow covers came without inserts, and there were two small squares of fabric in the box. What are they?
The workshop's answerThose are two small pillowcases, included as a free gift. They come without filling, so add your own insert or stuffing.
- A common question
My new covers still show creases from shipping. Will they drop out?
The workshop's answerYes. Wrinkles from compressed shipping are normal and fade over time. To speed things up, steam them or iron carefully.
On the cutting table: the Chesterfield pillow
| Piece | Throw pillow cover with insert |
|---|---|
| Pattern | Large-scale geometric jacquard in black, cream and gray |
| Edge | Knife edge |
| Piping | Contrast piping in cream |
| Sofa | Tufted olive-green velvet Chesterfield |
| How many | One large-pattern pillow per seat |
| Measure | Flat cover seam to seam, sofa back height, seat depth, your insert |
| Wash | 86°F (30°C) or below, mild soap, nonslip layers removed |
Have it made
Have this made — ask Élodie’s workshop
A fabric reads one way at noon and another at dusk. Mention your light, and the workshop will weigh it with you. — Élodie
Leave your details and the workshop will call you to confirm measurements, fabric, foam and piping. No prices, dates or payment on this page: it is a request, not an order.
On a buttoned Chesterfield, one throw pillow with a large geometric pattern reads clearly, while three small prints get lost in the tufting.
Élodie
Questions buyers ask next
How many throw pillows belong on a tufted Chesterfield?
Fewer than you think. The buttons already make a busy surface, so one pillow per seat with a large-scale pattern reads better than a pile of small prints, which blur into the tufting.
Why cream piping on a black and cream pillow?
Against deep olive velvet, a cream cord draws a clean outline, so the pillow's shape holds against the dark sofa. A black cord would sink into the shadows between the buttons.
Should I measure a pillow cover before or after steaming it?
After. Covers shipped compressed can hold creases that make the edges wave, so steam or press them first, then lay the cover flat and measure seam to seam across the middle.
Can a cushion cover with a nonslip base go in the washing machine?
Take the nonslip layer off first and only wipe it; washing strips the grip coating. Wash the cover itself at 86°F (30°C) or below with mild soap.
With color and care — Élodie
More photographs to read
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