Save- Ribbed end cap
Horizontal ribs on the cap catch light like a ploughed field.
- Twisted cord edge
Where cap meets body, the covered cord twists into a rope that frames the circle boldly.
- Second bolster
A matched pair laid parallel reads as a set rather than two stray cushions.
- Pale linen seat
Flat linen underneath lets the deep-wale gold do all the texture work.
- White beadboard
Cool white paneling makes the mustard glow warmer by contrast.
Plate Mustard Corduroy Bolster Pair With Twisted Cord Edges
Chunky golden corduroy with a rope-like edge where the ribbed end caps meet the body.
A Reading by HarlanBolster Pillows
A pair of mustard corduroy bolster pillows on a white daybed, and the three numbers that make them fit
Two gold corduroy bolsters on a pale linen seat. They look simple, my friend, and simple is exactly where a tape measure tells the truth.
The quick answer
To size a bolster pillow for a daybed, take its length from the seat depth and measure its diameter straight across the end cap, not around it. One daybed with a 36 in (91 cm) deep mattress took bolsters 36 x 10 in (91 x 25 cm). If your size is not listed, pick the closest option and write the exact size in the personalization note.
Pinned by Harlan: the mustard corduroy bolster pair, point by point
Five pins on the pair, from the ribbed end cap to the cool white beadboard behind.
The numbers match the pins on the plate.
- Ribbed end capHorizontal ribs on the cap catch light like a ploughed field.
- Twisted cord edgeWhere cap meets body, the covered cord twists into a rope that frames the circle boldly.
- Second bolsterA matched pair laid parallel reads as a set rather than two stray cushions.
- Pale linen seatFlat linen underneath lets the deep-wale gold do all the texture work.
- White beadboardCool white paneling makes the mustard glow warmer by contrast.
What the plate shows
Two bolsters lie side by side on a white beadboard daybed, parallel as fence rails. A matched pair reads as a set. One alone would look like it rolled there by accident.
The cloth is wide-wale corduroy, mustard going on ochre. The camera looks down from high, so every rib catches the light in a long line, like a plowed field an hour before supper. On the end caps the ribs run straight across the circle.
Where cap meets body there is a covered cord in the same gold, self piping, and it twists into something like a rope. That twist frames each circle more boldly than a flat cord would. It is the detail I would check first on any bolster pillow.
Underneath, a pale linen seat stays flat so the gold does all the texture work. The beadboard is cool white, and cool white makes mustard look warmer than it is. Nothing else is in the frame. Nothing else is needed.
What three numbers size a bolster, and where do folks go wrong?
A bolster looks like it has one size. It has three numbers, and each one has its own way of going wrong.
- Length. Take it from the seat depth, front edge to back, not from an old bolster. On one past daybed order, a 76 x 36 x 6.5 in (193 x 91 x 16.5 cm) mattress took bolsters 36 in (91 cm) long, one across each end.
- Diameter. Measure straight across the end cap, not around it. Around is circumference, a bit over three times the diameter. Send that number by mistake and you will get a bolster the size of a rain barrel. Those daybed bolsters were 10 in (25 cm) across.
- The note. If your size is not on the menu, choose the closest option and write the real size in the personalization note. The maker cuts from the note.
A seam is a promise, and a wrong number makes a liar of a good seam. The bolster size guide has a table of diameters, and wale and nap direction covers the ribs. What does your seat measure from front to back?
A sofa topper, a warm cream, and a size not on the list
A buyer in the US wanted a quilted topper for a long couch: 25 x 82 in (64 x 208 cm), no handle, no tassels. Her first worry was color. Would the fabric she liked read warm cream on her couch, or turn yellow? The workshop confirmed warm cream.
Her size was not on the list. The advice was to select the 27 x 79 in (69 x 201 cm) option and write 25 x 82 in in the personalization note. The option starts the order. The note guides the scissors.
One more thing was said plainly, and I will say it again. A double-sided topper has no anti-slip base. Both faces are meant to be used, so neither one can carry a grip backing. If your topper must stay put, plan for that before you order.
- Sizes
- 25 x 82 in (64 x 208 cm)
The lesson: Double-sided sofa toppers have no grip backing; say so before the order.
On the cutting table: the gold pair
| Piece | Bolster pillows, a matched pair |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Wide-wale mustard corduroy |
| Piping | Self piping, a covered cord that twists where cap meets body |
| End caps | Round, with ribs running straight across |
| Length | Match the seat depth, e.g. 36 in (91 cm) on a 36 in deep daybed |
| Diameter | Measured straight across the cap, e.g. 10 in (25 cm) |
| Closure | Zippered, removable cover |
| Spare cover | Can be ordered now or later, same or different fabric |
| Best for | One warm accent on a white or gray daybed |
Have it made
Have this made — ask Harlan’s workshop
Old upholsterers will tell you the real cutting happens in the conversation, long before the shears come out. Tell the workshop what you sit on, and they will talk it through with you. — Harlan
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.
Buyer questions: spare covers, sealed seams and a rush order
- A common question
Can I order a spare cover now, or add one later?
The workshop's answerEither. The workshop can make an extra cover at any time, in the same fabric or a different one. One clinic asked for a second set in another color to swap in on cleaning days, and that was quoted as an option.
- A common question
Can you make fully waterproof, marine-grade covers with sealed seams and mesh vents underneath?
The workshop's answerNot with sealed seams or mesh breather strips; those aren't part of production. There is a water-repellent outdoor fabric chart with cream, beige, taupe and oatmeal neutrals. Covers are sewn with standard stitching and full zippers, and they come off to wash. Button-tufted backs are confirmed case by case from dimensions and a photo.
- A common question
I'm short on time. Is there express shipping?
The workshop's answerYes. Express delivery is a paid upgrade, bought through its own separate listing alongside the cushion order.
Measure a bolster pillow straight across the end cap, not around it. Around is circumference, a bit over three times the diameter.
Harlan
Questions buyers ask next
Why does wide-wale corduroy glow in a white room?
Each rib catches light along its ridge and shades its valley, so the surface reads as bands of gold. Against cool white beadboard and pale linen, mustard corduroy looks warmer by contrast, which is why a pair works as a single accent.
Should bolsters match the seat cushion fabric?
They don't have to. Here the seat is pale linen and the bolsters are mustard corduroy, so the pair becomes the one warm accent. For a quieter daybed, make the bolsters in the seat fabric and let the piping carry the color.
What is the difference between bolster diameter and circumference?
Diameter is the straight line across the round end cap. Circumference is the distance around it, a bit over three times larger. Custom bolsters are ordered by length and diameter, such as 36 x 10 in, so measure across, not around.
Can a quilted sofa topper have a non-slip bottom?
Not a double-sided one. Both faces are meant to be used, so neither side carries a grip backing. The workshop says so at the order stage; decide how the topper will stay in place before choosing that style.
Sit well. — Harlan
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