French Mattress Cushion
French Mattress Style Cushions are one of my favorite projects to create, something about the hand stitching is just so relaxing to me. Plus they just make such a beautiful statement in any space.
When creating a French Mattress style cushion there are several things to consider. I’ve put together this post to show you some of the many options you have to customize your cushion for your space.
5” thick twin mattress sized cushion with diamond tufting pattern
Foam thickness
The typical thickness of the cushions I make is between 3”to 5”. The thickness will depend on the height of the bench or built-in space you are putting it in. It seems the larger and wider the cushion the better it looks with a thicker height.
Is it going next to a dining table? The optimum seat height at a table is 17”-20”. You will need to take this into consideration when adding a cushion. Keep in mind the cushion will flatten out when sat on so a 3” cushion will add more like 1.5-2” of height. If it’s a cubby, built-in area or entry bench a taller seat height won’t be as much of an issue.
I suggest using a good quality high-density foam with a medium firmness. Over time with use the cushion will get less and less firm looking. I feel it’s best to start with foam that isn’t too soft, instead of layers of batting that will compact quickly.
Tufting
There are two options for the tufting detail. You can choose to have a hand-stitched X created with twine or fabric-covered buttons. If your fabric is a woven or on the thinner side it may be best to use buttons for durability.
Button tufted detail on a T-style cushion.
The tufting pattern can be in a diamond shape, square, or rectangle. The number of stitches/buttons is up to you, depending on your preference.
3’ height, 88” length square tufting pattern
Something to note is that the stitched edge, which is the signature of the French Mattress style cushion, is created by hand. Which means the time it takes to complete a cushion is significantly more than a standard cushion and will be reflected in the price.
Lastly, as is the nature of a cushion with tufting and a hand-stitched edge, there is an acceptable allowance of plus or minus up to 1/2" of the measurement given. Having made several of this style of cushion I have found that shrinkage will depend on the length, amount of stretch in the fabric and the number of tufts. I will do my best to be as accurate as possible.
I hope this has helped to explain all the things to think about when creating a French Mattress style cushion. If you would like to learn more about how they are created or learn to make one yourself, follow the link to my Youtube channel below.
