All About Welting
Selecting the right welting for your furniture and soft furnishings is an important part of the design process. Welting comes in styles like self-welt, contrast welt, single welt, and double welt. It can also come in different materials, suitable for different applications (like outdoor projects).
Welting enhances the overall appearance of your pieces, whether you want a seamless or colorful look. It can also strengthen the seams of pillows, cushions, and other soft furnishings. Understanding the types of welting and their applications can help you make the best choice.
You can choose:
Self-Welt:
Self-welt, also known as self-piping, is a popular choice for upholstery and soft furnishings. Self-welt is made using the same fabric for the welt cord as is used on the furniture piece itself. Self-welt blends effortlessly with the upholstery, providing a cohesive and unified appearance. This makes it ideal for those who prefer a clean and minimalist aesthetic. Additionally, self-welt accentuates the shape and contours of the furniture, creating a finished and polished look. It works well on neutral or solid-colored fabrics.
Or Contrast Welt:
Contrast welt allows you to infuse personality and style into your upholstered furniture. It involves using a different fabric or color for the welt cord, which goes around the edges of the upholstery/soft furnishings. By opting for a contrasting color or pattern, you can add a pop of color and visual interest to your furniture. This technique is particularly effective for highlighting specific design elements or bringing playfulness to a neutral or monochromatic piece.
Tip: For a bold and dramatic look, choose a contrasting color that stands out, while a tone-on-tone or complementary color creates a more subtle and sophisticated design.
In some cases, you can choose single versus double welt:
Single Welt:
For a classic and understated look, use single welt for your upholstered furniture or soft furnishings. Single welt, used in pillows and cushions, consists of one single line of welt/cording. Single welt is commonly used on furniture with clean lines, such as mid-century modern or contemporary designs, where the focus is on the shape and silhouette of the piece rather than intricate detailing.
Double Welt:
Double welt is a popular choice for adding depth and texture to upholstered furniture. It is not used on cushions or pillows. It involves sewing two welt cords together with a fabric strip sandwiched between them. This creates a thicker and more substantial look compared to other types of welting. Double welt adds visual interest to your upholstery by creating a sense of depth and dimension, making your furniture stand out. The thickness of the welt cords helps define the lines and shapes of your furniture. To make double welt truly stand out, consider using a contrasting color or pattern that creates a stunning visual impact and adds personality to your upholstery.
Size is another important factor:
Size:
Size 5/32 is probbaly the most popular size of welt cording for upholstery & soft furnishings. Extra large welt cording can be nice on larger upholstered pieces, like headboards where 5/32 might seem too small, and I’ve found that smaller piping can look nice and delicate on pillows & other soft furnishings.
Welting plays a significant role in enhancing the overall appearance of your upholstered furniture and soft furnishings, whether you desire a subtle and seamless look or a vibrant burst of color. It adds a professional and polished finish to your pieces. Familiarizing yourself with the different types of welting and their suitable applications can help you make the best choice!
