What Types of Embroidered Cushion Are There? Loop Pile, Cord, Chenille and More

By snoozyn · Updated October 2026

Embroidery is any pattern stitched onto a finished cloth with thread, yarn or cord. The word covers everything from a nubbly loop-pile medallion to a single contrast stitch round the edge, and knowing the techniques apart tells you how a cover will look across a room and how much care it will want.

Below are the techniques, how to wash them and how to style them, with examples from our cushion covers.

What types of embroidered cushion are there?

There are seven main types, and they differ mostly in how high the stitching stands and how much it reads as texture rather than drawing. Unlike a jacquard, where the pattern is woven in, embroidery adds material on top, so most of these patterns stand slightly proud.

Technique	How it looks and feels	Best for	Example
Loop pile	Rows of small raised loops; soft, nubbly, catches light	Medallions, frames and bands in tonal colours	Caramel and ivory key-fret lattice
Cord	A cord couched onto the surface; a firm raised line with real shadow	Outlines, branches, linear motifs	Ivory cord on cocoa
Chenille	A velvety, plush yarn; soft and matt	A plain colour that needs depth	Mustard chenille-style cover
Tufted	Dense raised tufts; plush, bold relief	Bands and stripes, especially on lumbars	Ivory and black banded lumbar
Flat-stitch floral	Lower relief; reads like a drawing	Birds, blossom and botanical scenes	Birds on mustard
Blanket stitch	A single contrast stitch around the edge	Plain covers that need a finish	White with a contrast edge
Lattice and grid	A repeating geometric stitched over the ground	Structure without a busy motif	Taupe and black tile lattice

What are loop-pile, chenille and tufted embroidery?

They are the plush, raised end of embroidery. Loop-pile embroidery builds a pattern from rows of small, raised yarn loops, so the motif feels soft and nubbly and stands up from the ground. Each loop throws a tiny shadow, so even a tonal pattern shows clearly. On the Caramel & Ivory Loop-Pile Embroidery Cotton Cushion Covers it forms a caramel key-fret lattice on ivory; the Oat & Ivory Loop-Pile Embroidery Cushion Covers work an oat medallion on a ribbed ivory ground. Both also come as a matching lumbar.

Chenille and tufting use a thicker yarn. Chenille has a velvety, slightly fuzzy surface that makes a single colour look deep and matt. The Mustard Chenille Embroidery Cushion Covers are a mustard chenille-style weave with a fringed self border and raised stitched detail, warmth without a busy pattern.

Tufting packs the yarn densely into bold raised shapes, usually bands or stripes. The Ivory & Black Banded Tufted Embroidery Lumbar Cushion Covers run black tufted bands and tassels across an ivory lumbar, a natural front piece for two plainer squares.

What is cord embroidery?

Cord embroidery lays a thin cord along the line of the design and stitches it down, so the pattern becomes a firm, continuous raised line. It looks crisper and more graphic than loop pile. On the Cord Embroidery Cushion Covers in cocoa, ivory cord traces tall, branching reeds; on a darker espresso ground the same cord reads almost white. The Floral Embroidery Cushion Covers in red use cord to outline simple flowers, finished with a whipstitched edge.

What about flat-stitch, blanket-stitch and lattice embroidery?

Flat-stitch, blanket-stitch and lattice embroidery are the quieter techniques, where the pattern matters more than the relief. Flat stitching suits pictorial designs: the Bird Embroidery Cushion Covers in mustard show ivory birds and blossom branches drawn in thread.

Blanket stitch is the simplest of all, a single row of contrast stitches around the edge. On the Blanket Stitch Cushion Covers it makes a plain cover look finished by hand.

Lattice and grid embroidery repeat a geometric over the whole face. The Red & Ivory Lattice Embroidery Ramie Cotton Cushion Covers carry an ivory quatrefoil on red, the Taupe & Black Lattice Embroidery Cushion Covers a black tile lattice on taupe, and the Charcoal Grid Embroidery Cushion Covers a tonal grid with a fringe, in a square or a lumbar size.

How do you care for raised embroidery?

Care for raised embroidery by following each cover's care label: spot clean where you can, otherwise hand wash cool with the cover inside out, and dry flat. Turning it inside out stops loops and cords rubbing. Close the zip first, and keep embroidered covers away from anything with hooks or hook-and-loop fastenings. Reshape while damp, and if you iron, iron the reverse over a towel so the embroidery is not flattened. For a full routine by fabric, see how to wash cushion covers.

How do you style an embroidered cushion with plainer ones?

Style an embroidered cushion by letting it be the only heavily textured piece in its group and surrounding it with plainer covers in colours taken from the embroidery. Two examples:

• The Raised Neutral set. Lead: the oat and ivory loop-pile medallion. Support: a plain oat cover. Lumbar: the matching oat diamond lumbar. Works on a cream or linen sofa.
• The Graphic Edge set. Lead: the taupe and black lattice. Support: the blanket-stitch cover in white. Lumbar: the ivory and black banded tufted lumbar. Works on a grey or charcoal sofa.

Two raised techniques at the same size, such as loop pile beside cord, compete. If you want two, vary the scale. Our guide to mixing cushion patterns explains how, and our neutral cushion guide shows how texture carries a tonal scheme.

Which snoozyn cushion covers are embroidered?

Every cover named above is embroidered; browse the full range in the cushion covers collection. We sell covers only, in sets of 2 or 3, with inserts sold separately. Several designs come as a square or a matching lumbar. Fibre varies by cover, and each one's exact composition is on its product page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between embroidered and jacquard cushions?

An embroidered cushion has its pattern stitched onto the cloth after weaving, so it usually stands up from the surface. A jacquard's pattern is woven into the cloth on the loom, so it is part of the fabric itself and lies flatter.

What is loop-pile embroidery?

Loop-pile embroidery builds a pattern from rows of small raised yarn loops. The loops give the motif a soft, nubbly feel and throw small shadows, so even a tonal design shows clearly.

Is cord embroidery the same as couching?

Yes, broadly. Cord embroidery lays a cord along the line of the design and stitches it down to the cloth, which is the technique known as couching. The result is a firm, continuous raised line.

Can you machine wash embroidered cushion covers?

Some can, but check the care label first. Ours ask for spot cleaning or a cool hand wash, inside out, dried flat. If a label does allow machine washing, close the zip, turn the cover inside out and use a gentle cool cycle.

Do embroidered cushions snag?

Raised loops and cords can catch on claws, zips and jewellery. Washing inside out and away from hook-and-loop fastenings reduces the risk.

How many embroidered cushions should be on a sofa?

Usually one or two. Let one embroidered cover lead, support it with plainer covers in colours taken from its stitching, and vary the scale if you add a second raised design.