Natural Raffia Cushion, 40 cm

Forty by forty centimetres, handwoven in natural raffia across the front with a plain cotton back, so the texture sits where you see it and the smooth side goes against the sofa.

Honest note on how she feels.

Raffia is firm. She has the character of a woven basket rather than a soft furnishing, and that is what she is for - she holds her shape, she gives a sofa structure, and she brings a texture no fabric can. She is not the cushion you lean into for an hour. Put her at the back of a group with something soft in front, and the arrangement has both.

About the size and grouping.

40 cm is the standard scatter size, which makes her the easy one to build around: two at 40 cm in front of a 45 or 50 cm pair gives a sofa the step in depth that stops it looking piled up. She works especially well against linen and cotton, where the contrast between smooth and woven is the point.

About the material.

Natural raffia, woven in rows by hand, undyed. The colour runs from pale straw to a warmer brown within a single cushion because the fibre does, and no two are the same.

Insert included.

She arrives complete, cover and insert together and sized to match, so there is nothing else to buy.

Indoors or outdoors.

Both. Raffia handles outdoor conditions well - it lightens a little in sun, which is a change in tone rather than damage. She also works on a hanging chair or a hammock, where something soft would simply slide off.

Care.

Brush with a soft dry brush, going with the weave. Keep her dry; if she gets wet, dry her flat and in the shade.

Good to know

• 40 x 40 cm
  
• Handwoven natural raffia with a cotton back
  
• Insert included, sized to match
  
• Firm rather than soft - a texture cushion
  
• Indoors or outdoors
  
• No two are identical