What Is the Difference Between Welting & Cording in Upholstery?

Welting helps prevent everyday wear such as this on upholstery fabrics.

Welting and cording are related items used in upholstering furniture. They are both sewn into upholstery seams to add accents and increase upholstered seam durability.

Welting Features

Welting is a fabric covered cord made of bias-cut upholstery fabric. Welting is sewn with a fabric lip so it can be inserted between fabric pieces, and is often used on the edges of arm rests and seat cushions. Welting is also called piping.

Cording Features

Cording is usually an undecorated circular cord used to create the rounded shape of welting. The fabric that constitutes the outside of the welting is sewn around the cording to give it a 3-dimensional quality. Cording comes in a variety of thicknesses, from string thickness to 1-inch or thicker cording for upholstery items.

Welting Uses

Welting is sewn into upholstery seams to help the home décor fabric withstand everyday use. The welting, positioned on the corners and edges of the upholstered pieces, restricts contact with the sewn seams and buffers abrasions as the furniture is used.

Cording Uses

Cording gives welting its shape and support. It does not have the fabric lip that welting does, which prevents it being used in seams.

Decorative Uses

Decorative cording, made of metallic threads, is used in appliqué to create designs on fabric items. Welting, with thin cording inserted inside, can be used to create decorative edges on clothing as well.

References

• SEW-lutions Guidelines: Piping
• Upholster: Sew a Boxed and Welted Cushion