Strawberry Thief Floral Polyester Cushion - Mineral/Yellow

This is the Strawberry Thief cushion, carrying one of William Morris's best-loved patterns onto a printed polyester face and a solid green reverse. The archive design dates to 1883, and it is all here: the pair of thrushes stealing fruit, the tulips and poppies, the dense mirrored scrollwork of leaves. On this colourway the pattern sits on a soft mineral-blue ground with the birds and berries picked out in warm yellow and tan, edged all the way round with a matching green piped trim. It measures 50 by 50cm, the standard large square that most cushion pads are made to fill.

Being a water-resistant polyester, this is a cushion built for outside as much as in. It suits a garden bench, a rattan sofa or a set of teak chairs on a patio, where a printed cotton would struggle with dew and the odd shower. Indoors it works just as happily on a sofa or a reading chair. The busy, symmetrical print reads well from across a room and pairs with plain linens and natural woods, so a single cushion holds its own or a pair frames a seat. The green reverse means you can turn it over for a quieter, solid-colour look.

The face is printed, not woven, so every detail of the original drawing survives at full clarity. A piped trim runs the full perimeter, giving the edge a firm, finished line and helping the cushion keep its shape. A zip along one edge lets you remove the cover from its pad, which makes the whole thing easier to store off-season. The zip is set discreetly so it does not interrupt the print. If you like this pattern, Morris's Strawberry Thief appears across a wider set of home pieces in Niori's range.

Can this cushion be used outdoors?

Yes. The polyester fabric is water-resistant, which makes it suited to garden seating, patios and covered outdoor areas where an ordinary cotton cover would not cope with damp.

What size cushion pad do I need?

The cover measures 50 by 50cm, so a 50cm square pad is the right fit. A pad the same size or very slightly larger gives the fullest, best-shaped result.

Does the cover come off?

Yes. There is a zip fastening along one edge, so you can take the cover off the pad, which is useful for storing it away over winter.

What does the back of the cushion look like?

The reverse is a solid green with a matching piped edge, so you can turn the cushion over for a plain look rather than the printed Strawberry Thief face.

Is polyester a good choice for a cushion?

Polyester is hard-wearing and holds colour well, which keeps a printed design like this looking sharp, and its water resistance is what allows the cushion to live outside.