Strawberry Thief Jacquard Velvet Cushion - Indigo

This is a 50 x 50cm cushion carrying William Morris's Strawberry Thief, one of the most recognised patterns in his archive, worked here as embroidery over a deep indigo velvet ground. The photograph shows the design in full: pairs of birds mirrored across the face, strawberries, a golden central bloom and a dense surround of leaves and small flowers, stitched in cream, gold, rust, pink and soft grey against the dark cloth. The fabric is a matt velvet rather than a shiny one, so the embroidered threads sit up against the pile and catch the light where the base does not.

A single square cushion like this earns its place on a bed, a sofa or an armchair where the pattern can be seen at close range. The dark ground is easy to place against neutral walls, natural wood and mid-toned upholstery, and the warm accents in the stitching pick up amber, rust and gold tones already in a room. Used on its own it reads as the one detailed piece among plainer scatter cushions; used in a pair it frames the centre of a larger sofa. It suits a study, a reading corner or a bedroom as readily as a main living space.

The face is embroidered velvet and the reverse is plain velvet in the same indigo, so it sits neatly whichever way it falls. A fringed trim runs around all four edges, visible in the side and corner photographs, and a zip closure lets you take the cover off. The cushion is polyester throughout. Polyester holds colour well and resists creasing, which keeps the embroidered detail looking crisp between uses. The Strawberry Thief motif has been in continuous production for well over a century, and this piece brings it into a velvet finish.

What is the cushion made from?

It is 100% polyester throughout, with a matt velvet face carrying the embroidered design and a plain velvet reverse in the same indigo shade.

Does the cover come off for cleaning?

Yes, there is a zip closure along one edge, so the cover can be removed from the pad whenever you need to freshen it up.

What size is it and will it suit my sofa?

It measures 50 x 50cm, a standard square scatter size that works well on a sofa, an armchair or across the head of a bed.

Is the design printed or embroidered?

The Strawberry Thief motif is embroidered, so the threads sit raised against the velvet pile and catch the light where the plain base does not.

What colours are in the pattern?

Against the deep indigo ground the birds and flowers are stitched in cream, gold, rust, pink and soft grey, giving warm accents on a dark base.

Does it have a trim?

Yes, a fringed trim runs around all four edges of the cushion, framing the velvet face on every side.