Tufting
Also called tufted, button-tufted, diamond tufting, button tufting, biscuit tufting, hand tufting
An upholstery technique where fabric is pulled taut over padding and anchored with buttons or knots to create deep, patterned folds.
Tufting is a classic upholstery technique where fabric or leather is pulled taut over padding and anchored to the frame at set intervals. Upholsterers pull heavy cord through the cushion and backing, securing each point with a button or knot. As the material is drawn inward, the excess cover is hand-folded into crisp pleats, forming iconic diamond or biscuit patterns.
Beyond its tailored look, traditional deep tufting is a hallmark of meticulous craftsmanship. Adjusting every anchor to uniform tension while setting clean, even folds demands significant skill. Functionally, this structural technique locks interior cushioning in place, keeping padding from shifting over decades of sitting. Hand-tufting is easy to spot by looking at the indentations: true tufting features actual folded fabric radiating from deeply recessed buttons, unlike shallow, machine-stamped dimples.
Tufting is frequently confused with channel stitching, which shapes padding into long vertical or horizontal rows rather than grid-like diamonds. It is also distinct from blind tufting, which pulls back fabric without showing buttons on the surface.
