Why made-to-measure work
comes with tolerances
A cushion ordered to the millimetre rarely arrives to the millimetre. That is not a fault - it follows from the material: fabric is a woven textile, not a rigid board. A measurement tolerance belongs to made-to-measure work as much as the seam does. Here is why, which deviations we commit to, and where a deviation becomes a defect.
Four reasons a fabric measurement is never exact
A measurement tolerance is not carelessness. It is the sum of four physical properties every woven fabric brings into production - and no machine, however precise, calibrates them away.
The fabric already arrives with a tolerance
Every manufacturer data sheet carries a line such as "tolerance +/- 5 percent", covering roll width and weight. A roll of 160 cm nominal width may therefore leave the mill anywhere between 152 and 168 cm. We buy the fabric as it is woven - that deviation exists before the first cut.
A woven fabric gives under tension
Warp and weft threads cross at right angles, but they are not glued. Pull on the cloth and they shift slightly - when unrolling, when laying it on the cutting table, when feeding it under the needle. A metre of fabric measures differently under tension than relaxed. That is why we let cut panels rest before sewing.
Every seam takes up length
While sewing, the feed dog moves the upper layer slightly differently from the lower one. Over a two-metre seam that adds up to a few millimetres. The more seams a product has - a welted seam has three instead of one - the more places where it accumulates.
Temperature and humidity join in
Textiles absorb and release moisture, and they expand in heat. Acrylic reacts more noticeably than polyester, which takes up only 0.1 to 0.4 percent moisture. Under ISO 5077 a fabric may shrink up to 1.5 percent in length when washed - on two metres that is three centimetres, with nothing wrong in production.
The tolerances we commit to
These values apply to our own production. They come from our complaints guideline and are the yardstick against which we assess every claim. A deviation within these values is normal and not grounds for complaint.
| Product | Committed tolerance | How it is measured |
|---|---|---|
| Cushions and seat pads | +/- 1 cm | corner to corner, without the insert |
| Decorative pillows | depends on size, ask if in doubt | corner to corner, without the insert |
| Cable tension awning (tensioner lengths) | +/- 0.5 to 1.5 cm | tensioned length |
| Awning panel | width +/- 0.5 cm, length +/- 2 cm | laid out flat |
| Folding sun sail and rope tension shading | +/- 0.5 to 1.5 cm | cloth size = ordered size minus 10 cm |
| Outdoor curtains | +/- 1.5 cm | laid out flat, without suspension |
| Fabric by the metre | width and weight +/- 5 % ex works | manufacturer figure on the data sheet |
How we re-measure - and how you should
Most reported deviations dissolve as soon as both sides measure in the same place. Three conventions decide it. How to take measurements before ordering is shown in our measurement instructions for each product.
Cushions: corner to corner, without the insert
The cover is measured laid out flat, from outer edge to outer edge, without the filling. With the insert in place the same cushion measures slightly larger, because the foam tensions the cover. Anyone measuring the filled cushion against the ordered size will almost always find an apparent deviation.
Sun sails: cloth size is not ordered size
For folding sun sails and rope tension shading we apply the convention cloth size = ordered size minus 10 cm. Those ten centimetres are the room for fittings, carabiners and the tension itself. The cloth is deliberately smaller than the distance between the fixing points - otherwise it could not be pulled taut.
Always measure relaxed
Fabric under tension measures more than the same fabric flat on the floor. Lay the product out, smooth it, but do not pull. And measure in several places: a single reading at a distorted corner is not a reliable value.
When a deviation is a tolerance - and when it is a defect
If the deviation stays inside the values in the table above, the product is made as intended. A cushion 8 mm off on 60 cm is sound. That is not a matter of interpretation but standard practice in the trade, written down in our complaints guideline.
If the committed tolerance is exceeded, that is a defect - and the statutory warranty applies, regardless of the product being made to measure. Contact us with your order number and a photo of the product laid out flat with a tape measure alongside. We re-measure and remake free of charge if we got it wrong.
Made-to-measure products are excluded from the right of withdrawal - they cannot be resold. That covers a change of mind only. If the goods are faulty, the warranty remains fully intact. This is why it pays to order fabric samples and work through the measurement instructions before ordering. More terms are explained in our advisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
Last reviewed: 25.08.2026 · Reviewer: Germes-Team
Unsure about measuring?
Better to ask once too often than once too little - a made-to-measure order cannot be exchanged. Our team will go through the measurements with you before you order.