Mark Alexander | Corde

Corde is a twisted cord in linen and wool, made to sit on a leading edge or a cushion seam without announcing itself. The two fibres take dye differently, so the twist carries a faint two-tone movement along its length rather than one flat colour. It is firm enough to hold a line but soft enough to ease around a curve, which is the balance you want in a trimming that has to follow made-up work.

It is 67 per cent linen and 33 per cent wool, supplied by the half metre. Three colourways: Cement, a cool mid grey; Plaster, a warm off-white; and Natural, the undyed linen tone. All three are deliberately quiet and are meant to work with the plain linens in the range rather than contrast with them. Take the cord and the cloth together when you are choosing, because the twist reads darker in the hand than on the roll.

We use Corde down the leading edge of a curtain, around the border of a cushion, or set into the seam of a headboard where it draws the shape without adding colour. It also works applied to the edge of a plain Roman blind, giving the bottom bar some definition. Order a sample to see it in your own light, as cord is easy to misjudge from a photograph.

Corde is best applied by hand rather than glued: a slip stitch through the twist holds it flat and lets it be lifted if the piece is ever recovered. Ease it around corners rather than mitring, working a little slack into the turn so it does not pull the seam. Allow for returns and for a short tail at each end to bury into the seam, and add ten per cent over the measured run.

• Composition: 67% LI 33% WO
• Sold by: Half metre
• Suitable for: Curtain leading edges, cushion seams, headboards, blind edges
• Care: Dry clean recommended
• Collection: Accent II, Mark Alexander
• Colourways: 3 (Cement, Plaster, Natural)