---
title: "Navy Ticking Stripe Bench Cushions: Direction, Joins, Lumbars"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/concepts/navy-ticking-stripe-cushions/"
section: "Concept Sketches"
author: "Margaret Holloway, The Piping Queen of Newport"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/maggie/"
published: "2026-03-02"
updated: "2026-09-24"
keywords: "ticking stripe bench cushion, navy ticking stripe cushions, striped bench cushion, stripe direction on cushions, navy banquette cushion, ticking lumbar pillow, self-piping on stripes"
---

# Navy ticking on a bench: which way the stripe runs and why

*Stripes were a rare request not long ago. Now they come up often, most of them navy, and every one of them starts with a tape measure.*

> **The quick answer:** On a ticking stripe bench cushion, the stripes run front to back across the depth by default, because the roll is about 55 in (140 cm) wide and long stripes on a longer cushion would need a seam. You can ask for another direction before production. For piping, self-piping cut from the same stripe is the only guaranteed color match.

![Deep navy velvet bench cushion with cream piping on a wooden bench in a walk-in wardrobe beside a floor mirror](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/navy-velvet-walk-in-closet-bench-cushion-1600.webp "A thick navy velvet cushion for a wardrobe bench, colored to match the row of dark shirts and coats.")

## Navy came back, and it brought its stripes

Every roll of our ticking is about 55 in (140 cm) wide, and that one number decides which way the stripes on your bench can run. I learned to check it first after a few years of learning it last.

Stripe and ticking requests went from almost nothing to a regular ask in 2026, and most of them want navy. One of the big paint houses even named a trio of blues its 2026 color. A navy-and-natural ticking stripe bench cushion on a white kitchen bench is having its moment.

The [striped cotton and ticking](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/striped-cotton-and-ticking/) the workshop cut is 100% cotton (one chart is 98% cotton, 2% polyester), indoor-only, with woven stripes from about 1/4 in (0.7 cm) to 2 3/8 in (6 cm) wide. Woven means the pairings come as they are: nobody can swap the cream for white.

Below are eight real orders, from [bench cushions](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/bench-cushions/) to [banquettes](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/banquette-cushions/) and [lumbar pillows](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/lumbar-pillows/). First, though: how long is your bench, and have you checked it against 54 in?

## Eight striped benches and what each one settled

### 01. Navy ticking on a kitchen banquette, with three lumbars to match

![Navy and cream narrow-stripe lumbar pillow with piped navy shams on white bedding, oak headboard and dried wheat](https://cushionguide.com/media/lumbar-pillows/navy-ticking-lumbar-piped-navy-shams-oak-bed-1600.webp "One navy in two forms: a narrow ticking stripe in front and piped solid shams behind.")

A buyer in the US had a banquette cushion made in navy blue ticking and came back for three matching lumbar pillows: covers 24 x 12 in (61 x 30 cm), inserts 25 x 13 in (64 x 33 cm), zippered and washable.

**The takeaway:** Order lumbar inserts about 1 in larger than the cover each way, so the pillows sit full against the bench.

> **Tailor's margin:** For plump lumbar pillows, put a 25 x 13 in insert in a 24 x 12 in cover.

### 02. A U-shaped breakfast nook with a window sill in the way

![Pink and white striped box cushion on a white shaker kitchen bench against sage walls, with gingham, wave and linen pillows](https://cushionguide.com/media/banquette-cushions/pink-stripe-kitchen-corner-bench-cushion-sage-walls-1600.webp "A real kitchen corner where pink stripes, a ruffled gingham pillow and trailing plants make a cozy breakfast perch.")

A family in the US needed three cushions for a U-shaped breakfast nook, two cut out around an overhanging window sill, all 2.5 in (6.4 cm) thick in navy-and-natural ticking. Cotton ticking stains more easily, the workshop said plainly, but the covers wash at 86°F (30°C), and firm 32-density foam (about 2 lb/ft³) makes 2.5 in comfortable. We warned that solid navy piping may not exactly match the stripe, and caught a 2 1/4 in (5.7 cm) mismatch in the third piece before cutting.

**The takeaway:** On stepped cutouts, add up the edges on each side before you send the drawing.

> **Tailor's margin:** On a notched nook cushion, the steps plus the short edge must equal the long edge.

### 03. A designer's 57.5 in bench that wanted its stripes sideways

![Oak bench with a cream bouclé seat cushion and a long black and cream geometric back cushion by a window, jute rug below](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/cream-boucle-bench-seat-long-geometric-lumbar-1600.webp "A soft cream seat and a long patterned back cushion give a simple oak bench the look of a small daybed.")

An interior designer in the US ordered a 32 x 57.5 x 4 in (81 x 146 x 10 cm) bench cushion in black-and-white stripe with piping, stripes to run side to side. They arrived front to back. At 57.5 in the cushion is longer than the roll is wide, so side to side meant a seam across the top, and the designer agreed the seamless top was better.

**The takeaway:** Check a long cushion's stripe direction against the 55 in roll, and settle seam or no seam in writing.

> **Tailor's margin:** A striped bench cushion 57.5 in long can't run its stripes side to side without a seam across the top.

### 04. A 92 in bench that outran the fabric

![Tiger-stripe box cushion on a white shiplap built-in bench with rust velvet, mustard knit and boucle pillows](https://cushionguide.com/media/banquette-cushions/tiger-stripe-cushion-white-shiplap-built-in-seat-1600.webp "A built-in storage seat made cozy with a thick tiger-print cushion and three textured pillows in autumn colors.")

A buyer messaged the workshop about a striped bench cushion about 20 x 92 in (51 x 234 cm). Stripes running the long way, railroaded as the trade says, would need two pieces and a seam. Stripes front to back, across the 20 in depth, give one seamless, durable top.

**The takeaway:** Past about 54 in (138 cm), choose front-to-back stripes or long stripes with a seam, and write it on the order.

> **Tailor's margin:** A 92 in striped bench cushion has two honest options: stripes front to back, or long stripes with one seam.

### 05. An L-shaped corner bench in two pieces that meet flush

![Blush pink multi-stripe box cushion on a teal tongue-and-groove kitchen bench with cognac, flower-print and diamond pillows](https://cushionguide.com/media/banquette-cushions/blush-stripe-cushion-teal-kitchen-banquette-1600.webp "Pink and teal make a fresh modern kitchen pairing; cognac linen adds depth at the back.")

A buyer in the US ordered samples first, then cushions for an L-shaped corner bench in striped cotton, about 3 in (7.6 cm) thick. The workshop made two cushions that butt together at the corner instead of one L piece: 16.5 x 62.4 in (42 x 158 cm) and 16.5 x 45.5 in (42 x 116 cm). Straight pieces cover easier and fit cleaner.

**The takeaway:** State the stripe direction for each cushion separately, since the two pieces sit at right angles.

> **Tailor's margin:** An L-shaped striped bench works best as two butt-jointed cushions, each with its own stripe direction on the order.

### 06. Navy or charcoal? A 73 in bench answered for itself

![Taupe bouclé box cushion on a walnut bench before tall black French windows in a navy room, cognac velvet lumbar pillow](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/taupe-boucle-walnut-bench-navy-munich-room-1600.webp "Taupe and cognac against navy: the bench sits centered on the window like a small stage.")

A buyer in the US ordered a 73 x 26 x 2 in (185 x 66 x 5 cm) striped bench cushion and expected charcoal from the photos. It arrived reading dark blue, and the production record showed the right code. Dark stripes photograph badly: navy reads as black on a screen and plainly blue in daylight.

**The takeaway:** When a dark stripe's exact shade matters, judge a physical swatch in daylight and under your own lamps.

> **Tailor's margin:** Dark navy ticking often photographs as charcoal or black; a swatch in daylight settles the navy-or-charcoal question.

### 07. Ticking that looked warmer than the chart

![Burgundy linen-look lumbar pillow with burgundy-and-cream striped squares on a cream bed, walnut panel headboard](https://cushionguide.com/media/lumbar-pillows/burgundy-lumbar-red-stripe-squares-walnut-bed-1600.webp "A solid burgundy lumbar set against burgundy-and-cream stripes for a classic, library-warm bedroom.")

A buyer in the US found her 18 5/8 x 71 in (47 x 180 cm) ticking bench cushion warmer and more tan than the chart photo, though the workshop confirmed the fabric. For the replacement cover she chose a linen from samples, and I'll own ours: that sample was mislabeled, so the cover came darker. The third cover was free, in the shade she meant, with self-piping and her non-slip base.

**The takeaway:** Label swatches the day they arrive, and repeat piping and add-ons on every remake order.

> **Tailor's margin:** Label every fabric swatch the day it arrives; neighboring shade numbers can differ only in tone.

### 08. Navy velvet as the solid partner to a stripe

![Navy velvet lumbar pillow and square between fuchsia velvet shams on a white headboard bed, dusty blue wall](https://cushionguide.com/media/lumbar-pillows/navy-velvet-lumbar-fuchsia-shams-dusty-blue-wall-1600.webp "Fuchsia and navy velvet under late sun, a bold pairing kept calm by white and dusty blue.")

A designer in the US needed two 24 x 24 in (61 x 61 cm) velvet cushions, 6 in (15 cm) thick, for a client's family with children. The workshop recommended velvet for durability with kids and proposed deep navy with burnt terracotta piping, and teal blue with navy piping. The 6 in thickness went into the personalization note.

**The takeaway:** Let the solid navy live in velvet around a ticking bench; piping from any chart costs nothing extra.

> **Tailor's margin:** Piping for navy velvet cushions can come from any chart: burnt terracotta on deep navy, navy on teal blue.

## Stripe direction and piping: what each choice asks of you

| Choice | What you get | What to watch | Seen on the cutting table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripes front to back (default) | One seamless top at any length | Stripes read as short bars | A 32 x 57.5 in (81 x 146 cm) bench |
| Stripes the long way, under about 54 in (138 cm) | Long lines, no seam | Write the direction per cushion | Lumbars and short benches |
| Stripes the long way, over about 54 in | Long lines down a long bench | A seam across the top | A 20 x 92 in (51 x 234 cm) bench |
| Self-piping from the stripe | The only guaranteed color match | Striped, not solid, edge | The usual recommendation |
| Solid piping from another chart | A crisp solid edge | Tone may be slightly off | Solid navy on navy ticking |
| No piping | A softer, plainer edge | Costs the same as piping | Always an option |

## Before the stripes meet the scissors

Right, then. My list, earned the hard way:

- Say which way the stripes run on each cushion: parallel to the long edge or the short one.
- Ask which face is stripe-matched. Stripes line up on one face only and shift around the corners, so put that face up and out.
- Past about 54 in (138 cm), choose stripes front to back or a seam. The [fabric yardage calculator](https://cushionguide.com/studio/fabric-yardage-calculator/) shows how a roll gets used.
- Order a swatch to check stripe width and ratio, not only color.
- Write body and piping codes as two lines: 'Body: code, Piping: code.'

And a word on light, dear. A buyer in the US found an off-white with cream stripes more yellow at home than online; listing and review photos are simply shot in different light. That order also held a real mistake by the workshop: one cushion came 36 in (91 cm) wide instead of 44 in, and the workshop remade it at 15 x 44 in (38 x 112 cm). The [stripe direction Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/striped-cushion-stripe-direction/) and [screen versus daylight](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-color-screen-vs-daylight/) go deeper, and the [pillow cover studio](https://cushionguide.com/studio/pillow-cover-studio/) sizes the lumbars.

> A ticking stripe bench cushion longer than about 54 in needs a seam if the stripes run the long way, so front to back is the default.
>
> — Maggie

## Stripe questions

**A common question:** If I order a long striped bench cushion, which way will the stripes go, and do I get a say?

**The workshop's answer:** By default they run front to back, across the cushion's depth. The roll is about 55 in (140 cm) wide, so stripes running the long way on a long cushion, say 92 in (234 cm), would need two pieces joined with a seam. You can ask for another direction on the top and the side edges before production, ideally with a reference photo, and the team checks what the fabric allows. If a stripe is too narrow to cut piping from, a matching solid is used for the piping.

**A common question:** Can the piping on my striped cushion be a solid that matches one of the stripe colors?

**The workshop's answer:** Sometimes. Stripe collections have no solid in the same tone, so solid piping comes from another chart, and a different fabric type may not match the stripe exactly. The workshop picks the closest shade under natural light. Thin stripes can't be cut into a solid strip. Self-piping cut from the same striped fabric is the only guaranteed match, and usually the recommendation. If you leave piping blank, we ask before production and can send a photo of piping cut from your fabric.

**A common question:** Is there a separate chart for piping colors?

**The workshop's answer:** No. Piping can be cut from any fabric on any of the charts in the listing images, more than 150 options, and fabric types can be mixed, such as velvet piping on a striped cotton cushion. Use the body's code for matching piping or another code for contrast, and write both in the personalization, for example 'Body: code, Piping: code'. A plain color like solid black can simply go in the color box.

**A common question:** Is everything a solid color, or do you carry stripes and other patterns too?

**The workshop's answer:** Mostly solids, but there are stripes, including beige/white and black/white, plaid and tartan in brown, green, blue and red tones, and patterned velvets. Extra patterned charts go out on request, and the workshop's own fabrics all cost the same. Natural-fiber patterns are limited, since most patterned fabrics are polyester blends. A print you found elsewhere usually isn't stocked; send a photo and the workshop will try to source it, at a higher cost than standard fabrics.

## Questions buyers ask next

### Can ticking stripe cushions go on a porch or patio?

Not these. The striped and ticking fabrics are 100% cotton, with one chart at 98% cotton and 2% polyester, and they are indoor-only. They also stain more easily than performance fabrics. For a porch or patio stripe, look at outdoor fabrics instead.

### How do I wash a navy ticking cushion cover?

Unzip the cover, slide the foam out and wash the cover at 86°F (30°C). Cotton ticking marks more easily than performance fabric, so deal with spills on a kitchen bench promptly rather than letting them set.

### How wide are the stripes on ticking fabric?

It depends on the code: from about 1/4 in (0.7 cm) up to 2 to 2 3/8 in (5 to 6 cm). The stripes are woven in, so the color pairings on the chart are the only ones available. Order a swatch to check width and ratio as well as color.

### Will the stripes line up on every side of a box cushion?

Only on one face. Stripes are pattern-matched on one face of the cushion, and turning the corners shifts them along the sides. Ask which face is matched and set it up and outward, and state any stripe direction for the side edges before production.

## Related at the atelier

- [Banquette Cushions in Forest Green Stripe with Green Piping](https://cushionguide.com/readings/forest-green-stripe-banquette-cushions-rattan-pendant/): Banquette cushions look tailored when each piece has a box edge outlined in piping that contrasts with the bench, like the solid forest green welt on this white built-in.
- [Banquette Cushion Anatomy: Inside a Red Stripe Kitchen Seat](https://cushionguide.com/readings/red-stripe-kitchen-banquette-cushions-copper-pans/): A kitchen banquette cushion should be firm, because you sit upright at a table and slide in and out sideways.
- [Banquette Cushion Thickness: A Pink and Olive Stripe Nook](https://cushionguide.com/readings/pink-olive-stripe-kitchen-banquette-sage-beadboard/): Over a hard plywood kitchen nook bench, a 3 in (7.5 cm) banquette cushion is enough for everyday dining; the workshop confirmed it for a buyer ordering two 73 1/4 x 24 1/2 in cushions.
- [Specifying custom cushions for a client, line by line](https://cushionguide.com/guides/custom-cushion-spec-sheet-for-designers/): Specify custom cushions for a client one row per piece: location, shape, length x depth x thickness in inches, fabric code plus a backup code, piping code, edge, zipper side, ties, back height…
- [Commercial seating cushions for cafés, rentals and offices: what to specify](https://cushionguide.com/guides/commercial-cushions-cafe-rental-specs/): Commercial seating cushions need three things a home cushion can skip: contract-grade fabric rated around 40,000 Martindale or more, high-density foam at about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³), and zippered…
- [Can you make banquette or booth cushions for a restaurant or client project?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/restaurant-booth-banquette-cushions/): Yes: custom restaurant booth and banquette cushions are made for commercial and client projects.
- [How to measure a curved cushion with a chord, a rise and one formula](https://cushionguide.com/guides/curved-cushion-chord-rise-radius/)
- [Matching, contrast or no piping: choosing the line around a cushion](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-piping-matching-contrast-none/)

*Stitch straight — Maggie*

---

Written by Margaret Holloway (https://cushionguide.com/masters/maggie/) for CushionGuide (https://cushionguide.com/about/). The site explains made-to-measure cushions and the partner workshop makes them; measurements are in inches first. This Markdown mirrors the page at https://cushionguide.com/concepts/navy-ticking-stripe-cushions/