Concept Sketches · 9 scenes
Porch swing cushion ties that hold, from the chains down
I grew up on a porch where every swing had a story and a faded cushion. These are the new stories from past orders, with the lesson each swing taught us.
SaveThe quick answer
A porch swing cushion set is a seat plus an optional back pillow that rests on the seat, sized to your swing: roughly 48 in (122 cm) wide for a two-seater and 60 in (152 cm) for a three-seater. Add ties at the back corners so it doesn't slide, label the stripe direction on your drawing, and use outdoor fabric wherever rain or direct sun can reach.
Every swing on the block has a story
My grandmother's swing had a cushion that crept forward an inch every time somebody laughed, and on that porch somebody was always laughing. A swing cushion should never slide when you laugh. That's the whole brief, and it's harder than it sounds, because a porch swing cushion hangs on chains, rocks all evening and lives half outdoors.
Start with the frame. As a rough guide, a two-seat swing runs about 48 in (122 cm) wide and a three-seat about 60 in (152 cm), but measure your own slats, never the catalog. Then decide: seat only, or seat and back? The porch swing cushions page in the Atlas shows both, and the porch swing cushion sizes Pattern walks you through the tape.
Plenty of folks ask for a big-name outdoor acrylic by brand. The workshop doesn't carry one. Its outdoor fabric is a UV-resistant, water-repellent polyester, and the swings below show where it shines and where it wants a roof; the patio and porch cushions room covers the rest of the porch. What does your swing measure, slat to slat?
Nine swings, nine lessons from the porch
01A past project
A striped back pillow that came up 23 in short
A buyer in the US ordered a striped seat and a separate back pillow, and the back arrived 23 in (58 cm) shorter than the seat. The workshop pointed to the approved schematic at first, then admitted the workshop had misread the diagram. The workshop remade the back free at 63.75 x 18 x 3 in (162 x 46 x 7.6 cm), stripes running top to bottom, and it sat on the seat pillow and fit perfectly.
The takeaway: Label every length on the drawing you approve, and write which way the stripes run.
02A past project
Good foam, new covers in cinnamon
A buyer in the US had foam on a hanging porch swing that was still good and wanted covers only, with extra-strong zippers. The seat was 55.25 x 27.75 x 4 in (140 x 70.5 x 10 cm) and the back pad 50 x 13 x 4 in (127 x 33 x 10 cm), both in cinnamon. The workshop asked for the foam's exact sizes and sewed the covers to them.
The takeaway: If the foam still springs back, keep it and order zippered covers to its exact size.
03A past project
Four backs or one long backrest on a 71.7 in swing
One buyer wrote in about a swing about 71.7 in (182 cm) wide and weighed four back cushions of about 17.9 x 21.7 in (45.5 x 55 cm) against one long backrest. Either works. Separate pieces are easier to handle, and after a summer storm they dry faster.
The takeaway: Split a long backrest into pieces that add up to the seat length.
04A past project
Four inches or six? Read it back first
An older couple wrote to the workshop about swing-chair cushions about 59 in (150 cm) long. Their note said 4 in (10 cm) in one place and 6 in (15 cm) in another. The workshop read both numbers back to them before anyone quoted a thing.
The takeaway: When the note and the form disagree, the maker should ask; if nobody asks, you ask.
05A past project
Charcoal swing cushions tied to the slats by hand
A buyer in the US asked whether ties cost extra. On many past orders they went on at no charge, often on the two back corners of a bench cushion; on others there was a small per-cushion charge. Ties are sewn only on request, so write the request with your exact size and say where they go, such as 6 in (15 cm) in from each short end.
The takeaway: Put ties and their position in your order note, and look for them in the photo before the cushion ships.
06A past project
A soft back pillow instead of a foam board
A buyer wrote in wanting back support to match a swing cushion they already loved. The workshop made one back pillow and two bolsters in the same fabric, soft-filled rather than firm foam. Back pillows like these are filled about 4 in (10 cm) thick, so the workshop only needs the width and height.
The takeaway: Soft-filled back pillows and bolsters suit a swing better than firm foam.
07A past project
Rust velvet on a covered farmhouse porch
A buyer in the US asked whether regular indoor cushions would do on a covered porch. Under a closed roof where rain and direct sun never reach, linen, velvet and the soft standard fabrics are fine, though none of them is waterproof. A screened porch that collects pollen, dust and humidity is different; there, the workshop recommends outdoor fabric.
The takeaway: If rain or direct sun can touch the swing, choose outdoor fabric; under a solid roof, indoor fabric is fine.
08A past project
Ticking stripes on an open garden swing
A buyer got in touch wanting the workshop's striped cotton on outdoor seating. That range is 100% cotton and indoor only, so they chose an outdoor-rated stripe instead. A swing out in the open, like this one among the roses, gets its stripes the same way.
The takeaway: Keep cotton ticking under a roof; outdoors, get the look from an outdoor-rated stripe.
09A past project
Can the cushions stay out all winter? No.
A buyer in the US, where summers run very hot and winters bring snow, asked whether outdoor cushions could stay out all year. The workshop said plainly that its cushions aren't built for that. The fabric is UV-resistant and water-repellent, but the foam isn't quick-dry and there's no mesh drainage bottom. They belong on a covered porch, or indoors once the snow comes.
The takeaway: Bring swing cushions in for winter; water-repellent fabric over regular foam is a covered-porch product.
Seat only or seat and back, one long back or sections
Two choices shape every swing set, neighbor, and neither one is wrong. Here is how they played out on real porches. Cotton ticking stripes stay under a roof, the fabric yardage calculator does the sums for a long striped set, and the tie placement Pattern shows where ties sit on slats.
| Choice | What you get | What to watch | From the swings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat only | A clean line and one cover to wash | Your back rests on bare slats | One buyer added a back pillow and two bolsters later |
| Seat plus a back pillow | Back support that rests on the seat | Label both lengths so the back matches the seat | A 63.75 x 18 x 3 in (162 x 46 x 7.6 cm) back remade to fit |
| One long backrest | An unbroken line along the swing | Heavier to handle and slower to dry | Weighed against four pieces on a 71.7 in (182 cm) swing |
| Back in sections | Easy handling and faster drying | The pieces must add up to the seat length | Four 17.9 x 21.7 in (45.5 x 55 cm) backs |
| Covers only | Fresh fabric on foam that still springs back | Exact foam sizes and extra-strong zippers | A 55.25 x 27.75 x 4 in (140 x 70.5 x 10 cm) seat in cinnamon |
A porch swing cushion needs ties at the back corners and a drawing with every length labeled, including which way the stripes run.
Rosa
Swing questions from the front steps
- A common question
My swing foam is still fine. Can I order just the covers?
The workshop's answerYes. Covers-only orders come with no foam or filling. Give the exact length, width and thickness of your foam plus a fabric code, and the cover is sewn to those sizes so it fits snugly. Porch swings are among the covers the workshop remakes, extra-strong zippers can be requested, and the covers wash at 86°F (30°C) on a delicate cycle.
- A common question
Could you use velcro instead of ties to hold the swing cushion down?
The workshop's answerThe workshop usually suggests ties or a non-slip bottom instead. Hook-and-loop tabs and snap fasteners aren't made. Two-sided hook-and-loop strips have been added on request, one side sewn under the cushion and the other sent to you to fix to the frame, at extra cost. Write the request with your fabric code and piping choice, and wait for confirmation.
- A common question
Can an outdoor seat be made 6 in thick, with ties and no piping?
The workshop's answerYes. Outdoor cushions are made to any size and thickness, including 6 in (15 cm), in the water-resistant outdoor range, and they're washable. Skip the piping and add ties, for example at the two corners of a long side. Seat-and-back pairs, such as a 48 x 24 x 5 in (122 x 61 x 13 cm) seat with a 48 x 18 x 3 in (122 x 46 x 7.6 cm) back, are quoted together.
Have it made
Have an idea like this made — ask Rosa’s workshop
Every good cushion I know started with a long porch chat. This is the short version: leave your number and the workshop will call. — Rosa
Leave your details and the workshop will call you to confirm measurements, fabric, foam and piping. No prices, dates or payment on this page: it is a request, not an order.
Questions buyers ask next
How wide is a porch swing cushion for a two-seat swing?
As a rough guide, a two-seat swing is about 48 in (122 cm) wide and a three-seat about 60 in (152 cm). Measure your own swing slat to slat, between the arms, and order to that number rather than a catalog size.
Should a swing back cushion be foam or a filled pillow?
A filled pillow usually suits a swing better. Soft-filled back pillows and bolsters give support with some give, and at about 4 in (10 cm) thick they need only a width and height. The back pillow rests on top of the seat cushion.
Which way should stripes run on a porch swing cushion?
Say so in your order note. The fabric roll is about 55 in (140 cm) wide, so stripes on long cushions run front to back by default, and a long piece striped the other way needs a seam. One back pillow was remade with its stripes running top to bottom.
Do ties come standard on a swing cushion?
No. Ties are added only on request, and a request typed into the size box can be missed. Ask for ties in writing with their position, length and color, message after ordering to confirm, and check the photo before the cushion ships.
