---
title: "Porch Swing Cushion in Blue Ticking: Firm Foam, Waterfall Front"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/readings/blue-ticking-stripe-garden-porch-swing-cushions/"
section: "Readings"
author: "Callum Reid, The Weather Man of Casco Bay"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/callum/"
published: "2026-01-30"
updated: "2026-09-24"
keywords: "porch swing cushion, outdoor cushions, patio cushion, custom size cushion, made to measure cushion, waterproof outdoor cushions"
---

# Blue ticking-stripe porch swing cushions: what's inside the seat, and why it's firm

*A garden swing, two back cushions and a seat that rolls over the front rail. Here's the foam that makes it work, and the weather it won't forgive.*

> **The quick answer:** A porch swing cushion should be firm: standard seat foam of about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³), 4 in (10 cm) thick, wrapped in polyester fiber. Firm foam holds a waterfall front over the rail on a seat that never stops moving. Tie two back cushions between the rope hangers, and bring the set under a roof in heavy rain.

![Pale blue ticking-stripe seat and back cushions with a front drop on a wooden garden swing among roses](https://cushionguide.com/media/porch-swing-cushions/blue-ticking-stripe-garden-porch-swing-cushions-1600.webp "A soft blue ticking stripe covers the seat and two back cushions of a timber garden swing, with the seat fabric dropping over the front rail.")

## Firm foam under a soft stripe

A porch swing cushion earns its keep at the front rail. That's where legs hang, where weight shifts every time the swing goes back, and where a soft cushion gives up first.

This one meets the rail with a waterfall front: the seat fabric rolls over the edge instead of stopping at a hard box corner. Under the pale blue ticking sits a block of standard seat foam, about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³), medium-firm to firm, wrapped in polyester fiber so the roll looks full. Firm is right on a swing. A seat that never stops moving needs foam that holds its shape.

The back is split in two for a reason. Rope hangers come down on either side, and one long back would bunch against them. Two shorter backs sit between the ropes and tie at the top.

Then the garden. Coral geraniums and pink roses warm a cool stripe, and hydrangeas repeat the blue. The iced tea on an open book says this swing is built for a long, slow sit. People shop for waterproof outdoor cushions, but what you get is water-repellent [outdoor fabric](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/outdoor-acrylic/) over ordinary seat foam, not a [quick-dry foam](https://cushionguide.com/guides/dry-fast-foam-outdoor-cushions/). Rain doesn't negotiate. Is your swing under a roof, or out in the open?

## Five pins around the swing

Five spots where the cut, the foam and the garden work together.

1. **Two back cushions**: Separate backs fit between the arms and rope hangers.
2. **Waterfall seat front**: The seat fabric falls over the rail to soften the hard edge.
3. **Rope hanger**: Cushions are cut to clear the ropes as the swing moves.
4. **Iced tea and book**: A side table invites a long, slow sit.
5. **Coral geraniums**: Warm flowers balance the cool ticking stripe.

## Seat foam or pillow fill: which goes where

|   | Seat | Back cushions |
|---|---|---|
| Fill | Solid seat foam, about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³) | A 4 in foam pad, or shredded foam in its own inner cover |
| Feel | Medium-firm to firm; not memory foam | A foam pad stands upright; shredded foam is softer, but not very soft |
| Thickness | 4 in (10 cm) standard; 2 to 5 in on the menu | Match the seat for a tidy line |
| Wet weather | Not quick-dry: stand it on edge to drain and dry | Same rule; the outer cover unzips to wash |

## Good foam, tired covers

A buyer in the US wrote to the workshop about a hanging porch swing. The foam was still good; the covers weren't. They wanted covers only, in cinnamon, with extra-strong zippers, for two pieces: a seat of 55.25 x 27.75 x 4 in (140 x 70.5 x 10 cm) and a back pad of 50 x 13 x 4 in (127 x 33 x 10 cm).

The workshop asked for one thing before quoting: the sizes of the foam itself. Then it quoted zippered covers without inserts, which cost less than whole new cushions. If your foam still springs back when you press it, friend, keep it and dress it new. The measuring notes for swings are in [porch swing cushion sizes](https://cushionguide.com/guides/porch-swing-cushion-sizes/), and more swings live under [porch swing cushions](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/porch-swing-cushions/).

## Curves, color and a chair that folds flat

**A common question:** My chair is rounded at the back and dips. Can you make a horseshoe-shaped seat cushion for it?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes, a curved edge can be made. Send a clear drawing with the width, the depth, where the curve starts and ends along each side, and how deep it runs. A photo of the chair helps too. The workshop confirms the shape with you before you order.

**A common question:** If I order an ottoman later, will it match my sofa's color?

**The workshop's answer:** Not guaranteed. In one case a velvet ottoman bought separately came out a warmer brown than the sofa. The workshop sent replacement covers, asked for photos with the covers fitted on the foam, because velvet sheen shifts the color, and then refunded the cover cost.

**A common question:** Do you make a single-seat chair version of the modular floor sofa?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. An ottoman with a backrest works as a lounge chair. Its layers are connected, so it lays flat or folds back into a chair. Write the color you want in the order note.

> If the foam in a porch swing cushion still springs back when pressed, order zippered covers cut to the foam's exact size instead of whole new cushions.
>
> — Callum

> **Tailor's margin:** Outdoor fabric sheds a shower, but standard seat foam is not quick-dry. After a soaking, stand a porch swing cushion on its long edge to drain.

## The swing set, piece by piece

|   |   |
|---|---|
| Cushions | One seat with a waterfall front, two back cushions |
| Fabric | Pale blue and white ticking stripe in outdoor fabric |
| Outdoor finish | Water-repellent and UV-resistant; not waterproof |
| Seat foam | About 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³), medium-firm to firm |
| Wrap | Polyester fiber batting around the foam |
| Thickness | 4 in (10 cm) standard |
| Piping | None; the waterfall front carries the line |
| Fastening | Ties at the top of each back cushion; seat ties on request |
| Best for | Hanging porch swings and A-frame garden swings with rope hangers |

## Questions buyers ask next

### How firm is the foam inside an outdoor swing cushion?

The standard seat foam is about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³), a high-density polyurethane with a medium-firm to firm feel. It isn't memory foam, so it holds a waterfall front and keeps its shape on a seat that moves.

### Are porch swing cushions waterproof?

No. The outdoor fabric is water-repellent and UV-resistant, and the foam is standard seat foam, not a quick-dry type. That suits a covered porch. On an open swing, bring the cushions in before a soaking and for the off-season; see [water-repellent vs waterproof](https://cushionguide.com/guides/water-repellent-vs-waterproof-cushions/).

### What thickness should a swing seat cushion be?

4 in (10 cm) is the standard for seat and outdoor cushions, and 3 to 4 in is the usual advice for outdoor benches. The standard options run 2 to 5 in; anything thicker is a custom build that costs more.

## Related at the atelier

- [Porch Swing Cushion in Herringbone Stripe: 10 ft vs Up Close](https://cushionguide.com/readings/neutral-herringbone-stripe-rope-porch-swing-cushions/): From ten feet away, a herringbone stripe porch swing cushion reads as a calm neutral stripe; up close it shows a woven texture that hides dust.
- [Porch Swing Cushion in a Blue and Sand Stripe for an A-Frame](https://cushionguide.com/readings/blue-sand-striped-a-frame-garden-swing-cushions/): A porch swing cushion for a free-standing A-frame swing should be a boxed seat that fits between the arms at seat level, plus a back split into sections that sit inside the chain line.
- [Porch Swing Cushion in Gray Stripe with Quilted Backs and Skirt](https://cushionguide.com/readings/gray-ivory-striped-garden-swing-cushions-roses/): A two-seat porch swing cushion works best as separate pieces: one long seat that spans both places, two quilted back cushions, ties at the ends and a front skirt over the rail.
- [Porch swing cushion ties that hold, from the chains down](https://cushionguide.com/concepts/porch-swing-cushions-that-stay-put/): 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.
- [Cushions for Great Lakes cottages and lake houses](https://cushionguide.com/places/great-lakes-cottage-cushions/): Lake house cushions on docks, decks and screened porches need outdoor-rated, water-repellent fabric, zippered covers and ties for the wind off the water.
- [Cushions for Carolina and Georgia porches](https://cushionguide.com/places/carolinas-georgia-cushions/): Porch swing cushions in the Carolinas and Georgia should be cut in outdoor-rated, water-repellent fabric with zippered covers and ties at the back corners so they never slide.
- [Porch swing cushion sizes: measuring a 4, 5 or 6 ft swing](https://cushionguide.com/guides/porch-swing-cushion-sizes/)
- [Replacing patio swing cushions on canopy swings and vintage metal gliders](https://cushionguide.com/guides/canopy-swing-and-metal-glider-cushions/)

*Fair winds — Callum*

---

Written by Callum Reid (https://cushionguide.com/masters/callum/) 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/readings/blue-ticking-stripe-garden-porch-swing-cushions/