---
title: "Striped Outdoor Bench Cushion: One Stripe, One Plain, One Knit"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/readings/navy-pinstripe-lake-jetty-bench-cushion-mist/"
section: "Readings"
author: "Callum Reid, The Weather Man of Casco Bay"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/callum/"
published: "2026-06-17"
updated: "2026-09-24"
keywords: "custom bench cushion, outdoor bench cushion, garden bench cushion, waterproof outdoor cushions, striped bench cushion, outdoor cushions, bench pad"
---

# A navy pinstripe outdoor bench cushion on a misty jetty, cut open

*Dew on the boards by six, fog on the water till nine. One custom bench cushion, one stripe, one plain, one knit, and the job each of them does out there.*

> **The quick answer:** An outdoor bench cushion mixes patterns best as one stripe, one plain and one texture, each at a different scale. Here a fine navy pinstripe on white carries the pattern, silvered teak is the plain, and a chunky cable-knit throw is the texture. Keep the stripe on the cushion, since a water-repellent cover handles morning dew better than wool.

![White and navy pinstripe outdoor bench cushion on a teak bench on a wooden lake jetty at misty dawn with a knit throw](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/navy-pinstripe-lake-jetty-bench-cushion-mist-1600.webp "A crisp pinstripe pad on a weathered bench at the end of a jetty, with a knit throw and a thermos for the morning.")

## Small, large, none: three scales on one bench

Fog sits on the lake and the bench has been out all night. The cushion on it is the only crisp thing in the picture, and that is the point.

Look at the scale. The navy pinstripe is fine enough to read as pale gray from the shore and as lines only once you sit down. The cable knit on the end is fat and chunky, a pattern you could count with your fingers. Between them is the silvered teak: no print at all, only grain. Small, large, none. That spacing is why three textures share one bench without arguing.

The stripes turn over the boxed front and line up from top to side, so each line reads as one line from seat to edge. The [self piping](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#self-piping) is cut from the same cloth. A contrast welt would have added a fourth line to a picture that already has plenty.

The cushion stands taller than the bench's top rail. On a thin, weathered seat that extra height is the comfort, and the old wood still shows below it.

Then the props. The throw lives on the end, not spread across the seat, so the cushion takes the dew and the wool stays dry. The thermos sets the hour. The reeds and the gray water set the palette: white with navy is about the only color that belongs out there at dawn. Anything warmer would look lost.

People search for waterproof outdoor cushions. This cover is water-repellent: dew beads and rolls off the face, and you still bring it in when real weather is coming. Water-repellent is a promise; waterproof is a contract. The difference is laid out in [water-repellent vs waterproof cushions](https://cushionguide.com/guides/water-repellent-vs-waterproof-cushions/), and the cloth lives with the [water-repellent membrane fabrics](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/water-repellent-membrane/).

What does the bench at your water's edge measure?

## Pinned by Callum: the jetty at dawn

Five pins, from the stripe on the seat to the reeds in the fog.

1. **White pinstripe top**: Thin navy lines on white keep the seat looking crisp against the gray water.
2. **Matched boxed front**: The stripes turn neatly over the edge, lining up from top to side.
3. **Cream knit throw**: A chunky throw on the end is a practical touch for cool mornings by the water.
4. **Thermos and cup**: The flask on the boards sets the scene: a quiet first coffee at the lake.
5. **Reeds in the mist**: The muted lake gives the white fabric a soft glow rather than glare.

## Stripe, plain, texture: who does what on the jetty

Pattern mixing is mostly a question of scale. This is how the three layers split the work.

| Layer | In the photo | Scale | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Navy pinstripe on white, on the cushion | Fine: reads pale gray from the shore | Carries the pattern and takes the dew |
| Plain | Silvered teak bench and jetty boards | None: grain only | Rests the eye between stripe and knit |
| Texture | Cream cable-knit throw | Chunky: cables you can count | Warmth for the first hour, then it goes inside |

## A stepped bench, drawn before it was quoted

A buyer got in touch with two benches and one tape measure. The first was straight: 86⅝ x 18½ in (2200 x 470 mm). The second stepped. One long edge ran 75⅜ in (1915 mm). The other edge broke in two: 54⅛ in (1375 mm) at 16⅜ in (415 mm) deep, then 21¼ in (540 mm) at 14½ in (367 mm) deep.

Both pads were to be 2 in (5 cm) thick. The workshop asked for a drawing with every width change written on it, looked it over, and quoted from that. No drawing, no quote.

A stepped bench hides two depths in one cushion. Miss the step and the narrow end sits almost 2 in proud of the seat. The drawing is where you catch it, not the delivery day. The [bench cushion builder](https://cushionguide.com/studio/bench-cushion-builder/) is a good place to sketch one first.

## Buyer questions: wipe-clean cloth, thickness, and a pad that stays put

**A common question:** What fabric would you suggest for a kitchen dining bench that I can wipe clean?

**The workshop's answer:** Both the soft fabric and the velvet are easy to clean. One buyer went with the soft fabric for two bench cushions, 14.5 x 43 x 3 in and 15.5 x 58 x 3 in.

**A common question:** Which thicknesses can I order? Could you do 2.5 inches?

**The workshop's answer:** The order page offers 2, 3, 4 and 5 in (5 to 12.5 cm), and 2.5 in can be made too. If you picked the wrong thickness, tell the workshop before production and the order is adjusted.

**A common question:** My entry bench cushion keeps sliding around. Can you add velcro?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. Hook-and-loop straps can be sewn on to hold the cushion in place. Write the request in the personalization box together with your fabric code and whether you want piping.

## On the cutting table

|   |   |
|---|---|
| Cushion | Outdoor bench cushion, boxed edge, full length of a teak bench |
| Fabric | White with a fine navy pinstripe, water-repellent outdoor membrane cloth |
| Piping | Self piping, cut from the same stripe |
| Stripe | Turned over the boxed front, lined up from top to side |
| Thickness | 2, 3, 4 or 5 in (5 to 12.5 cm); 2.5 in on request |
| Foam | High-density, about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³), standard |
| Fastening | Hook-and-loop straps on request, written in the personalization box |
| Pair with | A plain wool throw, kept off the seat |
| Best for | Jetties, docks and porches where dew settles every morning |

> A stepped bench cushion is quoted from a drawing that marks every width change. Skip the drawing and the narrow end comes out almost 2 in too deep.
>
> — Callum

> **Tailor's margin:** On an outdoor bench cushion, let the stripe be the only print and put texture in the throw: one stripe, one plain, one knit, each a different size.

## Questions buyers ask next

### Is a water-repellent bench cushion the same as a waterproof one?

No. A water-repellent cover makes dew and light rain bead up and roll off the face. Waterproof means water does not get through at all, which is a job for the whole build, not the cloth alone. On a jetty, water-repellent plus bringing the pad in before storms is the practical pairing.

### How do I mix a striped cushion with other patterns?

Change the scale. Put one fine stripe on the cushion, keep the bench or wall plain, and bring texture in with something chunky, like a cable-knit throw. Three different sizes read as calm; two patterns at the same size start to fight.

### Which way should the stripes run on a bench cushion?

On this jetty pad the stripes turn over the boxed front and line up from top to side. Say the direction you want in your order note; the Pattern on stripe direction walks through the choices and how the roll width affects them.

### Can a bench cushion be made for a stepped or notched bench?

Yes. Send a drawing with every edge and every width change measured. The workshop checks it before quoting; one real stepped pad was 16⅜ in deep for 54⅛ in, then 14½ in deep for the last 21¼ in, all 2 in thick.

## Related at the atelier

- [Garden Bench Cushion in Blush Stripe for a Narrow Greenhouse](https://cushionguide.com/readings/blush-stripe-glasshouse-teak-bench-cushion/): A garden bench cushion in a narrow greenhouse should fit between the arms and fill the seat depth, with no back cushion, so the slatted back stays on show and the aisle feels open.
- [Custom Bench Cushion in Taupe Stripe for a Stone Plinth Bench](https://cushionguide.com/readings/taupe-stripe-stone-plinth-courtyard-bench-cushion/): To mix patterns on an outdoor bench, let one stripe carry the pattern and keep everything else plain or textured.
- [Custom Bench Cushion in Aqua Awning Stripe with Seafoam Backs](https://cushionguide.com/readings/aqua-stripe-seat-seafoam-box-backrest-teak-bench/): A striped outdoor bench cushion looks tailored when the stripes run front to back and drop down the boxing as straight bands.
- [A seam came open or the zipper broke on my new cover. Can I get a replacement?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/cushion-cover-seam-open-zipper-broken/): If a seam opens or the zipper arrives broken on a new cushion cover, send the workshop a photo or short video the day you find it.
- [Can you tuft my bench cushion with buttons, and add piping too?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/tufted-bench-cushion-buttons-piping/): Yes, a bench cushion can be tufted with buttons free of charge, and tufting can be combined with piping.
- [Can I get a tufted bench cushion with a zipper so I can wash the cover?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/tufted-bench-cushion-zipper-washable/): No, a tufted bench cushion can't also have a removable zippered cover, so you choose one or the other.
- [Striped cushions: which way the stripes run, and why](https://cushionguide.com/guides/striped-cushion-stripe-direction/)
- [Standard cushion sizes, and when yours isn't one of them](https://cushionguide.com/guides/standard-cushion-sizes-chart/)

*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/navy-pinstripe-lake-jetty-bench-cushion-mist/