Messages

Hi guys,

How do you deal with something like this? I have this motorcycle seat, so since the vinyl wasn't in too bad shape, I thought I'd take it off and make a pattern from the old one. I'm usually really good at making patterns out of weather beaten covers, but this one has so many buckles that it won't' lay anywhere near flat. I put it out in the hot sun which made it nice and pliable, but when I put weights on it, there's just too much fabric left over when I trace around the curves.



Advice?

Thanks guys...very useful information! DBR, I like your suggestions, however, they don't have the kits for the year that I need...it only goes to 1998.  :(

Hi everyone!
I have a customer who wants his car seats done in leather. The only experience I have sewing leather is putting a chafe preventer reinforcement on dodgers, etc.
It's not so much the sewing I'm worried about; I have the proper equipment. BUT...where do I get leather? Is it true it's only sold in hides? If so how will I know how much leather to buy for a 2004 Acura interior?
Thanks for any info you can give!

I always charge a lot extra to sew a pair of hands into the seat.

Uh oh...we're sunk now; just caught this commercial on tv:

https://www.furniturefix.com/

How will we ever compete with this "system"? :o

Thanks June,
I did it. It can be done, but it sure was hard. There were long nails on the other side of the board and it was small and hard to handle. Also, the underside sure is ugly with my folds and staples, but no one will ever see it. But still, I wish I was neater at this sort of thing. Thanks for your help!

Is there a way to cover this with vinyl? It's a customer's project, (long story), but it's 1/2" plywood cutout with lots of corners. I'm worried about those sharp inside corners. How can this be done?

Thanks guys! They aren't getting the rest of the boat seats upholstered, so I have to match the fabric pretty closely. Any suggestions? The original fabric has a flannel backing. Does anyone ever use that?

Hi guys,
Here's my next project; coming into the shop today. 1987 Bayliner flip seats.



I've never done this type of seat before...will there be any unexpected surprises here? Or are they as straightforward as they look?

As always, thanks in advance, and I look forward to hearing about your experiences.
Jo

[not]

Gene, would you have had the same criticism if a man made the same video with the same mistakes? If so then you are not sexist.
On the other hand, that you brought sexism into it at all implies that you think maybe she is doing it wrong because she's a girl? I dunno...girls, what do you think??

Grebo, the boat is a 22 footer, and it's not mine. I did work in a sail loft once upon a time, but did mostly canvas, and let the sailmaker take care of sails. But the times I did work on sails, it was easy because they had a designated zig zag machine, and the machines were in the floor, of course.

The owner claims that only the part of the sac cloth that is exposed when it is furled needs to be restitched.
Stitchm, thanks for the advice. I do have an industrial walking foot machine, and I will set the stitch to the maximum.

Anyone ever do this kind of work? It's a genoa sail, with sacraficial cloth. The sac cloth stitching is coming undone and needs to be restitched. Two questions:
1) I only have a straight stitch machine; is this ok, or do I need a zig zag?
2) I don't have any scrap dacron sailcloth to sew on...any advice on what kind of tension I'll need to set the machine at (tighter or looser than for normal sewing?)

Thanks,
Jo

Wow..thanks everyone! That is indeed high praise coming from all of you. I'm just glad that you can't see the mistakes close-up.  ;D

ok, started over, but new problem: it has a zipper to attach the seat back front and back pieces together. Here is a photo of the seat corner viewed from the back and  turned upside down. The zipper has to go around that curve on each side, and I'm getting serious wrinkles in the front when I zip the zipper. What am I doing wrong????
I am going to take a picture of the wrinkles and post later.

here's a link in case the pics aren't big enough:

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd509/stitchbiatch/CIMG1668.jpg