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Hi all, Its been a while since I've been on here, I restore cars and bought a Highlead walking foot machine a few years back for upholstery portions of my miscellaneous car / boat adventures. I'm purely an amateur upholster-er but I find it fun and challenging - especially since I bought a servo motor and chucked that monster of a hypersensitive clutch  motor, what a difference that made in my skills - it actually made me look good .

Anyways I have a 71 Plymouth GTX with bucket seats and I cant do the cheater method of pre made seat foam cuz there isn't any and according to a Co. I bought a Legendary Interior cover kit from I shouldn't bother buying the 72 - 74 seat foam as I'll have to rework it anyways to make it work well.

So, my question is what is the best method to recreate seat pads that'll duplicate the originals? I realize its a cut & glue method but what density of foam works best, is it a layering method, are the side bolsters usually denser material - I've tried searching
you tube for "how to" video's w/o too much success so any advice is greatly appreciated!

Thanks & here's a pic of the car.
Evan  

thanks for the direction, when you sew the allowance to the completed panel on the backside are you including both allowances from the main & insert's or does that make the new stitch stand up too proud ? I know what a french stitch is but I forget the name of the single stitch your referring to - flat felled??

I think I'll try this with scrap first :)

thats the idea but I wasn't sure how to sew the seam. Is your example 2 pieces sewn together or is the inset a separate panel - looks like one piece. If so how is the sewing actually accomplished? I was planning on cutting the inset out of the main panel & leaving about 3/4 - 1" extra of material on both pieces to sew my seam in but I'm not certain how to sew around the rounded corners & still have the piece lay flat when finished

Hi all, as I poke along on this project I ran into another head scratcher. I've done both the toe kicks & rear seat panels in black vinyl backed with cotton sheeting for a bit of body. I'd like to do the door panels in a two tone of black & gray but I'm having a hard time figuring out how to mate the two pieces together properly. The inset material (gray) I'd like to have subtle radius-ed corners but I'm not visualizing how to really get this accomplished.

here's the rear panel & door...


the pattern, material & raw panel...


backside..


I assume I need to face these together & sew a seam that'll be hidden on the backside - I guess my question is how do I do that & keep the whole thing flat? as you can all see from my question I dont have a lot of experience doing this & am fumbling my way through it all.

Any help is really appreciated!

Thanks, Evan

PS - I also cant seem to figure out how to get the clickable thumbs posted up or change the image size ???- I was able to do it before but not this time for some reason...... EDIT - now their clickable

where can I buy aftermarket seat pads & foam ? I'm looking for the pre-molded factory kind other then buying thru the GMC dealer, are there suppliers like that around?

I'm after the seat cushion foam for a 2002 GMC Savana drivers seat, I did call the dealer & its available for about $300  :o :o - that seems a little too golden for me.

Who do all you auto upholsters deal with?

Thanks, Evan

Gregg @ Keystone -  since I see you're a Highlead dealer maybe you can recommend a particular pulley size for the motor (smaller) as I want to slow the machine down for better control. I'm getting the hang of this thing but slower would definitely be better. Its got the clutch motor setup, got any ideas?
Thanks ,Evan

works fine now, gotta love it when solutions are so simple!
Thanks all.

It dawned on me later (after posting this ) that maybe I could spread the split shaft but I thought "nah, to hack job-ish - must be some pin or piece that goes there"  ::)

I guess that answers the question these machines dont come with  some kind of key or pin for the winder then.


Where would I get different bobbins - not Chinese I guess, online stores?

thanks!

Hi all, hopefully someone can tell me why I cant get bobbins to spool up properly. I've been using the pre made ones I had in white but wanted to change thread color & tried loading my own with the winder mechanism today /no luck. Its seems like there should be a wedge pin or something that goes into the end of the split shaft the bobbin slides over to create tension between the two so it'll be held in place on the shaft - the winding shaft just spins in it & doesn't turn the bobbin hence no thread is wound onto it.

winder.......


full pic




end of bobbin shaft - should this have a pin or key of some sort to stop the bobbin from turning on the shaft?


hopefully one of you experts can help me figure this out as I'm not sure if the winder is setup properly, its the way it came when I got it.

Thanks all, appreciate it!

evan

you know, somebody always asks that question & I guess really the only answer to that is "why not!"

Its really a  - whatever turns your crank kind of thing, I like unique things & uncommon vehicles - here's a few....

1986 Yamaha SRX super six
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71 satellite
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and my 75 triple H1
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I'll dig thru the forum for slowing tips, I was amazed at the difference of bare feet vs. shoes. Also when I figured out one could hand spin the wheel?? to get it started that helped too.

Is that an old Datsun 120Y?

Hi scotty - no its a Datsun 110, predecessor to the 120Y

slodat - asked for a build thread   -    http://datsun1200.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=46137&forum=9

Bobbin - I was wondering about the vinyl @ places like Joanne's - I wasn't planning on using it unless they could tell me it was UV rated or appropriate for auto, it just seemed like nice stuff but both Perfect Fit & Rex Pegg said I could come & buy whatever I needed so I'll probably make trips to there.

this whole car process has been a trial & error project so making mistakes is OK as long as I correct them & recognize them as mistakes in the first place. I dont mind spending seat time sewing in fact its a lot cleaner them body work!

One thing I learned is running the foot control in bare feet is much better then with shoes on, I seem to have greater control of the take off speeds which made a huge difference.

thanks all!

Hi all, Wow! thanks for all the response, its always amazing when landing on a forum as a complete newb  and one gets great & helpful responses. You guys so far are better then the lame fabric stores around here that dont seem like they want to waste any time on me whatsoever. I couldn't even get one to set aside a 1oz. spool of poly thread so my wife could pick t up at the counter w/o having to look for something she had no idea what it was "$10 minimum" they said. Anyways appreciate it.

So my story is this, wanted to restore a car, needed an interior, asked around & was told anywhere from 4 - 8K complete - decided for that kind of money I could learn to sew. Bought a brand new Highlead walking foot machine 2nd hand (guy used it once) & started in. The biggest issues have been figuring out setup - tension, threading, needle position - that was a big one as it was braking thread all the time until I turned it around. I've been playing with a bunch of vinyl & heavy canvas trying to sew straight lines, etc....

Heres the car, I've done everything else on it - all body & paint, welding, mechanical, etc.... (so why not tackle upholstery huh ::)) & I'm at the point of needing to install the headliner prior to the windshields ft. & rear so I started back in on the sewing.

73 Datsun 1200 coupe



so here's my attempt at my headliner, I bought my material from a place called PerfectFit, perf off white headliner vinyl & then sewed the bow tab loops into it. I have to admit I feel pretty good about it as I've sew nothing except maybe hemmed a pair of pants once...
headliner ft. & backside...




I'm sure the seats will be more challenging but this is a good confidence builder. As I'd never done any body & paint either & its come out astoundingly well I figured this'll be a breeze!  ;D ;D

can anyone tell me if there's a difference between vinyl's I can buy at a place like Joanne's vs. a Perfectfit - specifically UV ratings & that type of thing? And fabric's as well - I'd think one would want that for seats & anything thats getting direct sun. I know products like Sunbrella are UV but thats not good car interior & I'd like to do a blend of fabric inserts  & vinyl sides for the seating.

Thanks a lot all, appreciate the help!

evan

BTW - how do you post big pic's in the post & more then 2 or is it not allowed? these are hosted off site so it shouldn't be a big deal, anyone know?

Does anyone know of an instructor / professional that teaches as a side line or full time for that matter in the Seattle area? Its awfully hard to find someone for industrial sewing instruction.

I have a Highlead walking foot machine & I'd like to be a little better then rank amateur - suggestions??

Thanks, Evan