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The bobbin tension could definitely be loose.  At the moment, the template plastic is doing the trick and my time to complete this project is down to 28 hours.  When the boat is out of the driveway and on its way to its permanent home, I can take time to mess with the tension.  In fact, I hope to find someone to work on my sewing machine and figure out why it sticks at a certain point.  Thank you so much, all of you, for the helpful tips and advice! 

Thank you for the video.  When this deadline is passed, the machine will enjoy a thorough cleaning.  To get through this project, I cut a piece of template plastic the same diameter of the bobbin and punched a hole in the middle.  This seemed to raise the bobbin higher and since doing that, the thread has not caught around the bobbin-case pin/clasp once.  Does that indicate the clasp spring is weak, needing a new bobbin case?

Is there a bobbin case top or are you suggesting that the pin (or whole bobbin case) needs to be replaced?  I don't see that there is a top to the bobbin case.

My Singer 211 is giving me lots of practice in patience.  LOVE prewound bobbins, but they seem to affect my tension.  Switched to bobbins wound with matching thread.  Now, the tension is better, but the thread keeps getting caught around the pin/clasp of the bobbin case that holds the bobbin in.  I've begun sewing without the bobbin cover so that at the least little hint that the thread is caught I can lift the fabric, lift the pin, release the thread, close the pin, and sew for another few inches.   Any ideas?  Thank you for any help you can give me.

Thank you, Rick

Husband and I bought a 1997 pontoon boat and plan on redoing it.  The side arm rests/sides look like they can be salvaged.  The seat backs are screwed in.  The seat cushions are in bad shape and appear to just set into the frame.  Shouldn't there be snaps or something to secure them?  None of the cushions have piping so I'm thinking I'm not the first to redo them.  What do you recommend to keep the seats from popping out during travel or high winds on the water if no one is sitting in them?  Couple of other questions; What sources of marine vinyl do you use, Is $15 a yard too cheap or $25 too expensive?  Both prices represent vinyl that is 30-32 ounces per yard.  Thank you very much for any advice you can give us. 

Yes, I got the email.  Thank you very much.  I'm trying to finish up the chair, which, as I thought, looks NOTHING like the original.  When I'm done, I'll try to post a picture of it using your instructions.  Thanks for your help!

Here are before and after photos of the office chair I felt 'okay' about doing.  The original was naugahyde or pleather.  I used leather and got a very different result.  It was quite thick in spots and difficult to get smooth around corners.  On the back there are puckers I need to fix.

The other photos are of the top/back of the office chair my cats destroyed.  It should be easier to manipulate the fabric as I'm not using leather this time.  What has me stymied are the many different pieces and involved way of attaching foam/batting.  I'm not sure I'm up to this.  Those white ties were fed through holes in the wooden back support and stapled.  It may be hard to see, but there are also 5 or 6 metal rods that act as additional support. 

I have a feeling the finished product will end up looking NOTHING like this.   :(

Has anyone worked on a similar chair?  Any recommendations you could send my way?  Maybe chuck this stuff and find a different/easier pattern to follow?

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Thank you both for your replies.  This chair will remain in the sewing room and be made of cloth as our three cats still have thier claws.  If it is in any way presentable when I'm finished, I'll post a picture.  Should be interesting. 
Neon

Hello Everyone,
I was finishing up a leather office chair today, got cocky and decided to begin the leather office chair that my sewing room inherited two years ago after the cats used it as a scratching post.

By golly, this thing was made incredibly well.  When I got all of the staples out and the stiff rubber support-thingy, I found that there were at least six zippers on the inside of the back of the chair that created pockets for foam and batting/stuffing.  This is WELL beyond my amateur abilities.

Can I just separate the pieces, use them as a pattern and cut two large pieces of foam the size of the back, and seat, and go from there?

Also, how do any of you make any money?  It took me two long days to tear apart and reupholster the first office chair.  It looks pretty good for my skill level, but even if it was perfect, no one would want to pay me $12 an hour for 16 hours.....for an office chair.  And that doesn't even include fabric, foam, etc. 

Thanks for any help you can give me,
NEON