Topics

Ok, it's not very often that I have to make a cushion that's not a boat cushion, so here's my dilemma.

I'd been told long ago that to make a cushion from scratch, measure your area, then add an inch to the length and width and cut the foam at this dimension. Then cut your fabric the same length and width as the foam, the idea being that the seam allowances will suck the foam into the correct size and the cover will be nice and tight.

So my question is: Is this the right advice, or should I be doing it differently? I'm a bit nervous because it's a really long set of cushions (100" long) and super expensive fabric, so I want to get it right the first time.

Seems like every time I read something, the advice is different. I know all of you do excellent work, so I'd really appreciate hearing your input.

Thanks,
Jo

I've been looking at a lot of pictures of cockpit covers today, because I'm working on a 1989 Four Winns Horizon 200. The original cover (which had a Four Winns label on it) went over the rails, instead of cutouts.
While fitting the blank, I'm finding that this creates a lot of wrinkles, starting at the pole and going to the rails. I of course want to eliminate the problem  by making the cutouts, but was just wondering why anybody does it the other way. Does it promote better water runoff? Also, it is confounding that the original cover didn't have any darts in it.

Hi guys,
I was supposed to install a cockpit/bow cover combination at a boat on a lake about 30 minutes from me; I got delayed waiting for UPS to ship the support poles.
Anyway, the bilge pump in this boat (small 17 foot bowrider) doesn't come on automatically, and we had some rain today. (Can't get there til tomorrow) How long would it take a boat to sink without pumping the bilge? Am I being paranoid? I have no experience with these kinds of things.  Thanks for any input.
Jo

How do you marine folks go about binding tiny cutouts on a cover, such as a 2" slit?
Thanks,
Jo

Wouldn't this be a great addition to your shop??

Anyone ever made one of these? I'm interested in making one for my own house.



What kind of math do you use to get the hollow on the sides...or would you just eyeball it?

Also, what would you buy to use as a post?

Thanks guys!

Here's an ottoman I think I may actually be able to make. But how is the top cushion attached to the base?

Hi Peppy,
When you make your paper patterns - you know, the ones that aren't half-bad ;), how do you allow for the height of the boat cover pole?
I pattern with a fabric blank, so I just prop the pole under the fabric.
Your photos have inspired me to try the paper method, but this is all I need to know to get started. I think.
Thanks,
Jo

Anyone ever do one of these? It's from a Seadoo something or other.
Three seats, two seams. Will the vinyl go around all the curves, or will I need to seam it in areas other than where it's originally seamed?
Thanks!

So I start sewing yesterday, and there's this horrible rattling sound, like something metal is loose. So I start to panic thinking, "this sounds horrible, and probably expensive to fix".
Then I hit the pedal again and listen closely for where exactly the noise is coming from. It's coming from the belt housing at the motor.
Turns out there were several objects in there - a bobbin, razor, a screw; you know, the things you might keep on the right side of the machine.
Felt stupid and relieved at the same time! I've got to put some kind of storage thingy on the right side of the sewing table.

Soo...how do you do it? Do you hook the bottom first then the top? I tried both ways, and can't get it to snap on. Is it just a matter of brute force?
Thanks guys.

Okay, so I'm "trying" to do an enclosure, and the eye end of the bimini frame keeps popping out. How can I make it stay? It's the kind that goes up inside the tube. There are no set screws or anything on the bimini tubing.

These are from a 1971 Glastron GT150. Here are the before pics:





Of course the wood was rotten, so I rebuilt everything:



Also, orange and black houndstooth vinyl is no longer available, so we went with white and a burnt orange. Finished product:

Okay, I don't know how I do it, but Ive gotten myself in a bind. I'm putting screen in side and aft curtains, and using #10 coil zipper. I had trouble finding black coil by the yard, (since I never use it, I didn't want to buy a whole roll), and ordered some from Perfect Fit.
But the tape seems really wide; it's 1 3/4" wide. This is throwing a wrench in my plans because if you butt two pieces of 3/4" binding where the center of the zipper is, there is zipper tape overhanging the edges, and it looks sloppy...the basting tape is showing.
So if I move the binding to the edge of the zipper tape, there is a gap in the middle, where you would cut the vinlyl for the zipper opening.
I hope Ive explained this so it is understandable.
Any suggestions?

Less than a year ago, I made a boat cover from Sunbrella Surlast in gray. Here's what it looks like now. The top part has faded to a greenish yellow, and it is crispy. In the photo, some of the underside is showing for contrast. The underside is what it should look like.





So, what happened? Could this be a bad batch of Sunbrella? Or acid rain?
I should also mention that I used a scrap of the fabric to cover my barbeque for the winter, and after a long northeastern Pennsylvania winter it still looks good.

The customer has a bimini from back in the day, but it looks like it's never been used. He wants side and aft curtains, so it needs to match.
I've indentified it as Haartz vinyl with a poly/cotton backing. It's white with a charcoal gray backing. I found it in a sample book from Rochford Supply. Trouble is, when I went to order it, they no longer have it.  (The sample book is probably 3 years old). Says it's a 21 oz. fabric.
Does anyone know where I can get this? Maybe they call it by a different name now?
Thanks,
Jo

So normally, I'd pattern the whole enclosure from the naked frame, but how would one go about patterning the aft and side curtains on an existing bimini? If this is a stupid question, I apologize.
There are zippers on the bimini, as if the curtains existed at one time, but the owner (who just bought the boat) can't find them.

Hi guys,
So now it's this captains chair:

http://s6.postimg.org/wdnf9u4ch/capt.jpg



This is the old cover. I've stripped it and have it finished except for the hole. I sewed a strip of vinyl and welt around the hole, but when I go to pull it tight and staple it, I have a lot of excess fabric inside the hole.
How can I avoid this? Am I supposed to be stretching that strip of vinyl as I sew? It's disheartening, because the rest of the chair looks great.

Hey guys,
I'm covering cushions with a wide wale corduroy. They are waterfall style (I think?) where the top plate comes to the middle of the front face of the cushion with welt in the center of where there would normally be boxing. Hope I explained that right.
Anyway, the wales run from the front to the back of the cushion. What direction should the wales run for the side encaps? The same way, or does it matter? Also, how would you cut the welt strips?
Thanks in advance. You all are my upholstery gods and godesses.

So a guy called today and said he needs his canvas "tightened up". I didn't really know what he was talking about until I saw it. Big boat, bimini with camper enclosure.
The bimini is not darted or seamed whatsoever. The original "fabricator" just sewed two panels together, slapped on a fore and aft sleeve, and had webbing straps on the center bow.  The glass above the windshield is baggy and buckling in towards the boat. Also, it is crispy and feels old. The thread is totally deteriorated everywhere. But here's the thing....he had this done last season! It's only a year old!!
He hired two guys who were working out of a van, paid them cash, and now, of course he can't find them. They don't answer their phone or he would sue.
I will post pics when I go to do the job next week; you guys are not going to believe your eyes.
Oh, and he can only afford to have it fixed as opposed to getting a new one, so I've got to try to put a bow on a pig.