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I just do this for fun!!!  I Think!!!  I started out cuz I was to cheap to pay to have my boat seats done so I did em myself with an old Morse Machine.  I've since upgraded to a Rex Walking foot.  Done some other work etc and Now my daughter talked me into re doing a Wing Back Chair.   Bought the Chair at a Thrift Store for $10 bucks.  Paid $20 bucks for the material on Clearance.  Took about 10 hours to do the work with her helping me.  We neither one knew what we were doing!!!!  Found some videos on YouTube and then started tearing it apart.   She did not want the Pillow back style so we re-did it into a single padded back.  I used an electric carving knife to shape the foam.  Used foam from an Old "Donor Couch" we got free from Craigslist" for the back cushion. I Guess it turned out OK.  Let me know what you think.  I'm thinking about when I retire in a couple of years of doing some upholstery work as a side line but I'm not sure if I'm good enough.  My wife says maybe, my daughter and son say yes.  I just don't know.

I just went through a similar situation with my REX 11-155 R.  I had to ensure the Hook Assembly was adjusted correctly on the the shaft as well as the hook timing.  My Timing had to be PRECISE!!!  The point of the hook had to be centered in then eye of the needle  @ about the bottom of the eye.  If it was @ the center of the eye it would NOT work correctly.  It was VERY sensitive and quriky.  I worked on it for over a WEEK before I finally got the correct combination of everything.  Do you have an owners manual.  I did not and went online and bought one and THAT really helped.  I don't think I would ever have figured it out with out one.  You really want to confirm that the hook is not to far forward or back on the shaft cause that can really cause issues too.

I use an electric carving knife.  It works GREAT!!!!!

You can buy it here...http://www.rochfordsupply.com/shop/Automotive/Automotive_Misc/Vinyl_Beaded_Welt/index.html
Less than $1.00 a foot.

Ok, I gotcha.  Thanks again.  Very Helpful.  Like the say...Pic is worth a 1.000 words!!!!

Thanks Soooooo much for your kind replies!!!  Much appreciated.  The pic REALLY helped Mike!!!  I'll give it a go with the plastic and take pics and post them to make sure I'm understanding what you mean.  Yeah the horn, light and flag mast are not on the boat in that pic.  YOu will see them in the next pics I post.  She's got a new motor now too!!!

June I appreciate you kind comments about my upholstery attempt.  There's alot of mistakes that you can't see but I learned a lot and am getting better each time I sit down and try.  The Walking foot sure makes things easier.  I really appreciate everyone's willingness to share their knowledge here on the forum.

I restored this 1961 LoneStar and I want to try and keep her looking good.  She's Old but she's paid for and she's mine!!!



I want to try and keep her looking good so I want to try and sew a Cover for her. The seats are all removable so there won't be any "Bumps" to worry about for the cover except for the Bow Accessories,  Gunwale cleats and the Stern light.  I'm a Wanna-Be Upholsterer with an old REX 11-155R Walking foot. I cut my teeth doing the upholstery on my boat and it turned out pretty good.  I made the rear bench seat from scratch and that's the only "Free Hand Patterning" I've ever done.


 Never done any thing this big before.   How would you go about making a pattern for for a Full cover for this boat?  She's 15ft by 5 1/2Ft at the Beam.  I think I can handle the bump outs for the Horn, cleats and light but welcome tips for those as well.  Instead of a draw string I'm thinking of grommets for bungee tie downs to the trailer.  Is there a better way?  Is a draw string better?  I'm not Totally stupid, but specific details would make me a happy camper...  What recommended materials to use etc.  I'm a C.O.B. so don't want to "Break the Bank" on this project.  I'm guessing about 8yds of fabric to do the job.  Also thinking of possibly gluing Fleece to the back side of the fabric (sunbrella or something similar) to hold down on the abrasion.  Is this a good idea or would the glue not hold up.  I use 3M High Strength 90 Spray Adhesive and it seems to stick really well.  Also what have you guys used to help with waterproofing boat covers???

Your thoughts and recommendations are readily accepted??

Yep, And...That's exactly what it looks like!!!

I kinda figured I'd get these kind of responses here.  From the looks of all the wrinkles etc.   From the looks of it I think he just sewed straight vinyl and tried to stretch it over the old foam.  The wrinkles and the lumpiness of the foam showing thru makes me think there's no sewfoam glued or backing the vinyl.  Like I said I'm no Pro but I've seen the work of PRO's enough to know what it takes to produce PRO Quality work...and this is NOT IT!!!

Need You Guys Honest Professional Opinions.. A friend Posted these pics on a Forum I'm a member of.  Took his Boat Seat to a "Pro" to have it recovered.  This is what the "Pro" wanted him to accept for a $1,500 Bill!!!!  My friend said it did not meet his expectations and the "Pro" said he did not care what his expectations were, he wanted his money or he was keeping the seat and in 30 days he would sell it.



I told my friend not to accept it and seek legal advice.  I've never done seats this complex but...I know I would NEVER attempt to have a customer pay for work that looked this BAD!!!  If you're a Pro It MUST be better than this or you can't expect to charge like a pro!!! 

Am I wrong???

[IF]

When I was in the Roofing business here's what I did with my estimates.  I told them the estimates were free IF I got the job, if not I charged $20 dollars.  It cut back on the Window shoppers!!!

Mike,

I'm in Broken Arrow, OK. I've been admiring your work and learning a LOT from your pics and posts.  I hope to learn a lot more as I continue to peruse the forum.  I hope to be able to pic your brain as needed when I get more projects to do.  I will be retiring in a couple of years and plan to try to do more upholstery work then.  I really enjoy it and would like to learn more about it.  I now have an old Rex 11-155R Walking Foot and it really is nice.  If you read this would you have any idea why the REX works fine with #56 Thread but with #138 When I adjust the bobbin and the upper tension to accomodate the  heavier thread it makes loops on the bottom and shreds the thred and when I try to reverse it breaks.  It sews a beautiful stitch with the #56 thread.  I took it to a pro repair shop for a tune up and they adjusted it and replaced the upper beehive tension spring to get it to work perfectly with the #56.  I've toyed with the Bobbin and the upper tension with no luck.  You got any Tips/Tricks of the trade that might help???

Friend of mine in Ohio Fed Ex'd me his old seat covers and I used them to pattern some new ones.  His boat's gunna look like a Bumble Bee!!!

So then, my Daughter had to get in the Act.  She found this chair at a Thrift store


for $30 bucks and wanted to know if I would help her re-upholster it.  I told her that was totally different than doing boats and cars but...You KNOW how Fathers are with their little girls soooo... we started...


I didn't have a clue what I was getting into.  I found some videos on line on how to recover a wing back chair.  She did not want to keep the flop down cushions on the back so we modified it to a single cushion and again used foam from a donor Couch from craigslist.  The final product came out fairly well.

2 years ago I restored a 1961 Lonestar Boat.  Being a COB I decided to teach myself to do Upholstery and save the quoted $1,800 costs.  I did a decent job, far from perfect, learned a lot using an Old Morse Home Machine so my son asked me to attempt to upholster his VW Bus.  




Again,  Being a COB, we used Donor Couch Foam from Craigslist for the cushions but over all I think it all came out pretty good.  What do you all think.  I bought  a Tacsew 20U Zig Zag that I  restored for $200.