mark_mcd
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 posted on 14/3/07 at 12:02 AM |
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diy seat trimming
this sounds a bit of a wierd question but it just crossed my mind scanning ebay.
how hard would it be to re-trim a car seat presuming the person (likely your mum/gran/other half  ) is actually any good with a sewing machine?
you see companies that offer to retrim in leather etc but if you bought a nackered set of seats would it be easy enough to get patterns and get you
own done 'locost' style?
whats involved - just need pattern for the seats you want?
you get the idea 
Mark
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blakep82
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 12:10 AM |
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I'm thinking not really that easy... with my limited knowlege of sewing machines, I don't think home sewing machine stitching would be
strong enough
but, hopefully i'm wrong, and you'll be able to do it
[Edited on 14/3/07 by blakep82]
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stevebubs
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 12:23 AM |
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Depends on the material and the machine.
I managed to stitch together carpet, piping and alcantera using my home machine..JPG)
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blakep82
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 12:24 AM |
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you see, i was wrong!
________________________
IVA manual link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081997083
don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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stevebubs
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 12:24 AM |
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Key things I found was:
Use the right thread - domestic cotton won't cut the mustard
Go slowly and pin it together properly before sewing.
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stevebubs
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 12:25 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
you see, i was wrong!
Not really - the tunnel top was the second attempt and each attempt took pretty much an entire day to do...
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stevebubs
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 12:27 AM |
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Always worth doing a test piece on the machine you're intending on using.
Picture below was what the nice lady in John Lewis did for me prior to purchasing the machine..
 
Rescued attachment testpiece.jpg
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mark_mcd
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 12:36 AM |
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was thinking more cloth than leather as didn't think a home machine would do it...
could you get templates anywhere?
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stevebubs
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 01:01 AM |
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No reason why a home machine shouldn't be able to cope with leather so long as you use the right thread / needle. I had to use a leather needle
to cope with the carpet....and that's a darned bit thicker than your typical cowhide...
As for patterns....not that I know of...
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02GF74
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 07:49 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by stevebubs
No reason why a home machine shouldn't be able to cope with leather so long as you use the right thread / needle. I had to use a leather needle
to cope with the carpet....and that's a darned bit thicker than your typical cowhide...
depends on the machine and how much oompf it has to get through thick stuff.
go to a shoe repair shop and look at their machines - you ickle girlie blouse making sewing machine will look puny in comparison. 
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RazMan
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 09:01 AM |
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Leather really needs an industrial machine but I discovered that Alcantara is quite easy to sew with a domestic machine, but you need to get a strong
thread to make the finished job durable.
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 09:06 AM |
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I got my buggy’s hood altered by a truck cover manufacturer. Wow their machines are tough, even put the needle through the plastic zip without slowing
down. Quite scary really, loose your fingers easily.
I have an old singer hand operated one, unfortunately I don't have the instructions and so far have not managed to make the bottom bobbin thing
work. I must find someone who knows about these things, as I'm sure it could sew ally plate together it so well built!
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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andyps
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 10:28 AM |
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I bought my wife the overlocker that Aldi had on offer just after the air tools recently. Nothing to do with the fact that it says it will sew
leather
Actually, one of my daughters did say to my wife - "what does Dad want you to make?" And the other said "Is Dad feeling guilty
because he bought himself new toys?". They definitely have the wrong impression of me - I will remind them when they want their cars fixed!
Andy
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less
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Hammerhead
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 11:06 AM |
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I run an upholstery business. I have a machine, Alcantara is easy to sew, you could probably do it with a domestic machine, but you should get
upholstery thread as its thicker. John Lewis do Guttermans upholstery threads.
Or find a back street upholstery shop to make and recover the seats for you, bet it would only cost you a small amount.
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mark_mcd
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 11:53 AM |
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so it seems sewing it would be easy enough but what about getting the seat pattern? for example for mx5 seats...
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andyps
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 12:04 PM |
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A pattern is easy - just use the existing cover. Take it off carefully and if necessary separate the various sections and there in front of you is the
pattern. Just make the new material sections the same size and sew them together with the same seam width and it should fit!
Andy
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less
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RazMan
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 12:11 PM |
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The biggest problem is when you are trimming a bare shell and dont have anything to copy. Then you have to risk using your very expensive material and
ending up with a second rate job, or handing the whole job to a professional trimmer with a (hopefully) guaranteed good result. This is one area where
I know my limits so I put my hand in my overdraft 
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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Hammerhead
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 12:17 PM |
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use some cheap cloth for the mock up stage if you have a bare shell.
[Edited on 14/3/07 by Hammerhead]
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mark_mcd
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 12:30 PM |
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so if you have the existing pattern it should be fairly straightforward?
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mark_mcd
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 12:33 PM |
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also apart from leather and alcantara what materials should be used for a clothj trim for example that would wear well. what do car makers use for
cloth trim?
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RazMan
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 03:01 PM |
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Usually it is a heavy cloth or vinyl with a thin foam backing. Any vehicle trimmer will sell you the right stuff.
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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Hammerhead
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 03:06 PM |
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I reckon the fabric in cloth cars is polyester treated with fire retardent chemicals. Best to use leather, vinyl, or alcantara (faux suede) for cars
imho.
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iank
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| posted on 14/3/07 at 03:20 PM |
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Didn't some of the open top smarts come with neoprene seat covers? Waterproof is good 
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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