Started upholstering!
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Overland Park Kansas
Started upholstering!
A while back I started skinning everything that was cheap plastic/etc in my 79 with black vinyl. I did the t-top panels and all the plastic parts.
Well it didn't come out super awesome back then, as I just tried stretching the vinyl over everything. It came out okay on some things, not so great on others (like the t-top panels).
So I went and bought a sewing machine and more vinyl, and started again on a new project. This time I'm going to sew everything with red stitching and not just stretch it. I just finished the first t-top panel, and while it's rough because I was still learning how to sew/etc I think the rest will come out much better.
Here is a progress pic so far:
It looks better in person than the picture, the lighting blows out all the small bumps and everything in the pic. In person it looks very smooth.
I also made a template so hopefully it will go much faster on the next one too!
Well it didn't come out super awesome back then, as I just tried stretching the vinyl over everything. It came out okay on some things, not so great on others (like the t-top panels).
So I went and bought a sewing machine and more vinyl, and started again on a new project. This time I'm going to sew everything with red stitching and not just stretch it. I just finished the first t-top panel, and while it's rough because I was still learning how to sew/etc I think the rest will come out much better.
Here is a progress pic so far:
It looks better in person than the picture, the lighting blows out all the small bumps and everything in the pic. In person it looks very smooth.
I also made a template so hopefully it will go much faster on the next one too!
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 587
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From: Overland Park Kansas
I will tell you one thing, I always thought automotive upholstery must be pretty easy. It looked easy from the videos. It's a hell of a lot harder than it looks. Probably took me 10 hours just to get that one cover done. The rest will go a lot faster as I've learned a lot of tricks now, but wow was I surprised. I have a lot more respect for those guys now!
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
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From: Fisher, IL
Have you tried to double stitch for looks and strength?
I was looking at upholstery a while back and found this video online.
The guy does some really nice stuff. At about the 3:09 mark you can see his stitching pattern..
I've never done it so you're already light years ahead of me.
I was looking at upholstery a while back and found this video online.
The guy does some really nice stuff. At about the 3:09 mark you can see his stitching pattern..
I've never done it so you're already light years ahead of me.
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Overland Park Kansas
Yeah, I can do the double stitching. I don't think it's really any stronger since the single stitching is already a double seam. It maybe would look nicer though.
That guy has a super nice sewing machine, mine is a $80 one from wal-mart haha. Wish I had his equipment.
Edit: Actually I just looked up a french seam, which is what he uses in that video. I'll have to try it!
That guy has a super nice sewing machine, mine is a $80 one from wal-mart haha. Wish I had his equipment.
Edit: Actually I just looked up a french seam, which is what he uses in that video. I'll have to try it!
Last edited by neuroclast; Dec 13, 2010 at 06:41 PM.
