Making your own seat covers

[CTX-SLPR]

Howdy,

I just picked up a set of 2000 Eldorado front seats from some lowrider dudes and while I can probably just dye the grey seats white for the interim I'm wanting to make new covers of my own in new leather and suede that delete the headrest holes and other little touchs.

Anyone have experience with taking a set of good seat covers and using them as templates to make new ones? The wife want's to get into this for a side hobby fixing up stuff from craigslist and the like as well as doing stuff for our vehicles. I was thinking just take them apart and mark it out on some cheap Hobby Lobby vinyl and see how well it turns out.

Thoughts?

[Dan Barlow]

Seems to me the only way. I think I would make them slightly bigger the first time because there just seems like there would be shrinkage over time. Just a guess though.

[1trickpony]

My mom just started doing this. She has a rear seat and added to my dads car bra under her belt.

I know there is more too it but she has a big piece of paper so she can layout / label the seat cover.
She cuts the seams apart, and lays everything out kind of like it goes together. This way you have a pattern on paper and still the original seat.

We took a seat apart and she cut it apart and sewed it right back together. It fit like a charm.

I would say start with a junk seat, take it apart and put it back together. Then take one apart and change material. Just take note of how things are sewn when you take them apart.
It isn't as hard as you think. I can do it just can't sew straight.

[milner351]

Do you need a high end sewing machine with a real strong needle to do this stuff? We have a machine my wife never uses...

[DanStokes]

I looked into this a little and have done a tiny bit of it (replacing worn panels on cars I've resold, that sort of thing). A friend has a Juki heavy duty but non-walking foot machine. We found out that you REALLY need the walking foot for decent automotive upholstery. Not that it's impossible without it - just a LOT harder. They turn up on Ebay and CL from time to time. Figure in some $$ for a cleaning and timing adjustment - they're fussy.

I agree - lay out the old cover and use it as a pattern. DO NOT make it bigger - they actually stretch over time as they're used so they tend to grow a bit. If there's any vinyl you can always heat it with a heat gun to install it. I have never worked with 100% leather covers so I don't know how stretchy they are.

Good Luck!
Dan

[1trickpony]

My mom was looking at pricing Juki for a machine. I think they are a good beginner machine. She ended up getting a GREAT deal on a refurbished Industrial Singer. So far it has gone through 7 layers of vinyl. So we figure it will do just about anything we try.

One thing I suggest, and this is actually very important, if you buy one MAKE SURE it has Variable speed. These things can really go, and are very touchy.

I will call her tonight and see if she has any pictures of some of the stuff she has done.

[rightpedal]

I worked in an upholstery shop for a couple of years. I was on the mobile unit doing boat work. When there was down time the auto stuff was always there. It has been 8 or 9 years but I still swing in once a week or so to hang with my buddy that owns the place.

Ok here we go. When you cut the pattern seat apart label everything we typically used alpha because there was always more than 10 panels. I work center out. Make tick marks every 2 inches or less especially around soft bends. The industrial 1 tooth walking foot is what we mostly used it is easier to move in the corners. You might want to try attaching the pieces together with 1/4 " dbl sided tape if you are new to this or the machine. The bottom piece of material will not track as fast through the machine as the top piece, so you will be in a state of constant correction hence the tick marks. You can (should) "detune" the industrial machines with pulley changes. I could never run the the thing full bore even with long straights. Don't be afraid to hand crank in difficult areas especially if the machine is twichy. Get up and stretch every now and then it helps with the mental part of this.

Good luck
Steve

[JOES66FURY]

my thoughts...reverse engineer....take the old ones apart for templates. then do what Steve says...I have watched it done..but never done it...

[CTX-SLPR]

Thanks for all the replies!! While this isn't high on the priority list, it is a way for the wife to get involved with the car which she hasn't been since the last major wiring job. I think she'll enjoy it too. I'm thinking I'll pull something from a yard in leather and see if we can't take it apart and put it back together again. Then move onto making a seat cover off of a template of hobby lobby vinyl and finally the expensive hides from someone.

Milner351, we might be interested depending on price and if it fits the needs.

Thanks,