FricFrac Posted January 5, 2019 Report Share Posted January 5, 2019 I've got a little bit of experience fixing up a couple of antique chairs so I thought I'd try my hand at some automotive upholstery. I bought an industrial sewing machine so I'm kind of committed now ? The plan is to do the interior on the 4dr 510 but thought I'd practice on my daughter's 240SX interior. The seats are BEAT! I can only make them better than what they are and that's not saying much - a piece of duct tape is a vast improvement ? The 4dr 510 and future upholstery recipient ? So lets start with some before pictures. Like I said I can only improve on this ? Quote Link to comment
FricFrac Posted January 5, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2019 I won't put all the pictures I took here but I'll try and keep it as step by step as possible so you can see the process. Take lots of pictures as you take it apart. Sometimes there is something you need to go back as reference. In this picture you can see where the top stitch was done so that you replicate it when you sew it back together and it lays properly. Bottom of the seat - you can see where the hog rings attach the seat cover and hold it in place. On furniture you use staples into the frame to hold the fabric in place. On a car seat you use hog rings and wire in a pocket sewn into the cover. or a reinforcement of some sort like these plastic sew on strips I'm reusing the wires from whats left of the seat covers so I make sure they are labeled. You can make your own of course. It looks like they bend the ends back to keep it from poking through. Quote Link to comment
FricFrac Posted January 5, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2019 Now the fun part - time to get creative. My daughter wants to paint the car powder blue so the theme is mainly black with pink and blue for the interior. A blank slate. Vinyl on top glued to 1/2" foam then a bottom layer of fabric glued to the other side of the foam to make a vinyl/foam/fabric sandwich. Layout is done in chalk - it doesn't stain and is easily erasable. Just sharpen a stick of chalk on a piece of sandpaper to get a chisel edge to do fine lines. I haven't seen this anywhere but I thought I'd try it. Using a bamboo basket weave pattern embossed vinyl and glued diamonds onto the panel with contact cement. You need to be very precise with the cutting so a ruler and Olfa blade works very well. Before gluing down textured vinyl on base Panel sewn. You can see how the 1/2 foam sandwich makes nice pleats in the panel. Close up of the diamonds Quote Link to comment
FricFrac Posted January 5, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2019 So I start watching some YouTube videos so I can try and figure out how to do this and of course I decide to go with a blind stitch because it looks cool. Problem is that it works for one row of diamonds but the material starts to bunch up if you add another set top and bottom. Layout for blind stitch Too much puckering ? But a chance to see what the upper panel will look like on the seat Do over on the panel. Colour is just washed out with the camera and lighting. There is a problem with the stitch on the bottom RHS diamond which I have since fixed. Added a second row of top stitching. Quote Link to comment
FricFrac Posted January 5, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2019 Now that I've got the main panel for the back of the seat done I'm going to do the seat. These are the two main panels and the majority of the work. My daughter and I decided on textured stripes to match the diamonds on the seat back. The angles are the same as the diamonds and the pleats will match up to the seat back. Test layout Precision fitment is critical here. Not sure if this is the way to do it but it looks sharp in the end. Kind of wrinkly from manhandling around the sewing machine. Some close ups to see the stitch work. Colour is washed out but more detailed shots. Rough idea of the main panels. 1 Quote Link to comment
rosso Posted January 5, 2019 Report Share Posted January 5, 2019 Great stitching - you are way more patient than I am to ever try this. Looks fab! Quote Link to comment
FricFrac Posted January 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2019 Progress on back panel 1 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted January 8, 2019 Report Share Posted January 8, 2019 Not my color scheme, but quality work!! 2 Quote Link to comment
Duncan Posted January 8, 2019 Report Share Posted January 8, 2019 I agree with Draker! Very nice work. I can do most other things myself, and I want to try to learn some upholstery. Quote Link to comment
fivetengarage Posted January 9, 2019 Report Share Posted January 9, 2019 Looks like you are doing a great job. Check out Cechaflo on youtube. He has excellent instructional videos. Quote Link to comment
FricFrac Posted January 11, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2019 On 1/9/2019 at 1:22 PM, fivetengarage said: Looks like you are doing a great job. Check out Cechaflo on youtube. He has excellent instructional videos. Yes I'm a student of Checaflo... well by YouTube classes…. ? Quote Link to comment
FricFrac Posted January 11, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2019 Test layout for grommets. Installed Test fit - hog rings not installed yet Grommets with inserts Cleaning the glue gun can be a pain. Work smarter - not harder! Seat bottom panels starting to go together Quote Link to comment
mhub91 Posted January 14, 2019 Report Share Posted January 14, 2019 Looks nice.... .....Also looks like a Mexican Power Ranger suit. Undale, Undale Rangers de Power! 1 Quote Link to comment
BambooU Posted January 18, 2019 Report Share Posted January 18, 2019 Wow I can't argue with those results, looks great on the seat. I'm gonna ask the million dollar question: Why Pink and Blue? Quote Link to comment
sebpv Posted January 19, 2019 Report Share Posted January 19, 2019 He mentioned that it's his daughter's choice of color Quote Link to comment
FricFrac Posted January 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2019 Yeah the car is going to be powder blue. The interior will be mostly black with pink and blue seats and few accent panels and the steering wheel. Think Bosozoku ? 1 Quote Link to comment
4perrev Posted June 23, 2019 Report Share Posted June 23, 2019 Nice work....That stuff is a pain in the back side. I recovered a living room couch. Not bad, but probably would not do it again. Quote Link to comment
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