Vehicle trimmers

[Cableguy]

Just had a massive shock, price of £300 to recover a captains chair because of a few mig holes and some greasy marks. Think I need to retrain!
Cheaper to buy a better seat

[CovKid]

I grabbed a heavy duty second hand sewing machine a long time ago for jobs such as that. It doesn't take long once you've taken the original covers off, separated them into their component parts and use them as your base pattern. If not, ask around. You may well find someone local or even in the family that could tackle making new ones using your old ones for reference.

Most modern machines are barely up to the job (too plastic) but the 60s/70s ones are perfect and many can stitch several layers of thick fabric together no prob. Mine does. You can pick them up so cheap too.

[Cableguy]

Could be worth a stab. My wife has a proper singer from her Gran circa 1960. Works a treat and looks brand new.
Cheers for that

[CovKid]

Just be aware (when musing materials) of the way the new fabric/leatherette stretches in each direction as that will affect just how good they look in situ. Find a material the behaves like the existing one for best results. Fabrics are generally tolerant of mistakes whereas vinyls and such are not as any incorrect holes will show. There is no reason why you can't make excellent replacements as long as you do things with care. There are a few videos on youtube that may encourage you and actually, learning to use a sewing machine is an excellent skill to have.

Perhaps start here? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRMjtylmBN0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Greg makes excellent covers.

Part 2 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxgpWIDERr8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Part 3 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sG6OG6k_JQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Part 4 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xWejqJsznI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But watch them all so you can absorb what he learnt along the way - particularly the seat centres as its documented in other videos that a section like that will come out shorter (classic mistake) and you have to calculate that. They're earlier seats but the principles are similar.

Also, if you have headrests you can fill them in to make solid ones. Oh, and buy really good scissors - it pays!

This photo is identical to the machine model I use - made by Hillman (yes the motor manufacturer). I swear it would stitch tin its that robust. The most use its had since new was just two hours as I knew its history. Just happened to be there when it was being disposed of. I'm 60% through doing mine. Hope to have them on later this year.

[Plasticman]

we have a nice old pfaff and an industrial singer, latter will sew tin cans to leather,,, use to make wool headcloths and such many years aago as ^^^ says, patience and study the info , a pair of scissors like fiskars are not cheap but worth it and never use them on paper etc, theres loads of sites selling the accouterments
mm

[scottbott]

just watched those youtube videos,very good,makes you want to have a go yourself,asked the wife if she fancied buying a sewing machine and having a go at my rear seats,the look she gave was ''go forth and multiply'' I think

[Plasticman]

just watched those youtube videos,very good,makes you want to have a go yourself,asked the wife if she fancied buying a sewing machine and having a go at my rear seats,the look she gave was ''go forth and multiply'' I think

nah ,wrong tack , research and then buy a machine yourself , do it yourself then tell her that way it will be done right.then run like f
mm

[scottbott]

good idea,quite fancy doing that,another thing to add to my list