Sewing the Bugeye seats

[apbos]

For those of you wishing to learn how to sew your own seats I hope to document our progess and maybe make a wiki for the group when we are done. We (my lovely wife and I) sewed the seats for our TR3 using Craig Landrum excellant pdf doc BCF link

We have now begun the process of sewing the seats for the B/E which I hope to have in paint by the end of October.

Paul

 

[apbos]

Here is our first panel of four for the seet bottoms and backs.

25 by 27 inch backed vinyl with 2 inch pleats, beginning abour 8 inches from the side.

Wish us luck.

Paul

 

[elrey]

Much luck to you both! :thumbsup: Looks good from here.

 

[Rik]

I hope you are using nylon thread. Cotton thread just doesn't last as long.
Rik

 

[BugeyeNJ58]

Those look great. Keep the pictures coming.

 

[Rut]

Paul,
Those seats look great and I wish I had your skills! I do work on boats from time to time and have found that Tenara thread lasts forever and polyester thread comes in a very close second. I know your car will never endure what the top of my boat does in the way of exposure, but the thread on the Sunbrella top lasts forever.
Thanks for sharing, Rut

 

[JPSmit]

Paul, are you just using a regular machine? or a heavy duty one?

 

[apbos]

Quick update. Using Heavy duty Polyester thread color matched to the vinyl on a heavy 1960 Kenmore 84 (steal gears). The machine would be a home model in 1960, but now my wife calls it "Tank Girl". I think you could use a high quality regular machice, but we picked up this one on craigslist for $50.00. It is used by my wife for jeans and other heavy cloth sewing. Each panel takes about 30 min to sew.


Paul

 

[apbos]

All four pleated panels have been sewn. I started to cut out the backs from my pattern. Remember to put a stitch at the pleat end so the pleats do not unravel.

 

[apbos]

Piping sewn on and bottom attachment panel

Attachment Panel

 

[apbos]

Two rows of stiching for strength

Use staples to attach and line up the back panel.

 

[apbos]

Sewing on Back Panel

Two seat backs complete:

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

 

[nomad]

Hey Paul, I'm compressed!!!
How may $$$ will be invested???


Kurt.

 

[elrey]

Great job! I'd be dancing also. :banana:

 

[apbos]

Using the 40-50% coupons at Joanne's Fabrics. All total headliner foam, vinyl(.5 X 21.99/YD), neeedles and thread about $75. With enough vinyl for the dash and panels. If it takes us five hours of sewing time it will make a good return on the investment. But with two veterinarians sewing we have alot of experience sewing things up! :lol:

Paul

 

[Gerard]

Very nice job Paul!

 

[dklawson]

I have sewn a few items for our project Spitfire and it is a rewarding experience. I have considered sewing new seats for my Mini but thought seats might be beyond my ability. I am watching your progress with great interest and the hope that I will learn from you. In particular, I'm very interested in learning how you handle any piping on the seats.

 

[jlaird]

Boy, seats in custom colors. No telling what you could charge.

 

[apbos]

Thanks for the support guys!

Cutting patterns this evening for the seat base. Not easy since there is really nothing to work with from the original. Long day today at work. We had a tomato truck trailer axle come off a trailer today and go through a 3 foot high retaining wall next door to the office today. Glad nobody was hurt. Also glad the speed limit is 25 -30 mph and inforced on the street. Our office is directly across from the High School.


Doug
Look at Craig L's pdf (above) on sewing the TR3 seats. Lots of help with piping (using a hump jumper, presser feet, staples and paperclips). You need a machine with enough power to sew through four layers of material at the worst areas. Four hands are helpful because as the seats get larger they are more difficult to manuver.

Jack


Custom color's. Does Miss A need a leopard print set for nights on the town? :lol: Seriously I think once you have a good set of patterns you could knock this things out fairly quickly. Once you got that down leather would be your next choice. At least with the vinyl it is not an expensive mishap.

P.S. Happy Birthday
Paul

 

[jlaird]

You know, as I read this again and again it seems like a set of pull on seat covers just might be a good idea for a project.

In addition a sun shade made out of boat material. Hmmm, I like the sun cover idea. need to think on that a bit. I made boat cushions, why not a sun cover.