Hello Everyone,

 

So after looking at prices for interior kits, full retirms and the like I decided to bite the bullet and go at it myself. I sewed a picture of a bird when I was 7, so how hard can a car interior be?... I have a tenancy to try and make things rather than buying them, for better or worse the experience is always great and learn a lot.

 

The plan is to retrim the arm rests, door cards, gear and handbrake gaitor, steering wheel and seats. First off, the Center arm rest which was trimmed in a crappy leather/vinyl.

 

So I ordered a bunch of Italian Leather, needles, thread, Calico Cotton, and went guns ablazing. I borrowed mums sewing machine but quickly found that it wasn't up for negotiating thick leather, and trying to do smooth stitches was impossible!! So ordered something new...

 

 

 

The old, but heavy weight Singer 211U566A Industrial Sewing Machine with a Walking foot and needle feed, both crucial for thick slippery material! And also a Servo motor, which allows very steady slow slowing!

 

So far the shopping list looks like this:

 

- Sewing machine £550

- Leather £85

- Alcantara Samples £ Free

- Original Steering wheel £25

- miscellaneous sewing bits £40

- Spray Glue £10

- Foam Lining £8

 

Here is the results of tonight's first try, using the original arm rest as a template.

 

Original Interior:

 

 

 

testing top stitches:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actually really pleased with the first try. And I must say that the sewing machine makes ALL the difference!! Spent hours setting it up just right for my thread weight, but well worth it.

 

I will try and use this as a record of my lessons learned and see who far I get!

 

Thanks for reading, William.

Edited August 22, 201510 yr by wchestnutt

Before:

 

 

After: