Removable Seat Covers

[chrisryder]

Last time me and 'er in doors, went on a long trip in hot weather she announced that she'd make some seat covers. as i'm sure most of you will know, the vinyl seats are a little bit unforgiving in hot weather. as soon as your lower back becomes exposed then you find yourself stuck to it. and the first you know about it is when you hit a bump

my seats are pretty tatty anyway, being dirty from oil and grease and stuff (which is cleanable i know) but also being quite worn and ripped:
[frame][/frame]
anyway, the up and coming MOT inspired her to follow through on her offer and run some covers up. after a long trip around the markets in birmingham looking for material, we decided on a fetching gingham and a matching plain colour. this was all washed before being worked with to allow for the material to shrink in the wash, rather than have it shrink the first time we wash them!

some foam was purchased from the market too, and cut to size to add a bit more comfort to the seat. this foam is restrained by the covers.

here's the 'mark one' version so far, a bit more hemming and sewing to go yet:
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the back seat has a plain top, mainly because we had every last inch of gingham the shop had, but also because it'd be a large area of pattern, which would look a bit busy.
[frame][/frame]
apparently i'm getting some matching cushions tomorrow...

so... it's a bit out of keeping with the rest of the style of the car. they look a bit different at the mo, but so did the black wheels, and i've warmed to those!

they should certainly but functional if nothing else! and the beauty is, they're easily removed if i decide i dont like them, and easily removed for putting straight in the washing machine!

[andygill]

Hi

What type of material did you get. Is it hard wearing ? Did you cut the foam yourself or did the shop do it 

Thanks
Andy

[ASL642]

I think they're seats covers. Chris didn't re-upholster his seats.

Seats covers aren't hard to make. Use a newspaper to make the "pattern" of the seat shape. (remember to allow extra for turnings to sew them together)

[andygill]

I think they're seats covers. Chris didn't re-upholster his seats.

Seats covers aren't hard to make. Use a newspaper to make the "pattern" of the seat shape. (remember to allow extra for turnings to sew them together)

Hi Lou

I did realise they were seat covers. It has given me the idea to do mine. Was just wondering what sort of material is needed suerly it must be something hard wearing ?

Cheers
Andy

[chrisryder]

it's not the most hard wearing of material, just cotton. the plain blue is stronger than the gingham.

this is kind of a 'mark one' prototype! if we like them and the material doesn't last then we'll find something better. my girlfriend has made patterns for it so it'll be easy to make others.

the foam was bought as a 50cm x 50cm block, about 1.5 inches thick. the seat is 50cm wide and about 45cm long, so we just trimmed the end and rounded the front corners with stout scissors.

all of the seams were machine stitched, and some (like the join on the back seat) were 'princess seams' like you get on a flag, so that both sides had neat edges.

the rear covers aren't fitted, just roughly the right size, and then tucked in around the edges. having the princess seams means that if the back one gets dirty or something, it can be un-tucked and turned over!
[frame][/frame]

[scotwood59]

They look lovely and bright.

I think I might have a go myself. There is only so much old dirt you can clean off the vinyl!!

[stephenpolhill]

Wooow, I want something similar... (MUUUUUM!)
Are they easily removable?
S

[chrisryder]

the front ones just slip on. the back ones are tucked in around the edges.

the plan was to incorporate little ties at the bottom to fix them on, but we ran out of time so they're just slid on for now!

[ASL642]

Chris - run and bit of bias binding around the lower edge. Your can then use this as a channel for thin elastic which will keep them gathered around the base and in place. Perhaps a small job for YKW when you both get back from France. Have a safe journey

[andygill]

Lou - what is bias binding ?

[ASL642]

Bias binding is a strip of material (plain coloured) that is cut diagonally across material which makes it stretch around curves - very useful in sewing. You use it to make seams either to bind raw redges of material or in this case to make a channel through which elastic or cord can be threaded. In this case you would use it round the lower edge of the new seat covers to pull them in tightly against the frame. There's an explanation in Wiki which may help you. It's available in sewing shops i.e Hobbycraft or John Lewis etc. If you know anyone who sews they can probably show you - it's a bit difficult to "explain" in words!