Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi guys,

Im going to reapir the driver's seat, and wondering what thead to use, as its become unstitched in the one of the corners.

The seats are original, and leather, so would need something pretty tough to hold it all back together I would imagine.

Has any one on here had experience at stitching a chair?

Thanks

Many moons ago my mum was a seamstress and as part of a school project I used leather to make a cushion for a stool I'd made,I'm sure we used sail makers thread which was pulled through beeswax to help through the leather (a bit like a lube)
I hope this helps.

If it is just the seat section becoming unstitched, then you can remove the upholstery by un-clipping it, when the seat is removed, then turn it inside out and re-stich using a strong twine. I did mine a few years ago, the stitching rotted, the leather was ok.
Clean the leather using saddle soap then when dry treat with Conolly's hide food.
Conollys supplied the leather for Morris when new, the cream is thick, leave it on for a few hours and it soaks in, then wipe off the surpless, you will be impressed with the results

Old fashioned "button hold thread" (high twist cotton - available from Ebay) and a leather sewing needle (available either for hand or machine sewing) should do the trick.

If you are doing this by hand make sure you use a thimble otherwise you can end up with the needle in your thumb!

You can also use a sewall (pronounced so all) I may have spelt it wrong but these can be bought on ebay,great bit of kit.Works like a manual hand held sewing machine,used one in my service days for making alterations to webbing,rucksacks etc.

I may be wrong but I'd suggest feeding the thread through the existing holes rather than making new ones, holes close together are likely to weaken already aged leather.

MarkyB wrote:I may be wrong but I'd suggest feeding the thread through the existing holes rather than making new ones, holes close together are likely to weaken already aged leather.

Thanks, great tip

Thanks for all of the answers guys

I've used this stuff

http://www.barnyarns.co.uk/Gutermann-Se ... -1953.html

Gutermanns polypropylene. It's strong as, you won't break it pulling it with your hands. Comes in about 100 colours. I've used it to re-stitch a part of a leather Mercedes seat and to repair canvas tents.

Ditto, re-use the original holes and maybe add a leather food treatment like Gliptone to soften up the area you're working on.