So does anyone here sew their own panels and junk for the interior? I need some tips on how to sew an S curve, uhh....so my girl can sew it. Not that I'm doing it. It's on vinyl. Is there a way I...er... she should cut and mark it so it's more perfect?

Clayton

 

If the S curve is being sewn as a design within a single piece of vinyl with foam backing to give a puffed out look -

1. Cut the vinyl and foam pieces about 3 inches larger than the area you're (sorry you're girl) is going to cover.

2. Draw your design on the vinyl. Test the pencil or pen you use on a scrap piece first to make sure it wipes off otherwise it will show. Note, if you're doing something like door panel's, you may want to make a template to the exact size of the piece you're covering. That way when you reverse it for the other door, you'll have the same pattern and dimensions.

3. For this type of application, most any sewing machine will work. Just make sure you have a needle heavy enough (but not too) to go through the vinyl. Also, make sure you use a good upholstery thread. If you can't match the color exactly, they do make a clear thread that you can pick up at any upholstry shop.

4. Pin the vinyl and foam on all sides of the 3" excess to help keep the foam from traveling as you sew. You could also do this with 3m spray can glue however it would make the sewing a bit more difficult.

5. You'll need to turn the material as you guide the material through the machine. Make sure that the machine is not set for a tight stitch. Each stitch should be a little over 1/8 inch otherwise the vinyl will tear at the stitching. Practice on scrap vinyl with various drawings and with the foam pinned to it until you get the hang of it.

6. Once you've sewn the design and are happy with the results, trim the excess foam to where the edges will be. Next check the fit on the piece itself for wrapping the panel. The cuts will all depend on the shape of the piece you're covering. If it's a dramatic corner, like a box corner, then you would only need a one "V" cut for each corner deep enough to not have the vinyl overlap, but not too deep to expose the piece you're covering. You want the back vinyl to be as uniform a possible so that you don't have a lump or a void showing. I'd try out the cut with scrap also just to be sure. If it's a progressive curve as in a half circle, then you'll need to make several "V" cuts where the corners begin and end and throughout the curve.

7. Now it's time for the 3m spray glue. Glue the front, put the piece in place, flip over then glue the edges to the back.


If you're trying to put a different color design in a main color piece of vinyl, this would be done mostly with glue with another book description. Let me know what you're covering and what your idea is for covering it if the above doesn't do it.

Good luck and I hope you put a photo in your gallery to show the great job you (your girl) did.

 

Hmm. Maybe the glue method would be best. I'm making a couple peices per door that will carry the stripe design from the kick panel to the thing behind the seat. It has a red 3" stripe on top of another "1 stripe all on gray. The door panel you can see in my gallery is going to be replaced where the speaker and stripe is lower than it is now. The two panels will be where one smaller one above the bump where the door handle and window crank set and then a larger one under it. I've drawn pictures and can scan them later this week and post them.

I was wondering if it would be best to just sew it near the edges of the stripe instead of gluing, I don't like to use glue, is there a special kind that I can use for viynl? I guess I'll need the other book, unless there's a way too sew really close to the edges, I would like to do that more than glue. Thanks!

Clayton

 

Hey Clayton - now that I have an idea of what you're trying to do it makes it easier to give you some direction. What you're wanting to do can be done either way. I'd go with sewing.

1. Make a template of the entire area you're going to cover. It's best to use a heavier board for this - paper won't work that well. Draw in your design on the template. Mark the sections of the template for color, position and which door you're starting with so you know where the pieces go. Cut the template on your design marks. Now tape the template back together. The cut lines will show you how the design fits on the passanger door. Hopefully the lines will match up to the existing kick panel designs so you won't have to do any modifications.

2. Again, cut the vinyl about 3 inches wider than the template edges for attaching the final product. You only need about 1 inch on the side where the colors meet.

3. I would start at the top, mark the "back" of the vinyl with the upper template, and cut leaving about 1" of excess where the red is going to meet. (Keep in mind that since you're marking the back of the vinyl, you need to lay the template face down for marking.) Cut a large enough strip of the red vinyl to compensate for whatever curve's you'll have. The pieces laid face to face should lay flat. Pin the top grey part to the red within the 1" excess. After you've pinned the length, you can cut the red that is showing beyond the 1" excess to make it easier to sew. Sew on your template marking line.

4. Now, before going to the grey strip, make sure the red lines up with the kick panel and back panel. If the lines look good, tape the top grey and top red template pieces together.

5. Lay the template on the back side of the previously sewn vinyl and mark your line for the red strip. As above, cut a large enough strip of the grey vinyl to compensate for the curves. Follow the directions in step 3 for pinning and sewing. After you've sewn this grey strip check your strips with the kick panel again. Continue these steps and in no time you'll be done.

NOTE: make sure you leave the 3" excess on the top, bottom and sides so that you have plenty of materials to install your finished product.

It's getting late so I'll tell you another time what to do once you've got the piece sewn.

Good Luck & Let me know if this is what you're looking for or if you need more clarification.

 

>>I've drawn pictures and can scan them later this week and post them.<<

Clayton - I missed that part of your post last night (long weekend). Would appreciate it if you would scan in your drawing, may change my mind on the last how-to post.

 

ok, I think this thing is huge, but I'll see if it works. Sorry if it's too big.

http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/hotrodford/interior.jpg

The panels are the things with the two stripes on the door, they break off where the door handle and window crank bump is. Hope this helps.

Clayton

 

Clayton - apparently the file is too big.

E-mail it to me. I won't be able to check it until Monday, but will let you know ASAP if I was able to pull the file up.

 

Hmm, how can I send it with this sites email thing? This may work. Just fill in the blanks.

http<colon>//www<dot>angelfire<dot>com/falcon/hotrodford/interior<dot>jpg

 

Hey Clayton, nice design. It'll look real sharp when you're done.

You can still do it like my last instructions. Just start with the top piece for the both sections. That way, you can still make sure that the back & kick panel line up as well as the pattern for the door panels. It doesn't look like you have any "S" curves just a real lazy "C" so sewing the curve should be rather easy.

Once you're done, you'll want to glue foam directly to the back of the vinyl leaving a groove for where the seams meet so they're not pushed out once you attach to the panel board.

Hope this help

 

Thanks for the help! I'll try to get some pics of it when I'm done, if that ever happens.

Clayton