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This is my first project post on this forum, so bare with me as I go through it. I decided to take on making and replacing some of my vinyl due to age and wear and tear. I will try to detail as much as possible for those who would like try this for themselves. I knew going into this that my work wasn't going to be perfect, but I started with the basics and continued to work through each piece. Overall, I am happy with the outcome.
Tools:
Machine - Singer 15-91 Sewing Machine - This is a 1953 piece and has a gear motor (ie. not belt driven). I would recommend finding a professional machine if you want to sew foam backed vinyl and do a lot of top stitching. I found that www.leatherworker.net was very helpful in finding the best machine.
Material - I worked with www.garysupholstery.com for most of the vinyl. I ended up going with the Nautolex Capitano line. I ordered about 10 square yards to do the backrest, sundeck and three bow cushions. Luckily, I only used about six yards. The original material is foam backed vinyl, but I didn't think my machine would handle it and it was $25.00 a yard. I decided to start with regular marine vinyl.
Foam - I reused all my foam. It was a little condensed, but I decided to minimize effort due to time constraints.
Thread and Needle - Used outdoor V-92 polyester thread from www.sail-rite.com with a size 20 needle.
Patterns - Making a correct pattern is about half of the work. I was able to use the pieces from the original upholstery, but a lot of times I had to use the actual foam part of the cushion to get the shape. Most of my mistakes were from cutting the wrong patterns.
Sewing - I practiced for a few days on cheap vinyl and thread before I continued. The black cushion was my first finished product after about three different attempts. Make sure you practice sewing outside and inside seams. I watched a few videos and got comfortable with my sewing.
Staples - I used Rustproof Monel Staples - $20 for 1000 at home depot and a handheld staple gun. I am sure an electric gun would work great, but I was trying to keep costs down. There are a few threads around here about applying your cushions and different procedures.
Cost - I spent about $250 for everything and it took about three weeks of working in the evenings.
Overall, it was a great learning experience and as I go along I may find a better machine and improve the quality of my materials and craftsmanship. I created simple patterns for the sundeck and backrest to minimize errors and reduce the number of seams. I will try to add more later, I just wanted to get a thread started.
Tools:
Machine - Singer 15-91 Sewing Machine - This is a 1953 piece and has a gear motor (ie. not belt driven). I would recommend finding a professional machine if you want to sew foam backed vinyl and do a lot of top stitching. I found that www.leatherworker.net was very helpful in finding the best machine.
Material - I worked with www.garysupholstery.com for most of the vinyl. I ended up going with the Nautolex Capitano line. I ordered about 10 square yards to do the backrest, sundeck and three bow cushions. Luckily, I only used about six yards. The original material is foam backed vinyl, but I didn't think my machine would handle it and it was $25.00 a yard. I decided to start with regular marine vinyl.
Foam - I reused all my foam. It was a little condensed, but I decided to minimize effort due to time constraints.
Thread and Needle - Used outdoor V-92 polyester thread from www.sail-rite.com with a size 20 needle.
Patterns - Making a correct pattern is about half of the work. I was able to use the pieces from the original upholstery, but a lot of times I had to use the actual foam part of the cushion to get the shape. Most of my mistakes were from cutting the wrong patterns.
Sewing - I practiced for a few days on cheap vinyl and thread before I continued. The black cushion was my first finished product after about three different attempts. Make sure you practice sewing outside and inside seams. I watched a few videos and got comfortable with my sewing.
Staples - I used Rustproof Monel Staples - $20 for 1000 at home depot and a handheld staple gun. I am sure an electric gun would work great, but I was trying to keep costs down. There are a few threads around here about applying your cushions and different procedures.
Cost - I spent about $250 for everything and it took about three weeks of working in the evenings.
Overall, it was a great learning experience and as I go along I may find a better machine and improve the quality of my materials and craftsmanship. I created simple patterns for the sundeck and backrest to minimize errors and reduce the number of seams. I will try to add more later, I just wanted to get a thread started.
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