Types of seams?

[Cal1]

Thanks Mark, Will do.

[blue duck]

Would just like to add a note on skiving. Although the leather itself is probably soft enough to make your seam, the problem becomes the bulk of the two layers of leather once turned. It will leave a rather significant lump. By reducing the thickness you will make a much more finished looking project. Another help is to hammer the seam down [in the direction you want it to lay] once sewn and turned. As you mentioned do a test. Where you will really notice it is at the corners. You can also clip a series of V's  going around the corner and it will lay much better. i.e. V V V V V  with the point close, but not touching your seam

[Evo160K]

On Monday, January 28, 2019 at 3:22 PM, Dwight said:

Once you get your pattern, . . . make a test cover with fabric backed vinyl purchased at JoAnn fabric.  Get their 50% off coupon off Google, . . .  buy a yard of it, . . . it'll be 36 by 48, . . . so you'll have plenty enough to mess with.

Leave 3/8 to 1/2 inch extra, . . . all the way around, . . . take a pair of dividers and mark that all the way around the edges of the pieces.  Then, . . . staying about 1/16 of an inch away from your scored line, . . . coat each piece with Weldwood Contact Cement, . . . a thin coat is adequate.

When the cement dries, . . . (I use a heat gun to make it happen a lot faster), . . . slowly and carefully put the edges together, . . . and re-mark them now in the inside, . . . and sew that line.  You can use a sewing machine, . . . with carpet thread, . . . also bought at JoAnn's, . . . and a lot of machines will do that.  I had a Brother machine I bought at a yard sale for $25 that would sew that all day.

The seam will then need to be laid over so that it all points down toward the pavement.

Have fun, . . . show us pics when it's done.

May God bless,

Dwight

It's definitely better if the seam/material lays in such a way it will facilitate rain water to flow off (like roof shingles), otherwise it will "pool", soak through the seam/needle holes and wet the inside.  I use a layer of strong, plastic film just under the cover as a moisture barrier.  I  started doing that after I noticed Harley had done it on my oem seat.

Exposed stitches look good on auto seat covers; however, on motorcycle seat covers, they can become quite abrasive after riding for a while.

Edited February 2, 2019 by Evo160K