car Leather seat repair

[lotus 30]

There is so much knowledge on the forum thought i would ask i have a leather seat which has shrunk and pulled the stitching apart due to the sunlight through the rear window. looking for advice on how to repair i really do not want to put a piece of leather in the gap that will bug me. I have ordered some leather softener.

 

[Parm]

Thats a fairly easy repair to make. Best if you can remove the leather from the seat to access the back. Then gently steam the leather to soften if required or stretch together, use a curved needle and the correct thread.

Stitching from the front will be difficult and the domain a serious experts

 

[Melvyn Best]

Hide food then remove the cover before stitching?

 

[Kram]

Looks easy enough but I disagree, do not take it off as its supposed to be tight and will be a pain yo refit.

Surgeons do it from the front,

Get a pair of locking forceps for tying knots.
Put a few temporary ties to pull it together before you start and remove them as you go.

I use kevlar thread as its strongest - particually as my leather bits are motorbike gear.

Sewing awl helps if you have access to the back.

 

[Myles1970]

Hide food then remove the cover before stitching?

anybody else read that wrong?

 

[500e]

Ask @mrsbruce our leather person

 

[lotus 30]

anybody else read that wrong? Ok so i am over weight but i never sit in the back lol Ok keep it on subject

 

[steveo3002]

bet you can diy remove the cover , then for what it would cost id drop it at a trimmers and have it done nice , then take it home and refit , all the labour is removing the cover

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Calling @mrsbruce

 

[lotus 30]

bet you can diy remove the cover , then for what it would cost id drop it at a trimmers and have it done nice , then take it home and refit , all the labour is removing the cover

Yep no problem down side is it has shrunk and pulled the stitches apart i may need to trim the seat back to get it back on just chatting to find out all my options before i get stuck in to it.

 

[rtcosic]

SWMBO does the haberdashery. She has removed several seat covers, repaired them or used them as a template for a replacement cover*. On modern cars though not vintage/veterans. She cuts removes and retains for reuse the clamp type clips and cuts through the metal circular ones. She replaces them with cable ties on reassembly.

I also recommend cleaning and feeding the leather before stitching. Use the appropriate thread - I don't know for certain which pre-waxed thread to use but something like this.

* Once she disassembled the leather from a spare rear seat and retrimmed a whole car using that for the 'edges' and new Alcantara for the centre panels. Rover 800
Another she removed the cover from a 'Mk II' seat, modified it and recovered a 'MkI' type seat with it. MX-5 NA
Twice she removed original covers, split all the seams and used the pieces as templates for new covers made from upholstery fabric offcuts she bought from a local Sunday market. MX-5 NB and Ford Transit

Handy to have around!

 

[pedrobedro]

anybody else read that wrong?

Hide food, our dog used to do that We used to find biscuits everywhere. I would take the cover off and stitch it from the back for a reasonable repair.

 

[lotus 30]

i like this one may have a go myself

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Calling @mrsbruce

See post #6 (did you just wake up? )

 

[500e]

To busy nailing people to floor

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

See post #6 (did you just wake up? )

No. That's is a thing of the past.
I was working to earn a crust, to pay my tax's. So my old boss can draw job seekers allowance.

To busy nailing people to floor

Comments like that are why I nail peoples feet to the floor

 

[slim_boy_fat]

No. That's is a thing of the past

So, no remedy in sight then?

 

[Parm]

See post #6 (did you just wake up? )

Some one must have spiked his coffee, dodgy places them pubs.....

 

[Cobbler]

Comments like that are why I nail peoples feet to the floor

mummy, mummy, why do I keep going round in circles?
shut up, or I’ll nail the other foot to the floor!

 

[keithski122]

I'm a car upholsterer.
Remove cover sew up seam and replace. If panel has shrunk up too much then panel would need replacing.Careful with steam as it shrinks leather.You will not be able to stretch the leather back into shape.
Recent aircraft seat.