If a person has already repeatedly taken the seats of his car to the dry cleaner, then this is a reason to think about buying special covers. They can not only protect the seats from dust and other contaminants, but also protect them from the mechanical influence of certain factors. You can buy them at any car store, but it’s much more profitable and interesting to sew them yourself. This is the only way to know for sure that the material was selected with high quality, the sewing work was done well and conscientiously.
Moreover, you can independently choose the color to suit your taste or the style of the car. In addition to covers, you can also make an awning that will protect the car from the ultraviolet rays of the sun, from rain and will not allow it to heat up. The most important thing is that the work does not require any additional skills of a tailor or seamstress. Today we will tell you how to sew car seat covers with your own hands, what a DIY car seat pattern is, and what patterns are suitable for car seat covers.
Making covers yourself is interesting and economical
Why are chair covers needed?
The seats of any car in use quickly become dirty. The more often the car is used, the faster and more intensively this happens. This manifests itself in dust, greasy food stains, and crumbs. Because of this, as well as due to frequent washing, the seat and its covering can become completely unattractive in appearance. You can protect yourself from all this with the help of special capes, that is, covers. Such car covers have many advantages:
- Protection of car seats from dirt, scratches and cracks;
- Prevents seats from fading in the sun under the influence of ultraviolet rays;
- Easy cleaning of contaminants, especially dust;
- Easy “installation” and “disassembly” for washing or dry cleaning;
- Creating a unique cozy atmosphere in the car;
- Expression of the driver’s personal personality and tastes.
Covers help protect the seats from dust and dirt
. Important! You can take the time to make several “collections” of covers with your own hands, suitable for your mood, weather or season.
Bottom of the rear seat
The bottom cushion with frame can be easily removed. It is larger in area than the front row seats. It is more convenient to place it on a hundred or on trestles. Working with an assistant when installing the screed goes faster.
The covers are put on and aligned at the seams. The pillow is turned over. The elastic band is threaded through the loops or hooks. First, cross ties are made. The longitudinal ties are passed under the transverse ties in a checkerboard pattern.
The screed is tied in several places to the iron elements of the frame. This fixes the tension force when installing the tension cord.
The tension force is adjusted so that the covers evenly tighten the pillow stuffing. Check the alignment of the holes for the seat belts.
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Selecting a cover type
First you need to decide what kind of product you need and what it will be like. Car covers can be roughly divided into several types. They will be discussed in more detail below. Among them:
- Tank top;
- Model-style case;
- Knitted accessory;
- Case-massager;
- Heated cover.
Tank top
This is the most popular and universal type of car covers. It is called that because its style is similar to a kind of sleeveless men's undershirt. It often leaves the corners, sides and top of the seat exposed to dirt, but protects the main areas: the back and the seat itself. It is precisely because it is easy to take off, put on and wash. It is convenient to sit on such a cover at any time of the year: in winter it is not as cold as skin, and in summer it is not so heated by the sun. If you choose the right color and design, you can stylishly decorate the interior of your car or, on the contrary, hide covers of almost identical interior color.
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Classic T-shirt style cover
Model-type cases
Such products are made specifically for each car in a special studio or store. They fit perfectly on the surface of the chair and follow its shape. They are quite expensive and difficult to remove. Despite all this, their appearance is striking.
Expensive and stylish fashion capes
Knitted accessory
Outwardly, it resembles a T-shirt cover, but it is made not of fabric, but of yarn. To create one yourself, you need a lot of crocheting experience, many meters of yarn and a lot of patience. All this will pay off in full, because only a knitted warm cover will give the car interior incomparable home comfort and tranquility.
Knitted capes create home comfort
Massager case
This species brings not only spiritual benefits to the body, but also physical ones. The original appearance and function of massaging the buttocks and back are the main functions of such a product. The back of any person experiences heavy loads during the day, and if he spends a lot of time driving, it also becomes twisted and stiff. Not everyone has the time and opportunity to go to a doctor and massage therapist. This is where massage capes come into play, which are divided into active and passive.
The passive cover will massage your back and neck with every movement
Passive ones can often be found in old cars such as VAZ 2109, 2110 and others. They are capes made of balls that spin and massage the back of the driver and his passengers. Modern technologies have gone much further and people began to use active and soft massagers on a remote control. They are simple convex T-shirts with a built-in vibration and massage mechanism.
Important! In such cases you can set your own operating mode and intensity. You can connect the product to a regular cigarette lighter or to a special connector.
Active massager covers are equipped with a special vibration or roller mechanism
Heated covers
You can't ignore heated covers. They look exactly the same as capes or active massagers, but they have a well-known useful function. Such car covers can provide a comfortable ride even in the coldest weather. They are often combined with massage devices and then maximum comfort is created.
Heated capes will delight you in winter
Why do you need a car seat cover?
Many car owners are of the opinion that seat covers are a relic of the past, but in reality, things are somewhat different. The issue can be considered from two sides: if you purchase an old model of the cover, then the new car will not look the way you would like. By purchasing a modern accessory, the salon can be transformed. To understand in more detail whether car seat covers are actually needed, you should first find out what this accessory is?
Using a cover you can not only hide flaws on the seats, but also significantly transform the interior
A car seat cover is a kind of “clothing” for car seats, the purpose of which is to protect the factory upholstery from dirt and damage, as well as to give the interior a new look. The accessory comes in different types:
- Universal. The cover fits many car models, but does not fit the seats perfectly, because the seats on different cars are still different.
- Mikey. They do not protect the entire seat, but only its most vulnerable part. Mostly, such covers are purchased for front seats.
- Model. This type is designed for a specific model and fits the seat perfectly.
Car awning
The paintwork of the body is constantly exposed to sunlight, dust, dirt, and moisture, which negatively affects the protective layer. If it is not possible to park the car in a garage, then the way out of the situation is to buy a protective cover (awning). To sew such products, a special fabric is used that does not allow dirt or dust to pass through, but provides good breathability. Thus, moisture does not accumulate under the cape. Mainly for the manufacture of awnings, materials with PVC (polyvinyl chloride) coating, PVC film or banner fabric are used. The material has a reliable base, which is a fabric made of lavsan or polyester, which is coated on both sides with polyvinyl chloride and varnish.
To protect the paintwork of the body, an awning made of special fabrics that can withstand weather conditions is used.
How to choose material
Step number 2 - choosing the right material. Fortunately, the fabric market for these purposes has a huge number of variations. Each material has its own unique properties, advantages and disadvantages. You should choose not only based on your personal preferences and price, but also based on the overall color scheme of the car. The most popular fabrics can rightfully be considered:
- Natural or artificial leather. The most used option, because it looks expensive and stylish, but in fact it can cost little. If you properly care for such a cover, it will look perfect for years and protect the seats from external factors. The disadvantage is obvious: genuine leather is expensive, but even it does not provide warmth in cold weather;
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Leather or substitute capes add solidity
- Natural or faux fur. These accessories do not have the disadvantages of the first type, since they retain heat perfectly. Among natural options, preference should be given to sheep and goat wool. Faux fur does not retain heat as well and often serves only a decorative function;
The covers can be made from fur, they will keep the driver warm
- Velours. A simple and economical option. Its main advantage is that it maintains a neutral temperature in any weather. Proper care will be simple and will preserve the good quality of the fabric for many years;
Velor covers have a pleasant texture
- Neoprene. Practical synthetic material. It looks very modest and practically does not stand out in any way, either from the pros or the cons. Caring for it will help it remain the same as on the first day of purchase;
Neoprene is practical and comfortable in the summer
- Polycotton. Semi-synthetic material that combines the main advantages of polyester and cotton. Thanks to its moisture-repellent properties, it can easily withstand machine washing in any mode;
Polycotton is an excellent material for capes
- Vinyl. Synthetics in their purest form, which has proven itself for its practicality and high performance characteristics. Cleaning does not require special means or modes;
Vinyl car covers
- Suede and its substitutes. Such cases are quite expensive and are not found often. They need to be well looked after, otherwise they will quickly lose their presentable appearance and properties.
Suede covers require careful care
Making patterns
Polyethylene is best suited for these purposes. But if you don’t have such film, then a regular newspaper will do. It should be attached, secured with pins, outlined with a felt-tip pen and cut along the lines.
It is recommended to check the symmetry. In case of deviations, the future pattern should be straightened and re-checked by placing it on the seat again. Only now is it possible to cut the workpiece, leaving seam allowances of at least one centimeter on all sides.
Tools and materials
Before you get started, you need to prepare the following tools:
- Tailor's scissors;
- Fabric glue;
- Sewing machine;
- Centimeter or ruler;
- Fabric and materials;
- Hairdryer and iron;
- Tools for removing seats and old accessories;
- Awl for making leather.
Important! Depending on the type of cover and vehicle, the list of tools, equipment and materials will vary, but only slightly. In general, this should be enough to make a cover for a car.
It is worth remembering that all parameters must be measured individually
Sequencing
So, if you decide to make car seat covers yourself, then you need to decide on the procedure.
The first thing you should start with is to determine (by experiment) what thickness and density of the material can be sewn using the sewing machine you have. The choice of material for making covers will largely depend on this. Attempts to sew through too dense material can lead to its breakage and unjustifiably expensive repairs.
Then you need to make all the necessary patterns. The number of individual elements will depend on the configuration of the chair and armrests.
And only after that we decide on the amount of material needed.
Making a case yourself
Sewing with your own hands is not something impossible or difficult. This can be done without any special tailoring skills. The process itself is divided into several stages:
- Selecting the style, type and material of the cover;
- Taking all measurements;
- Creating a pattern;
- Direct tailoring.
Advice on choosing a material has already been given, so it is proposed to move on to consider other points.
All necessary parameters of seats for manufacturing should be accurately measured.
Taking measurements for a future car cover
In all cases of tailoring, you need to take measurements first. They include the height and width of the backrests, as well as the length and width of the bottom pillow. You can use oilcloth that is slightly larger than the seat. She needs to tighten all the details and transfer the outlines, paying attention to the seams. Next, the parts are cut out and transferred to regular fabric, which will be used for sewing.
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You can make a pattern using oilcloth
Nuances of patterns for car seats
The sewing process has a number of nuances and consists of the following steps:
- Take a blank made of oilcloth or polyethylene and transfer it to the working fabric using chalk or a marker. You need to be mindful of seam allowances;
- Arrange the parts so as to save as much fabric as possible, including allowances;
- Before cutting, cut the fabric into several large pieces to make work easier;
- Cut the pattern with scissors or a knife;
- Iron or steam the fabric if it is wrinkled after the cutting process.
Rear seat cushion cover
It is worth understanding that the size and shape of the covers will vary greatly depending on the size of the seats and the make of the car. Despite this, it is worth focusing on the given drawings and diagrams.
Covers for Kia Rio
Assembly instructions
After cutting out all the parts and other components, you can start sewing them together. Especially for this purpose, seam allowances were left, which will be used for stitching. First, the pieces and parts are joined together using special pins or needles, and then fastened with a hand-made basting stitch. This is done so that if any mistake is made, it is easy to rip the seam and redo the work and make adjustments.
Sewing car covers with your own hands is not difficult
If there are no shortcomings and everything is done correctly, then you can start working with the machine. With its help, you need to securely and accurately stitch all the details. So that the cover is securely attached to the chair. To do this, you need to remember to sew all the fixing elements in place. They can be used as elastic bands, garters, belts, hooks, and Velcro. Using strips of leather or nylon as a lining under them will help make the seams stronger and more durable.
Sewing car covers is a fun activity
Don't forget about the slots for seat belts or armrests, if any. Products must not interfere with the deployment of airbags in emergency situations.
Covers for the rear sofas of the car
Fur car seat covers made from old sheepskin coats
Immediately after buying the car, I realized that leather seats are not only classy and cool, but also very uncomfortable. If the temperature outside the window drops below +10, then it is very cold on them, the rest of the time, when the sun heats them, they burn and stick to the skin. I have heated seats, but for safety reasons it can only be turned on from inside the car. Thus, even autostart does not solve the problem - the seats still remain icy for several minutes, and this time is quite enough to freeze some important organs. At first I wanted to buy ready-made fur covers on Ali, in some online store or at a car market, but the price stopped me. Remembering that many people use skins from Ikea as seat covers, I decided to sew the covers myself from an old sheepskin coat (it had been waiting in the wings for a long time, although at first I thought of turning it into a bedside rug). I pursued several goals - to save as much as possible and make good use of the existing skins, so my motto became: “Fast, cheap, without bothering.” You can see what came out of this under the cut. For the alteration, I needed: the sheepskin coat itself, insulation (I used scraps of synthetic padding with a lining, batting and tapestry fabric), harsh red threads and thin black, gypsy and ordinary needles, about four meters of elastic and 8 plastic snap fasteners. I chose the color of the elastic bands and carabiners to match the color of the seats. I never liked the sheepskin coat that was used for the covers, because it was uncomfortable, heavy and not very beautiful. The only thing I liked about it was the color. The story of her purchase is quite sad. It was purchased in the 90s. At that time we had little money, so much so that when winter came again, I had nothing to wear. I stayed at home, and my mother and grandmother went to the market and bought the first more or less nice sheepskin coat that came across, which was suitable for the price. However, this story has a good ending - I grew up, earned my own car, and the sheepskin coat got a second life as bright covers and continues to warm me and be useful. I partially ripped the sheepskin coat apart, separating the sleeves, the back, and the two front pieces (flats). Since the sheepskin coat was fastened with buttons, I cut them off and sewed up the welt fasteners. I sewed the right and left floors together to create a piece equal to the back.
Source
Tips and tricks
A few tips for even better quality work and increasing the practicality of products:
- To make putting on and taking off the covers easier and easier, you should add zippers in the areas that will be on the armrests;
- If the seats can lean back along certain elements, then the usual type of covers will not fit under them;
- Some models have airbags located in the backrests. If the covers are without special slots, the pillows will not open.
Leather covers for Suzuki Grand Vitara
Thus, the question of how to sew a cover on a car seat with your own hands was discussed, and examples of patterns for making car covers with your own hands were also given.
Sewing car covers is not difficult. At the level of furniture restoration, installing and sewing car covers allows you to keep the seats in order or restore their already damaged appearance.
Main varieties
As you know, demand creates supply. Today, car dealerships offer a wide selection of seat covers, which differ in appearance, size, functionality, material and manufacturing method.
T-shirt capes
The most common among drivers are seat covers. This model got its name due to its similar style to an undershirt.
The main advantages of a T-shirt cover are functionality, practicality, and ease of use. You can sew a car cape-shirt yourself.
Model
Model covers are made to order in automobile studios and special showrooms. They exactly follow the shape and dimensions of car seats. Removing a model case made of thick fabric or eco-leather will be very problematic.
Knitted
Hand-made products are highly valued by contemporaries. Knitted capes and headrests will make the car interior more comfortable and homely.
If you have crocheting or knitting skills, you can easily cope with this task. The product must be wear-resistant, durable and functional. When choosing yarn for knitting, carefully study the quality characteristics of the threads. The finished product should hold its shape well, not stretch, not curl or float.
Massagers
Some drivers spend a lot of time behind the wheel. Prolonged sitting has a negative impact on human health. To reduce the load on the musculoskeletal system, it is necessary to install massage capes.
