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[kl4bidn]

Why does this happen? They were both cut at 80”. I used a right zipper foot, zipper on bottom on the slim side. I spun it around and used the right zipper foot, zipper on bottom. The slim side measures 79.5” and the other is 80.5!!! How am I supposed to be accurate? Is it the quality of the vinyl? The customer purchased it from Joann Fabric. It has Spaulding, PT541980/PACN04 printed on the back. It is supposed to be an 81x20x2 welted, zippered, sectioned chaise cushion cover not a lasagna noodle when I finished!

[Bondo497]

@kl4bidn I know you're pissed right now so I'm kinda nervous to reply but do you reckon by chance its because you used a right zipper foot to do both? Just a suggestion, I don't really know. Whew!

[kl4bidn]

I do that way with fabric all the time with no problems. Is vinyl that fussy?

[Bondo497]

@kl4bidn
Well I have noticed that when I was playing around with it that it tends to slide around. I just thought about this too, vinyl usually stretches in one direction so did you mismatch the direction on the two pieces?

[Bondo497]

I don't know. @John help me get out of this hole I'm in.

[John]

Alignment marks. Gotta put alignment marks. Around every 12 inches or so. Vinyl and leather are fairly stretchy and they will move on you. Especially on long thin strips like that its a lot more stretchy. It depends how accurate I'm trying to be. Usually in for what your making I will add alignment marks to both vinyl pieces. Sew one piece to the zipper. Then transfer the alignment marks to the the other side of the zipper and so you can see them when sewing the next piece on. If it measured out a little long just cut it. If its short you should be able to stretch it out a little.

If Im trying to me super precise I will measure the zipper and put alignment marks on the zipper as well.

@kl4bidn One other think to make sure. I know you work with a lot of furniture fabric. Make sure you didn't increase your presser feet a bunch for some thin are slippery fabric. It is possible your smashing the vinyl a little causing it to stretch as your sewing. But most likely its just an alignment issue.

Spradling is good fabric. Tell your customer to buy fabric from you. Joe Anns is insanely over priced. You could probable charge them double of your cost and it would still be cheaper

[Revv Up]

Quite often I will use double sided tape to hold it in place before sewing BUT... make sure the tape ends up shy of the stitch line so when it’s done you dont see tape in the seam.

I use 3/8” tape for 1/2” seam allowance or 1/2” tape fro 5/8” seam allowance

[kl4bidn]

@John I'll try using more alignment marks. I usually just do the minimum.

My go to cheat is a stapler. I've stapled the entire band and welt on.

@Bondo497 The cover is so long I ran everything down the roll except the welt. Ran that side to side. But it is something I will keep in mind. It's good to have your humor on this forum!

@Revv Up I do have some of that!

[John]

@kl4bidn Yeah I know what you mean. Vinyl can get out of alignment a lot quicker that other materials. As long as you have enough marks to easily check that your on track.

[Bondo497]

@John I'll try using more alignment marks. I usually just do the minimum.

My go to cheat is a stapler. I've stapled the entire band and welt on.

@Bondo497 The cover is so long I ran everything down the roll except the welt. Ran that side to side. But it is something I will keep in mind. It's good to have your humor on this forum!

@Revv Up I do have some of that!

I don't really go out of my way to be humorous. I really want to add my 2 cents on certain things and I get tickled at myself and then it shows up here. Just think of me as y'all's comic relief or just your forum idiot. Whichever y'all prefer.

[BigRig]

@kl4bidn,

I have now sewn over 100 of these with zippers. There is one thing that I have found that pulls my vinyl out of alignment and makes it wavy every time and that is thread TENSION. Maybe back your tension off and see what happens, can someone give feedback on the stitch there is almost looks like it is balling on the vinyl.

[BigRig]

@kl4bidn,

Maybe someone here can give feedback on your stitch etc..

[Bondo497]

@BigRig you might be on to something there, I zoomed in and took a close look at the stiches and something looks off. But also could still be too much presser foot pressure. Something is not going smoothly under the needle. Imo.

[vicstric]

Use alignment marks on both halves of the zipper and on both vinyl pieces. You can't have too many. Don't just keep an eye on the next alignment mark either. Look a couple of marks ahead if possible. You only want to do it once. It is pretty easy to slightly stretch and push the vinyl to keep these marks aligned. Don't wait till the next mark is two inches away from the presser foot than try and fix it.

Taking the few minutes if time making alignment marks and using them to make sure things look right at the end of the seam will save you time in thelong run and reduce the frustration.

[BigRig]

The longer piece shown is that just a demo or have you sewn that zipper into both vinyl pieces and the outcome is a longer piece of vinyl?

[BigRig]

I would do a fabric seat recover anyday of the week all day long over vinyl. I have also used the I HATE VINYL saying too and thrown my arms up in the air saying I am quitting sewing

[Bondo497]

Dang @BigRig that is sharp! Is that the seat you first posted at the beginning of this forum opening?

[Bondo497]

@BigRig I need some interior work on a certain Peterbilt, you may no about it, do you know of a trimmer in Canada that wants to vacation in Georgia for say a couple of weeks or so?

[kl4bidn]

Funny you should say this... I did have a tension issue. I realized it after John said foot pressure. I've been having trouble with thread breakage at the double hole pin since I replaced the tension unit so I was bypassing it. Hadn't been a problem with fabric. I stripped the machine bare, loosen all my tension, re-threaded, jacked around with some different paths to add tension to the initial thread draw before the machine. Sewing through double to six ply thickness without a single adjustment now. Not sure what's up with the pin but I'll order a new one Monday.

Anyway, long story short...I think you (all) are correct.

[BigRig]

@Bondo497,

I don't know Bondo but I will post a bench seat I did and just did a Volvo Class 8 seat, maybe I can get a picture loaded of before and after.

I completely fitted a full front set of Ford Lightning seats here tonight, all is looking good but just need to sit on the reassembly for a day.