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[Pitt_Boss]

Hello, I'm trying to match the leather or vinyl from this interior photograph of an old Ford Bronco interior. I like the dark worn leather look but I'm not sure if this would be leather or vinyl and which one would be better to use for automotive interior. Also, what color thread would be ideal, black or beaver (assume beaver is brown shade). I need some guidance on my first purchase of materials and ultimately how much I will need in thread and leather/vinyl.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Cody]

If this is your first time ordering materials I’m going to assume that you haven’t seen much. If this is the case I would recommend vinyl. The cost of leather to experiment with would get costly. Try getting ahold of Albright or a supplier and ask for swatches. They’ll send you them you can look through. I’m sure they’ll be a brown in there you might like. Also ask for a thread color guide and you can compare material and thread colors. I wouldn’t use black. It would look odd and stick out. This would be a good place to start.

[John]

Hi @Pitt_Boss!!! Welcome to the forum!!!!
Vinyl and leather are both good for automotive use. You just need to make sure its rated for automotive use otherwise it wont hold up to the UV. @Cody is right. Its much cheaper to make mistakes on vinyl if your just starting out.
https://www.AlbrightsSupply.com/?Click=3957 Is a great place to start. Personally they are my favorite.
You may want to also find a local supplier so that you can get an idea for whats available.

There should be plenty of options in the brown distressed look in both leather and vinyl. @torriec Do you have any material suggestions that you carry?

For thread there are lots of color options you can choose what ever you think looks good. Bever i think will be too light for that color fabric. Black might look nice or you can find a closer color match. Hope this helps!

[torriec]

Hey!

We have a Carrara Tan that's a nice distressed brown vinyl. That's pretty much it actually for distressed.



I'll be glad to get you some samples though. Just fill out the form here.

[Pitt_Boss]

Thanks Cody, John and Torriec for the advice and help, I really appreciate it. I'll get my hands on some samples. I'm in the process of working through setting up an older Singer 211W155. I bought it before I found The Lucky Needle. I hope it can do the job vs more modern machines.

[Cody]

Some of the older machines are work horses and worth every penny. I’m not fluent in what machines are good or bad so can’t say about this. But don’t let age fool you.

[John]

@Pitt_Boss The Singer 211W155 is a beast. You be able to do it all with that. Consew still produces a clone of this machine till today. Consew 254RB-3
The only thing is that I dont think your machine has a reverse lever witch will probably annoy you after a while because it takes longer to do your lock stitches manually.

[BigRig]

Its a machine the Singeronline guys told me to look for.

[Pitt_Boss]

Thanks for sharing the insight. I'm a rookie so I just searched lock stitch and discovered back stitch. According to the online manual the 211W155 has a lock stitch but no reverse. From what I searched on the googs most people are saying to just flip the material around and stitch along the same thread line. Is there a preference on back stitch vs. lock stitch from upholstery pros?

[Kra z Bill]

@ Pitt_Boss
from my limited understanding the ability to put the machine in reverse makes it easier to do the lock stitch. You just put the machine in reverse and sew 3 or 4 stitches and then put it back to normal and repeat at the end. With the other type of machine you sew a few stitches, flip it 180 degrees, sew a few stitches and flip it 180 degrees and sew to the end and repeat the flip and sew a few stitches. If I am wrong then someone kindly correct me. luckily I have a machine with reverse.

[John]

@Pitt_Boss Lock stitch and back stitch are both the same thing. You have to do a lock stitch to stop the seam from unraveling by its self
@Kra z Bill explanation is perfect.