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[vicstric]

I was reading another thread about using staples to hold seams together and was going to post this question there but didnt' want to hijack anyone.

Anyway, I have used staples, office clips and alignment marks/notches all to various degrees of success. But one thing i have noticed is that I have a heck of a time when aligning curved areas. This problem happens especially where you are doing a bi-color or multi-color accent color that is curved on a flat panel. If that makes sense. For example and S shaped accent on the top of a bench seat. Once you add the 1/2" seam allowance to each piece, the alignment marks not longer line up at the edge of the seam allowance.

If I knew how to do graphics, I could show a better example of what I am trying to ask. But that is another lifetime.

Luckily the stretch in vinyl allows me to fake it till i make it but once in a while i spend too much time cutting out stitches and redoing areas like this. Is there a trick of the trade for getting around this problem?

[Cody]

@vicstric If I’m reading this correctly you make your alignment marks then add you seam allowance, your marks are now 1/2” into the material? If this is the case just move the marks to the edge again. This set of videos from cechaflo on building this seat is a great example of patterning and sewing like your asking. I often watch them as I have questions. If you haven’t watched them I’d start from the beginning. But you’ll need some free time.

[vicstric]

Thank you @Cody ! Yeah I AM moving the marks to the edge. THAT is usually what causes the problem. On an inside turn the marks on the edge will be closer together. On an outside turn they will be farther apart. Wherein lies the problem. But, thank you for the video link. It was helpful to see him count marks forward and then fit the marks in between. Also, he laid the panel flat, facedown, with the seam allowance pointing up to staple the area that is giving me fits. I have watched and learned quite a but from his videos. Just not that one...lol

[Cody]

Glad the video was helpful. He’s got quite a few good videos.

[BigRig]

Just kinda wondering if those video tutorials are designed for a hobbiest or if that is real time for leather work. How much would a bill be for a job done by him. The job would be spectacular but I am thinking the price would have to be too?

[Scott D]

staples, hhhmmm. cool vid..

[Cody]

@BigRig I think it’s for a bit of everyone honestly. Hobbiest who want to do their own things to amateurs wanting to start out and work their ways up. I would think it’s time consuming for such detail, but not as time consuming as it takes to do while videoing.

[John]

@vicstric When using alignment marks on curved sections try to imagine the marks are pointing to a spot at the stitch. That is the spot where you want it to try to line up. Not necessarily the spot on the out side of the seam allowance. Also make sure you cutting relief cuts in the seam allowance to allow your pieces to open up while your sewing them.

[BigRig]

@John, @Cody
Ok guys so here I am with a factory seat to copy as it is NOT a custom job just a redo of the same pattern with new material and fancy new vinyl and patterns.

Examining this seat I see original alignment marks and some of them are aligned sewn mark to mark while some are off each other by at least a 1/4". I have to use this seat cover to make a pattern and am not unstitching this baby until I determine if you guys would sew it back together using the original marks cut into the material OR would you mark your own new marks on the existing cover and sew it back up using the marks. @ John it would be cool if you ever did a video in helping us determine which order to sew things back up as layers of material are sewn together.

[John]

Yeah factory covers can be off like that most of the time. I always make new alignment marks and go off those. After all you know that the cover fits the way its sewn up as is. No need to change that by following the factory marks that may or may not be good....

[BigRig]

@John

Thanks John, I got chicken to unstitch this one so created a pattern from scratch and will be sewing it up tomorrow