The Upholstery Forum

@BigRig I wouldn't try it myself. Actually now looking at it on a big screen I see there is place for improvement

I figured I wouldn't try it myself after watching video where guy showed how they do it. When done properly those hexes all have certain number of stitches. So, for example bottoms would be 4x 4mm stitches. And then whole process is basically making sure your machine dialed right and learning how to set last stitch to hit corner precisely.

For me it’s just good practice steering the machine. There should be a specific number of stitches on each leg...if the machine and person are spot on. The machine might be accurate, but I’m not

I tried an arched pattern, that was hopeless. Not ready for curves yet. I’l come back to that later.

I just did this little experiment. It’s maybe 8” square, just scraps.

I witched to #207 thread on the top with #92 on the bottom. Need a bit more bobbin tension still, but I’m pretty happy with this effort. I didn’t clean the layout lines off yet, so you can see where I “missed” in a few spots...but I think it’s a lot better. It helps me to sit lower, so I can sight the layout line in the groove in the middle of the foot., then it’s just hitting the corners as best I can.

Looking good!!!!

I may have missed this from before, but what are your layers??

Stephen

Naugahyde, 1/2 foam, muslin.

The foam is probably a bit softer than “real” sew foam, it from the local fabric store. I ordered some 1/2” sew foam but don’t want to u pack it until I have a clean place to store it. I need to spend some time building a work table with drawers and storage for fabric/foam.

This is what I’m imagining for a work table/storage thingie.

I made a 'nesting' workbench.

Not that this would satisfy your needs, just a concept.......

Joemcglynn wrote: .but I think it’s a lot better. It helps me to sit lower, so I can sight the layout line in the groove in the middle of the foot., then it’s just hitting the corners as best I can.

I think it is much better than second one! I'm not a fan of stitches themselves, are you sure you need 207? 138 should be plenty big. And yep, to much tension on top. For this thread it almost look like stitches need to be longer.


It looks great I think!

Thanks - good feedback on the thickness, I can see that a longer length with his thread would be better...might not work with the pattern though. Right now I only have 92 and 207, so it’s moot.

I started on a larger panel with the same design, eager to see how it comes out. I’m hopeful it’s good enough I could use it in a little practice project for a workshop stool I was thinking about doing as a quickie project.

@Smooooth neat idea for the nesting benches. I did something similar with my welding bench so I could roll my tube bender cart under it to recover some real estate.

My biggest concern is losing the floor space the upholstery bench will take up. It’s offset to some extent by the storage I gain. I just need a bigger shop I guess.

I almost finished my larger practice panel this morning before work. I'm pretty happy with it. A few inconsistencies, but overall I think it looks good. I'll grade myself after it's finished and I clean off the layout lines.

Somehow I broke the top thread in one spot. I was able to pick up the stitch and should be able to tie the ends off on the bottom, so I think it's not a fatal error.

I've used up the "practice foam" I bought at the local fabric store, so I think I'll need to set the sewing practice aside for a bit to build a work table and a base for my bead roller. The shop is a little cluttered, the work table should help with that. I need the base for the bead roller because it's not stable enough to use without it. Once those are done I should be able to move forward on the "low rent bomber seats" I'm doing as a practice project.

What have you found that works best for marking the layout lines?

I'm using a silver space pen. It actually doesn't work that well on this particular Naugahyde, but on other Naugahyde it works really well. I think this stuff probably has some sort of protective coating on it. A white Stabillo or Omnichron would work, but you would have to keep sharpening it to maintain a point...it's a lot of layout lines to trace.

The cheap laser line that I ordered finally came yesterday, I'm eager to see if that helps. Right now I have to sit low so I can see under the walking foot to make sure my stitches are hitting the line. It's hard to see, and hard on my back. Might not work at all, we'll see.

Thank you.........

Good luck, keep us posted.

Ok, finished this practice panel. It came out pretty good, definitely a passing grade. Maybe a solid “B”. I can still see traces of the silver space pen, more scrubbing...

It took longer than i’d Like to do, but speed will some with more experience. The next one will be better and faster I bet. Gotta shift gears and focus on organizational stuff now.

Wow @Joemcglynn you have some serious patience to do those paterns. Did you make a marking pattern or did you get the stencils from leatherseats.com?

@Smooooth Awesome shop setup!!

Holy,

Man that is Custom for sure!

@John I got five of the small templates from leather seats.com. It’s really helped with my control after just a couple of practice panels. I need to try the dragon scale one again, following the curves was beyond me when I tried in on a small scrap, I might be able to do it now.

I got the laser line gizmo out tonight, that is totally going to work, I just need to figure out how to mount it. The line projection is broad enough so that if it’s mounted vertically, pointing straight down in front the the thread feed lever on the front of the machine the line still hits the needle and all the way to the front of the table. I could probably just zip tie it to the guard in front of the thread feed lever to try it out.

OK, I take it back. I’m not ready to do the “scale” pleat pattern. Good practice with smooth turns, and keeping one hand on the flywheel to control the speed. But I don’t have it yet. The only ones that came out okay-ish where where I manually turned the flywheel for each stitch when going around the tight radius. Hard to see the line. Harder than a egular turn because it’s a constantly changing radius...but good practice I think. I’m going to do more of these, and maybe come up with some other curve patterns just to practice steering.

#NotVeryGood

First try. The silver space pen rubs off of this tan vinyl really easily, so It was doubly interesting.


Second try. Better, but too much manual manipulation, and it’s still not close enough. Practice, practice. This one is actually on a scrap of 1/4” closed cell foam that was packaging filler from something else so you don’t really get the pleat look.

PS: one thing I learned on the tan piece is to start at the bottom 0f the pattern and work up. That way you can be sure each row connects with the previous one accurately.

@Joemcglynn Always learn something, right? :)

I'm going to eventually install needle positioner on my machine. It should make stuff like this much easier. Basically one tap on pedal will result in one stitch with needle down. Or even if you go slow couple stitches at a time it always good if you know your needle will be down.

Thoroughly enjoying watching your progress.

I am sure I am not the only geek out here tapping their feet waiting for the 'Show and Tell' regarding the Laser......

Stephen