The Upholstery Forum

I am struggling to figure out how to top-stitch a shift knob gaiter. The funnel shape of the gaiter is confounding me to figure out how to top stitch it. I know it can be done since the OEM one was top-stitched.

I have tried to sew from the wide end to the narrow end, and I have tried to sew from the narrow end to the wide end.

Seem like sewing from the narrow end to the wide end maybe the way to do it, but I still am running into issue trying to get through the whole stitch before running into problems.

I was finally able to get a complete topstitch in, but it looks terrible.

@JimmieJoe My trick on those is to sew the top stitch on each side first and then sew the seam together. There is no strength benefit to have a real french seam on those. You'll want to adjust your thread tension to pull the not to the bottom since you will be sewing through only one layer of fabric.
The factories has access to special machines for things like this so use local trimmers have to get creative.

Hope that helps.

Thanks, I was trying to put the fabric in like the OEM, but I am finding there just is not enough clearance to be able to do the job correctly. I will put in a decorative stitch and then sew it up like you suggested. Defiantly an easier way to accomplish the same look, just not the same construction.

Glad to hear that helped!

+1 with what John said. I've done that in the past too