The Upholstery Forum

Here is a mock up of my first door panel. On the inner panel with pleats, I cut the 45's in the 1/4" closed foam with a razor and then sewed through the panel board. This is the look my customer likes the most as it has depth that closely match the seat pleats. I have a few problems/questions. I did do this all this in 1/4" foam. (The bottom on the panel is not supposed to have foam due to door clearance.) John, are door panel pleats addressed on your specialty stitches video?



Questions.

1. The pleats and the felled seams on the matching seat are 277 thread/#24 needle. The pleats in the door panel need to match but my Consew 205rb is making big loops on the back side when driving through the panel board. I cannot seem to adjust it out but it works fine with smaller thread. Would the adhesive hold enough that the threads wouldn't work thru in the future? Try thinner panel board? Bigger needle?



2. The throat of my Consew 205rb is not deep even do the actual panel as it is 29.5" wide. On my mock up I put a relief cut in it so if could fold it over to fit under throat. The cut is in noticeable from the front. Do you think this will pose a problem in the future?



3. To make these panels fit nice together should I build from the inside out? I certainly don't want a gap like in the lower left corner of the mockup but I didn't let all my OCD out on it.

4. Should the panels cut and laid out with the a 3/16" spacer to allow for the leather wrapping and a nice clean tight fit?

Hopefully this all makes sense. Please point out any other issues you might see.

Hey @kl4bidn Cool design!

1. The advance top stitches course doesn't cover anything specific to door panels. It does cover in depth how I set up and use 277 thread. The secret is using normal size 92 thread in the bobbin 277 is purely cosmetic and there is no need to have it in the bobbin. I'm actually surprised your machine sewed that nice with it in the bobbin.

2. This is why I don't usually sew through the panels. If you have a long neck machine its a different story. What ti suggest is sewing the pleats in to the foam first and then wrapping the panel with the pleats. You can do it in regular 1/4 foam and then when you glue it down press the pleats down and the glue will hold it down nicely giving it nice definition. I explain it a little better here. viewtopic.php?f=5&t=16&p=31&hilit=pleats#p31

3. Usually what I do is completely finish the insert. Wrap it and everything. Then I will use the finished insert to trace out my cut marks in the closed cell foam of the base panel. This way you have the added thickness of the material already added. This should give you a proper tight fit. I usually try to cut right down the middle of my mark instead of cutting the mark off. This way will get you a perfect gap for your inserts.

I hope this helps!!

Thanks John. It all makes perfect sense. Can't wait to start it in a few weeks! Off to watch to video.

Thanks John. It all makes perfect sense. Can't wait to start it in a few weeks!

Good googelly goo!! Those Conews must be some more kind of powerful! I know things look bigger on camera but that thread looks like a dang rope and you punched through board too!! I've got my tail tucked between my legs now! . The Fabricator is about to get its reputation tested........ Where's my 277 thread and board at?

@Bondo,

That fabricator punches through quite a bit from videos I watched. It is surprising what they go through but most interesting is the outcome on either side of the fabrics.

@BigRig
I still can't wrap my brain around a needle going through panels. I guess I'm still thinking non industrial machines. I've got to give it a try.

Think of it as a hand drill VS a drill Press.

I want to try my Consew on some ABS....I hear it can. Where's my goggles?

@kl4bidn
Lol! You're like me, I do crazy stuff just to see if it can be done or break something trying.

Ok Bondo,

I am going to show you the power of a machine. I will sew into something with my Kenmore and if it sews into a thick material my Consew would sew through a TON. My machine weighed out at 73 pounds when I had to ship it for repair.

@BigRig don't break your machine, @kl4bidn is wanting push her needle to limit as it is and I don't want everyone blowing s#@$ up trying to prove a point. I only have one machine I can lend out so y'all would just have to take turns lol.

Every time I try to sew through anything other than chip board...it breaks my thread or makes my stitches look funny. I normally just sew to the foam and then glue to chipboard. I haven't done a ton of panels but it does work out well for me on the ones I have done..

Rest assured Folks! I was kidding. It cost too much to mess up! @Todds34rod @Bondo497 @BigRig

Haha @kl4bidn I thought for sure I was going to get black listed for terrorizing sewing machines on here.

@kl4bidn, @Bondo497 , its just like broadhead testing for sewing needles!

Lol. I'm going quiet. I want y'all to let me hang around a little longer!

@kl4bidn is really going to try it, watch and see.
I know I'm going to wind up doing it too just to see what happens so what the hell. Haha

I hope John is off doing another video and not paying attention.