Cloth Bolster Covers - Black

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Hi all,

finally got started on the finishing work on the bolster covers yesterday. I spent 2 days checking the batch and meeting with Paul to iron out the production details. This being the time to solve any minor niggles and get things established to my standards. When I first got my Wimsew walking foot sewing machine I have to admit it terrified me, but now having set it up to how I want it - I like using it and it's actually quieter than my little Brother machine. Batch sewing is quite a bit different to doing a one off proto though and you have to just get on with it. It has taken me longer than I thought but it's mainly down to getting back into the groove with the machine. I should be finished by end of play tomorrow.

I will then sew up a full front seat set using "Quintet" inserts - so that I can see how a typical user trim of a seat will look. I was going to get Paul to do this but I think it's better to see how I sew it, being representative of a typical owners expectations of this first product. I continue to build on a contact I made in Shanghai (for material production) and will see where that leads me. As I 've already said in my other thread this country's textile industry isn't interested in helping me with my seemingly my small production runs. Still the proof of the pudding is in............

Once I have some piccys I will put them up on here for you all to have a look.

regards

Dave

[Edp 67 3 Cars]

 

Once I have some piccys I will put them up on here for you all to have a look.

 

 

 

Looking forward to it

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Hi all,

I'm on the last lap now, slowed up mainly by my sciatica, and also the close work involved in sewing which has brought on a series of eye strain related migraines - (oh what fun). Of course the fact that everything has to be done 20 times is easily forgotten when you write on your "to do" list something as innocuous as "attach tb4 fillet" I spent time dry fitting as well to make sure the top sew lines up with the seat OK.

We're getting there though and I will start a seat trim (with Quintet inserts) today.

Thanks for staying with me on this.

regards

Dave

[Telf 224 2 Cars]

Hi Dave,

 

I've come to this thread rather late - Do you need a sample of the black leather still? I think I've got an old torn cover in my loft that might be some use to you- let me know.

 

I'm definitely interested in a black leather set

 

Regards

 

Paul

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Hi Paul,
with regard to the black leather, a shade will be picked and that's it. It's the grey I need to get a look at. But thanks anyway. I attach a quick piccy of my workroom - which is a bit full at the moment.

regards

Dave

 

[eastlondonpug 6]

I am interested in grey covers. Will they be on your list too?

 

Thanks

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

My list - hmmm. I presume you are expressing interest in a light grey leather set of bolster covers. As I have said many times before it's not the material that counts it's getting the patterns right and more recently the construction sewing during production. My own target has been (for a long time now) to get the 1.6 black B09 fabric bolsters into production. This is now on the verge of being realised. The leather sets will be the responsibility of Paul Newberry - the pro trimmer I am working with. He has the use of my patterns and some materials etc. The responsibility for the production of the leather covers will be his. All marketing and sales taking place through my site shop. When we have a set of proto covers produced then we can start taking orders. Until then you'll just have to be patient.

regards

Dave

[eastlondonpug 6]

Thanks, will be worth the wait.

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Hi all,

this mornings session on the sewing machine will see the squab covers finished, and then I just have to sew the attachment fillet to the thigh bolsters, the swan necked piece that runs down the side of the cushion foam. I will also be sewing up a pair of squab/cushion inserts (in Quintet) so I can show you how these things shape up on a seat.

I have always made a point of presenting information to you all regarding not just my ability to come good on earlier promises, but to give a reasonable picture of the state of GTi seat upholstery in general. I have been regularly asking Paul (Newberry) about the leather bolster covers, but he has remained staunchly silent for 2 months now. This is presumably because he has more lucrative single commissions to carry out. Herein lies the dilemma, it becomes a matter of getting a slot in his increasingly busy work schedule, and I'm thinking this will become more and more difficult to achieve as he and Martin move away from their day jobs at Aston Martin, and concentrate on their own work.

The very reason I started 205 Covers & trim was because I wasn't happy with paying through the nose for trimming services. My efforts to turn the almost "black art" of car upholstery into a more manageable product may come back to bite my ass. The comparison I made was between an off the peg suit and a Saville Row tailored one and it's still a valid one. How many of you own a Saville Row suit !

I'm just waxing lyrical here but things do genuinely need to be rationalised if we ( the 205 GTi owners of the world ) are to get the resources we need to maintain our cars. Trim supply firms and auto fabric wholesalers are only interested in their own profits and for the most part don't give a stuff about end users, especially those that attempt DIY. This is a somewhat depressing picture, but it's the combination of a reliable supply of the correct fabrics (at the right price) which will help drive this project forward and the full realisation that every attempt to restore a pair of GTi front seats doesn't just set the tills ringing at your local trimmers. 100s of thousands of these cars were produced and the seat covers were made in Coventry, not by specialist trimmers but row upon row of trim machinists.

Some coordinated and concerted action is required - I think.

Rant over -

regards

Dave

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Hi all,

I have now made up a new squab and cushion insert set, to which I shall attach some test bolster covers. This is mainly to get seam alignments right as I am happy that the overall fit will be OK. I also have to finish off the fillet attachment sewing for the thigh bolsters. This will be completed this morning. That then completes the job and I will then get the shop page sorted out for product launch later this week.

regards

Dave

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Hi all,

I don't know if you remember the last time I posted pictures like this - but it was June 2010. This is the first set of squab bolsters ( from the first production batch) sewn to Quintet inserts. It will be fitted to my own 1.6 which has been in sore need of new bolster foams and some nice new covers - well my little PUG - it's Xmas time for you. Remember that these are "dry fit" and material is not under any tension at all. They will look brilliant when fully fitted. I hope you like what I've done. More shots are available on my site gallery.

best regards

Dave

 

[cRaig 273 1 Cars]

Pics look absolutely great, congrats on reaching this milestone

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Thanks Craig - I had a feeling this was going to be my year.

Will post pictures of the cushions tomorrow.

regards

Dave

Edited April 15, 2014 by dch1950

[Edp 67 3 Cars]

Very nice! really top work.

 

Any green

Edited April 15, 2014 by Edp

[Telf 224 2 Cars]

Dave,

 

That is brilliant work

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Hi all,

 

Edp - any green what? You (should) have read my Quintet state of the market thread, and you will know where we are at on that one.

I need more feedback on how the French material sews, how it fits ( without foam backing), and course how it wears. Trouble is that the French restoration committee haven't approved it for use yet. so it's a whole load of guys setting the tills ringing at local (French) auto trimmers. You know my views on that subject.

 

Telf - thanx - I obsess with the detail and that's one of the reasons why I've taken so long to reach this point. But I have got here and the product potential now is now vastly different to what it was 12 months ago.

 

Thanks for staying with me on this one - it's been interesting.

regards

Dave

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Hi all,

as promised - I sewed up a cushion cover this morning. Quite fiddly to do , especially that final TB4 fillet which joins the insert to the bolster inner sections. Same as before, just a pull on fit no chains, no hog rings, no nothing just stretched over the foams. (tell a lie - there's a strip of Velcro at the front)

Looks nice in the sunshine. Been useful in that some minor mods to the insert measurements are needed, but nothing major. My lovely sewing machine is working well and I'm feeling quite content. Essentially all sewing work is now done ( by me at least) and so I shall launch the product either tomorrow or possibly on Friday - depends when I get the new shop page tested out.

Hope you like my work .

regards

Dave

 

 

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Good Morning everyone,

One of my recent enquiries was from a guy called Lee who made the valid point about the best way to sew these bolsters to the inserts.

I use a walking foot lockstitch industrial machine - A Wimsew W3300-1 to be precise, and it's fabulous ( scary - but fabulous sewing )

The advantage of such a machine over a "domestic" one is primarily the needle feed mechanism and the walking foot, couple with a 1/2 HP motor !. However, most of my customers won't have one of these, and probably will be asking wives or girlfriends, Moms to do the work.

So what machines are needed? Well most of the sewing involved in the piecing (together) process is through either vinyl and B09 or B09 and Quartet - this in itself isn't heavy sewing but a size 18/110 needle or above will be required along with an appropriate thread (Tex 40-60).

The areas that will present possible problems to the home machine are those where several seams join and more than 2 or 3 layers of fabric are present. The machine used must be capable of sewing through these. To that end the lighter domestic machines will probably struggle, but the machines used by seamstresses, and maybe upholsterers should cope. Think of sewing through several layers of denim - this is a good test actually, because if you watch how a pair of jeans are turned up you can be sewing through 3 or 4 layers of denim at the leg seams in particular. So bear this in mind. If it can't be done then an upholsterer or other professional sewer should be able to do it. No doubt while telling you how my sewing could do with some improvement. The longest seams being the 2 side fillet (TB4) attachments to the cushion - approx. 60 cms each - curved sew and quite fiddly.

If your machine can do that I think it safe to say it will cope with these bolster covers.

I hope this note helps.

regards

Dave

 

[Edp 67 3 Cars]

Hi all,

as promised - I sewed up a cushion cover this morning. Quite fiddly to do , especially that final TB4 fillet which joins the insert to the bolster inner sections. Same as before, just a pull on fit no chains, no hog rings, no nothing just stretched over the foams. (tell a lie - there's a strip of Velcro at the front)

Looks nice in the sunshine. Been useful in that some minor mods to the insert measurements are needed, but nothing major. My lovely sewing machine is working well and I'm feeling quite content. Essentially all sewing work is now done ( by me at least) and so I shall launch the product either tomorrow or possibly on Friday - depends when I get the new shop page tested out.

Hope you like my work .

regards

Dave

 

 

 

Superb.

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Hi all,

hope you had a good Easter break - I did. Busier than ever this week, 1.6 seat to trim and photograph for shop, shop page to test, Rallye front seat to sew up and trim (with pictures) then Rallye covers shop page to write and test. It never ends. Also having second production meeting with Paul Newberry to sort out the leather bolsters. This primarily centres around the shades of leather (grey) that are required. The product will be going into first prototype shortly (within 4 weeks) and I do need information on colours in the form of samples or pictures, in order to get some idea of what is needed. I would refer you to a good UK leather suppliers catalogue if you want to check things for yourselves ( Martrim - Cheshire). Get back to me on this - customer input on this is important. Meanwhile I do like these early mornings and will be starting work at around 5 am over the coming weeks.

Much to amusement of my neighbours.

regards

Dave

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Hi all,

as a late addition to my early bird post - I have now just finished all production sewing on the B09 bolster covers and they are thus finished.

This afternoon I will be creating/editing the site shop page and testing out the logic. This will mean , hopefully, that I will launch my replacement bolster cover kits tomorrow. Hope you like them.

regards

Dave

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Hi everyone,

finished the shop page html last night and just have the shipping and stock control aspects to test out. Should be done by tonight.

As a slight diversion from staring at code, I have interleaved a session on cutting out for the batch of green top sew bolster covers. I'm hoping to squeeze 4 full seats worth out of my last piece of fabric. (note to self - put 10 on order). I will be going over to Coventry tomorrow (or possibly Sat) to discuss the leather version with Paul and to drop off the green set for sewing. I know he's been a bit busy so I must convince him to give me a slot.

Please note that I have included a drop down for choosing top sew colour - but they won't be in stock for about another 2 weeks. So you'll get an "out of stock" message. Things are ticking along nicely - I am looking to get a second machinist on board to help out with things, and take the load off Paul. This is reasonable as a lot of the sewing is pretty straight forward.

I also want to get my Full replacement front seat covers sewn up for the "Rallye" as I know they will be popular and given that a certain French site sells them for €370 for one front seat - I think DCH can be a little more competitive than that.

regards

Dave

Edited April 24, 2014 by dch1950

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Good Morning all,

I am going over to Coventry again this morning, firstly to take several sets of B09 bolsters for sewing ( green top stitch), and secondly to sort the first leather bolster sewing. Black we have pretty well decided on - despite the variations that exist even for that ubiquitous colour.

I pointed out in post #95 that I will need colour match samples of the 2 grey versions of the leather as we have to go through the colour charts to find a near(est) match. Without this information at our fingertips this project is severely hamstrung. So once again I would ask for samples from you. This is in your interest and mine as whole hides don't come cheap and whole hides in the wrong colour are B****y expensive.

I have sewn up a squab back vinyl and am about to sew up a cushion rear attachment piece. This will enable me to do the full seat trim that I have been wanting to do in order to show the bolsters in all their glory, and to do some marketing pictures as well .

I have been following the various threads on pricing for re-trim work with keen interest, but wonder how many of those worked on have half decent seat inserts. Then again It wouldn't be worth putting them in for re bolstering anyway, so it's an intellectual exercise.

Will also be sewing up a Rallye full seat next week ( with embroidered Flamme).

Another busy period coming up again.

regards

Dave

 

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Hi all,

back from Coventry and happy to say all went well. The lads are pretty busy with 2 jobs at the moment ( the E-type owner wanted yet more work doing - Paul said he would probably come back). Green top sew covers will be about a week (ish) as will the black leather bolster proto.

Bizarrely, having lived and breathed the B09 version, I now see that the leather ones are sewn in a completely different order.

Agreed a mutually beneficial pricing/marketing strategy for the leather versions so I think things are looking good for this summer.

Will post full seat trim pictures early part of next week depending on how things pan out.

regards

Dave

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Hi all,

In the last week I have spent a while getting to know several Chinese based manufacturer and fabric suppliers via Alibaba - so much better dealing with them as opposed to buttoned up UK firms . Fabric samples have been sent so I now have to wait and see.

I have put a pre-order form on my site shop, to enable those of you who wish to book your green top sew cloth bolsters. A 40% deposit will be required to secure your order. Once I have a sufficient number accumulated they will be cut and sent for sewing, and I will you an email pro forma invoice for the balance. This will include shipping to the original submissions address.

have a good holiday

regards

Dave