Needlework Art

Quilting a New Carseat

Quilting a new car seat cover should be simple. I am thinking it will go a lot easier and faster when I start to sew it on the machine. Right? The first seam goes off without a hitch. Easy & fast! I mistakenly comment to myself that this isn’t going to be that bad after all.

But, as I work my way to the interior, it becomes apparent that that is not going to be easy after all! Take a quick look at this normal sewing machine space allowance. It looks quite adequate, doesn’t it?

Getting the material to the right place in the center and then navigating it to sew a straight seam becomes an impossible challenge right away. It is a real test of logistics and physics when trying to fit all the outer edges under that little space to the right of the needle. It is crazy! Involving rolling the sides up tightly then using both hands, in multiple positions, as I sew. I am now a professional contortionist who can pull, tug, center, and line up material all at once.

I get it! I understand, why the price for “long-arm” sewing machines is so high. I used to wonder why anyone would pay such a ridiculous price (thousands of dollars) just for a sewing machine. How silly. Now I see why, cause they CAN with any people who end up sewing upholstery. It is so tempting to just say screw it, and buy a machine that will make it easier. Imagine quilting without the hassle of Climbing Mount Everest.

Oh, don’t forget the necessity to own stock in needle manufacturing and Bandaids. The number of EXTRA NEEDLES required as I break them on multiple inconvenient occasions is amazing. I have become a professional needle changer on my machine, thanks to this car seat project. Maybe I should time myself to impress you.

I don’t plan to give up, as my middle name is stubborn. I manage to actually succeed in getting the pad connected to the sitting surfaces of the upholstery.

Ever seen, “The Croods”?… Da, Da, Da!!!

Basting a Car Seat

Basting a car seat together with the pad. The plan is to attach this pad to the upholstery with quilting seams. I get to work, cutting the pad into the basic shapes in my sewing room.

By the way, cutting a furniture pad with scissors makes a guaranteed blister on your hand, thereby increasing the joy with which you approach the rest of the project. NOT!

I cut the pad to fit the surface that you sit on going to the edge of the seat on the bottom. Then as it goes up the back of the seat, I follow the surfaces going up and over (under the headrests) carefully marking where the knobby things are and the corners.

Next, I get to work hand basting the upholstery on top of the padding so I can later roll it to allow sewing the quilt lines on the sewing machine. This is where I discover that needles do not like to penetrate a thick pad and upholstery material. I even have to grab one of my Grandma’s thimbles to save my fingertips after a while.

Searching for Padding

I am searching for padding everywhere! Closets, shelves, heating room, garage, and shop. I find a packing pad, the kind you wrap refrigerators in to move. Perfect for the padding underneath.

Pulling it out of its hiding space I get a whiff! Peeee Youuuuu! Badly in need of a bath, so another delay as it is put in the wash, and dried multiple times.

Tick Tock, Tick Tock,Tick Tock.

The packing pad is what I use to lay on the seat and measure the sizes, shapes, and surfaces by marking it with my good ole sharpie pen. Who cares, about the marks, they won’t show after the upholstery material is put on top.

Measuring Begins

Measuring begins as I get into the back seat and start to measure with my trusty measuring tape. There are sure a lot of curves and thing-a-ma-jigs involved with a Subaru back seat. Hmmmmm.

Two seats divided in the middle with various seat belts on the seat parts with bendable and moveable requirements. Curves everywhere and don’t forget those little knobby things that you have to push down to pull the seat forward or the head rests.

How on earth do you hold it down on the seat? Velcro, elastic, string? Oh my goodness. As I pulled fabric over the seat I realized it was probably too light to absorb that drink that my youngest grandson will probably spill on his first outing.

So, everything screeches to an abrupt halt as I immediately go on a search for absorbent padding to use underneath.

Tropical Upholstery Fabric

I found the most beautiful tropical upholstery fabric on sale at the store. A Waikiki Tropical floral. When I saw the material, it reminded me so much of home (Kahaluu) that I loved it. I am going to make a car seat cover for the back seat of my “new to me” Subaru Outback.

It has a dark interior and is in good shape. Before I put paintings and dogs and kids in it I thought I’d sew up a cover to protect it. I have never sewn upholstery, except for the red caterpillar seat. That was a novel story chock full of learning too. Sewing vinyl or leather with a regular sewing machine is tough but doable! I thought this upholstery material was so much lighter and it would be easy. After all, what is so hard about measuring and sewing a seat cover, or three? Ha ha.