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[Bom2000]

Hi I am new to the board. I need some help with an upcoming interior project. I plan on getting my seats reupholstered with black leather with the center of the seat done in suede. I want to help set the rest of the interior off with grey suede on the dash. I was wondering how I would get the suede on the plastic pieces of my dash? I plan on tearing apart the whole dash and redoing it in suede/leather. I will be doing this myself and I just need some good advice and techniques that might help me out.

Thank you.

[lxndr]

The best way to do this is to remove the dash from the car (although it can be done with the dash still in the car). You will need to piece together the cover in order to get the suede to conform to curves an compound angles. This requires knowledge of pattern making and leather working experience. You will then need to sew these peices together and topstitch the seams. I usually use a french seam which means that the seam allowance is split, and a strip of fabric backing is topstitched onto the backside of both sides of the seam allowance. What you end up with is a seam that is topstitched on both sides and is extremely strong (this technique also requires that you are able to sew in a straight line and keep the seam consistent, even around curves). I usually shave down the thickness of the seam allowance when I use suede or leather, that way when it is folded back on itself it doesn't create a noticeable lump. You will also need to do this same shaving technique around vents, otherwise the vent won't fit back in it's hole. Once everything is sewn up you will need to glue it on using a high temp/strength adhesive.

Here is a link to seat upholstery that you may find helpful. Many of the techniques are similar.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=232717

I always try to help people with their projects, but honestly, this may be not be the best project for a beginner. There's more to it than it seems, so this project is probably best left to a professional.