Know a good online DIY source?

[Restoman]

I'm looking for a site that can guide me through my upholstery projects. You know sewing patterns/styles, how to make templates, just a glimpse and some how to. I'm going to borrow my mom's sewing maching to make a shift boot. I know how to do the hidden seam and learned from my mom it's called a french something. Well I need something to start from. I have no idea what needle I need for vynil as to leather. How fast I need to go with which, Thread size for diff applications.

[Tricked 323i]

I'm looking for a site that can guide me through my upholstery projects. You know sewing patterns/styles, how to make templates, just a glimpse and some how to. I'm going to borrow my mom's sewing maching to make a shift boot. I know how to do the hidden seam and learned from my mom it's called a french something. Well I need something to start from. I have no idea what needle I need for vynil as to leather. How fast I need to go with which, Thread size for diff applications.

Here is some quick advice to some of your questions. You can buy a book for reference but the trick really is to just practice. That is how I started. Most home machines can not handle leather but do ok for vinyl. As far as needles go it all depends on your thickness of materials as some vinyls and leathers are thicker then others. It comes down to controlling your thread tension on settings. You can have your bottom tension too light or tight as well as your top stitch tensions as well. You will be able to tell from the look of the stitch. One thing to keep in mind what works for one material might not have the right tension for the next. As far as making patterns go, anyone can make them. Depending how good your tollerences are, will determine how good your final fit is. As far as speed goes that depends on how good your are keeping your material straight while maintaining an even looking stitch. My industrial machines does 3000 stiches a min at max. I have enough controll to do 100. As stated it just takes practice.
Kevin

[thereisnoyun]

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Pattern making is the most important part... like "trick" said, it takes practice. Cutting is for anyone with half a brain, and sewing is for anyone taht bother to learn the sewing machine do some practice. Putting the thing back together... takes skills.

Books will get you started, but in the end all seats are different and the bmw sports seats are one of the toughest to do.

Home machine like its been said, have hardtime going through leather, but still can be done. I however, would never go the leather route either, simply because its such a PITA to take care of, besides its so freaken heavy. I think when I did my car in velour, I took a good 10 lbs off just from the leather alone.