Plaid seats upholstery tutorial., Yes ! you can do it yourself. No special tool needed. Options

[johannes]

This tutorial will show you how to make yourself the cushion and backrest with the famous plaid inserts. No special tool needed.
For instructions on how to remove and desassemble the seats please read the excellent thread by Nick Mironov.
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=71844

This is not a difficult job. It is long but I found it fun to do, and I learned a lot is the process.
Basic instructions on how to use the sewing machine was given by my wife and the instruction book that I always had next to me.

The plaid cloth was bought from Autoatlanta.
http://www.autoatlanta.com/porsche-parts/a...-and-Upholstery
I bought two yards as it was written somewere on this forum that on yard is for one seat.
I found out that I could cut 4 seats from theese two yards... but that was a very close (no error) fit.

The vinyl bolsters from the seats (back of the shell) were also changed and sourced from the same page on Autoatlanta 's website.

The headrest vinyl was saved from the existing cover. It is attached to the backrest. If your old headrests are not usable you can make new ones as I have already done
Follow the instructions on this thread:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=69300

What you will also need

A sewing machine. No professional machine needed. I used a 20 years old Husqvarna Optima 120. This one is simple and strong.
Vinyl for the side of the cushion
100 yards of thick yellow 100% polyester thread
50 yards of thick black 100% polyester thread
500g of Neoprene glue
Foam in different thickness...
Cardboard...

I cut the fabric using the pattern as reference. I used this picture found on this forum as reference. This is one of the few I found from an original seat.



The goal was to have three large stripes visible and centered.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/johannes.roussel.free.fr-5409-1339236401.1.jpg)

[tumamilhem]

Wow! First of all, EXCELLENT THREAD and instuctions! Second, I am INSANELY jealous because for a long time I was looking to buy a second set of seats just to have the (red) plaid in them for my Scarlet Red 1975, which would have been period correct. Not only would they be much more comfortable than vinyl here in NE FL where summers (and cars) are hot and winters are damp cold, but the are so funky cool looking just like our cars! I never found plaid seats (once, but they were a grand) and now Scarlet is up for sale. I'd put them in my LE Creamsicle, but they wouldn't be period correct and I have to keep it original. But hands down this is a fantadtic thread and there's not much out there regarding the plaid seats (or the all-white interior which is what my Scarlet had. All-white interior with plaid would really pop!). Great detail. Thanks for this! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Hmm... maybe just get a second set of cushions to interchange in summer and winter...