Inside the car, the first thing that catches your eye is usually the dashboard and steering wheel. Decorating the steering wheel is becoming fashionable now, and creative drivers will find it useful to learn how to sew a steering wheel cover.
- What is the purpose of a steering wheel cover?
- Materials and tools
- Color and thickness of upholstery
- How to sew a steering wheel: step-by-step instructions
- Removing the old factory braid
- Installation methods for steering wheel with and without spokes
- Steering wheel trim with spokes
- Spokeless steering wheel trim
- What stitch to use to sew the braid on the steering wheel
What is the purpose of a steering wheel cover?
The braid is a part of the decor that will allow the car owner to express himself. Cars "in years" that have scuffs on the steering wheel, especially will not be able to do without a braid on the steering wheel. It will help to hide the defects
Please note! The interior of the car should match the steering wheel!
Drivers, especially in warm weather, often have sweaty hands that slip on the steering wheel. A cover will help eliminate this problem.
If the steering wheel is too thin, but you don’t want to change it, you can increase its volume with the help of a cover.
When updating the interior, if you are bored with the usual appearance and want something new, changing the steering wheel braid will come in handy. It will allow you to place new accents in the car interior.
Materials and tools
Before sewing a cover for the steering wheel, you need to decide on the material. Leather is usually chosen for these purposes.
Important! Leather can be replaced with leatherette, but it quickly loses its appearance and begins to crack and split.
Leather is a durable, dense and inexpensive material. But you should pay attention to some of its properties:
- thickness (recommended 1.5 cm);
- stretching (medium);
- perforation (this is an acquired taste, but it is very pleasant for the hands).
For sewing, you can choose materials such as velour, suede, fur, eco-leather.
Depending on the desired effect, you should choose the fabric. If the steering wheel is too thin and you want to make it more massive, you can make a foam pad and attach it to the steering wheel.
Before sewing the steering wheel cover, you need to prepare a set of necessary tools:
- material;
- needle;
- thread, usually made of nylon;
- thimbles for piercing material;
- masking tape;
- felt-tip pen;
- thick cardboard;
- film in a roll;
- a knife or blade for a sharp razor.
Color and thickness of upholstery
When choosing a color, it is better to focus on classic tones. Another guideline can be the special color scheme of the salon.
Please note! If you choose a color based on the season's trends, it may go out of fashion in just a couple of months. Classic colors will always be in fashion.
Bright color schemes can distract the driver while driving. And the motley colors quickly become boring. Light colors entail frequent cleaning of the interior. Therefore, for drivers with "working" professions, it is better to choose dark shades.
Thin leather will quickly break, and thick leather will be uncomfortable for those with thin hands. Therefore, the thickness is selected strictly individually. It is recommended to choose a medium size, about 1.5 cm.
Important! For those with large arms, it is better to choose a leather thickness of about 2 cm for convenience.
Another important property of the material is stretchability. If the product stretches during wear, it will not look very aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, it is better to choose medium stretchability. Before sewing, you can wet and dry the selected material. This will allow you to find out how much it shrinks or stretches.
How to sew a steering wheel: step-by-step instructions
Sequence of actions:
- Removing the old braid.
- Making a sketch of the future product.
- Manufacturing of a blank.
- Manufacturing parts from material.
- Applying adhesive to the surface.
- Sewing.
It is necessary to make a model of the future braid. To do this, it is worth removing the old one and wrapping the steering wheel with a good layer of film.
Afterwards, the steering wheel is wrapped with masking tape. At the same time, it is necessary to apply markings of the future seam with a felt-tip pen. Cuts should be made along it with a sharp knife.
Please note! When cutting the model, you may get several parts. During the work process, the product will be sewn into one whole.
Place the scotch tape and film model on thick cardboard and cut out the sketches. Using them, you need to cut out the parts of the product on the leather, usually there are four of them. In order not to make a mistake in the parts, it is better to number them.
Important! If the model is rolled up and difficult to straighten out, you should place a heavy object on it and leave it for a while.
When sewing a product that is stretched rather than sewn, you need to be careful and measure it carefully in volume. To achieve a round shape of the braid, the product is sewn from several parts with a neat seam on a sewing machine. When sewing the parts, step back 3 mm from the edge, otherwise the material will tear during stretching at the seam. The diameter of the steering wheel and the future cover should match, or the latter can be slightly smaller.
Removing the old factory braid
Before removing the old braid, it is necessary to study it. This will help in making a new one. You should pay attention to the number of its parts. The old product should be cut with a knife or blade. If you do this carefully, the old braid can serve as a model for a new creation.
After removal, you should pay attention to the steering wheel. It will probably be dirty with glue. It will take some effort to clean and restore the steering wheel to its proper condition. A solvent applied to a rag or cotton pad will help remove the dirt well.
Please note! When removing the old braid, it is important not to damage the rim. There may come a time when the owner wants to completely remove the cover from the steering wheel.
Installation methods for steering wheel with and without spokes
When deciding how to sew a steering wheel cover, it is necessary to consider whether it covers the steering wheel spokes or not. The difference is significant during the installation process. When installing a cover with spokes, you will have to remove the steering wheel, and if you have a regular cover, you will not.
There are two ways to install the cover:
- by stretching the product like a cover;
- stitching with threads.
When sewing it yourself, it is easier to sew the steering wheel braid into a single piece.
If the spokes are quite thick, you can try to assemble the product without removing the steering wheel. For convenience, you will have to make cuts in some places.
Steering wheel trim with spokes
When making a cover that covers the steering wheel spokes, remember that installation will be more difficult. It is removed according to the instructions.
Please note! If the steering wheel has airbags, wait 7 minutes after disconnecting the battery. Care must also be taken when installing.
Spokeless steering wheel trim
To install this type of product, you will need lacing. You should wrap the blank around the steering wheel and start sewing.
Please note! When sewing, you need to make sure that the stitches are the same.
For a spokeless wheel, you can sew a cover without sewing on the steering wheel. In this case, cut out a piece of leather that will match the volume of the steering wheel. It should be put on with tension.
When making a cover without sewing, the edges of the braid should be sewn on a sewing machine so that they do not fray.
The steering wheel can be draped with a piece of cord, while observing a special winding order. The cord should be long, so as not to make it up from different pieces. If the pieces of cord are of different colors, they can be used to make a bright pattern on the steering wheel.
Please note! To prevent the cover from moving on the steering wheel, it needs to be glued. One of the best options is epoxy resin. Due to the fact that it dries for a long time, the braid can be moved during sewing.
What stitch to use to sew the braid on the steering wheel
During the re-upholstery, the color of the nylon thread can be the same color as the skin or different. Dark-colored models with bright and contrasting threads look spectacular.
The seams can be very different. You can sew them with an overlap or a cross.
Please note! Before sewing the braid, it is worth practicing sewing with the stitch you like on a regular piece of fabric.
Now it is clear how to sew a steering wheel cover correctly. The task is not easy, but it is quite feasible. Having set a goal and having patience, the driver will be able to boast of a braid of his own production. Such exclusive things, made with your own hands, are valued higher than those bought in a store or ordered through foreign sites.
