[Jim Price]

Several of you have expressed an interest in how I went about making the seat covers for my F 8, Cab 11. Here 's my best shot at it!

Mike, you're right on target with that picture of the sewing machine I own and used to make the covers. Where on earth did you find that picture of one just like mine?!?

The first thing that I did was to make a plywood insert that fits into the bottom of the seat "pan". I used 1/2" thick plywood and drilled holes at each of the four "drain" holes in the pan and then inserted those "nuts" that have prongs for holding them in place in wood.

I purchased 4" thick medium to heavy density foam for the seats and 1" thick medium density foam for the seat backs. Also on my shopping list was enough piping cord to make two seams on the seat back and one on the seat itself. The material was approximately 2 1/2 yards by 60" wide outdoor, khaki (with a tint of dark green) material. I opted for that as I didn't think that my sewing machine would have the power to sew cotton duck material. I'd had some experience with this type of material as it was used on my Kubelwagen (instead of a black vinyl) and has proven to be quite weather-proof!

I sewed the piping strips first using 1 1/4" wide material. Having cut the foam to match the edges of the seat back, I used it as a pattern to cut the front and back seat panels. (I added 1/2" to all pieces to allow for the seam coverage.) I first sewed each of the piping pieces to the 2 1/2" piece that goes around the edges of the seat and then sewed on the front and back panels. Although I'd had an original seat back cover to go by I did change the way the "push the dot" fastners were installed by making separate panels for them. That way I was able to control how tight they fit around the bottom metal flat strap on the seat back frame.

As for the seat, I made a sort of a "sack" for the seat foam and board bottom and tied off the material with some parachute cord. Although both of my seat frames have the pins for the fastners I opted to go with the thought "if you don't see it, it isn't there" and figured that unless someone pulls off the seats they won't know the difference.

I know that I've been a bit wordy but one never knows how far to go when describing the steps one has taken to make something. Please excuse if I've bored anyone!

Attached are some pictures of the seats. Any questions, please let me know.

Regards,
Jim