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What is better to use for the steering wheel. Learning to make beautiful seams

The most heavily used elements in the cabin are the steering wheel and pedals. The state of the latter is not so noticeable to the driver and passengers, but the steering wheel should always cause pleasant tactile sensations. Do-it-yourself steering wheel wrapping with leather will help to give it an individuality and stylish appearance.

In addition to aesthetic perception, the "steering wheel" must be securely fixed in the hand so that the driver can respond in time to road surprises. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a high-quality, tight-fitting material that excludes slippage or other troubles.

As a material, it is desirable to use soft leather with perforation. It is better fixed by hand and has a good coefficient of friction. Before sheathing the steering wheel with leather with your own hands, you need to choose the color and texture of the material. The cost of the material and its compatibility with the rest of the decor in the car depends on this. It is unlikely that a black steering wheel would be appropriate in a chic beige interior.

Leather braid on the steering wheel

When purchasing an upholstery fabric, you need to choose it with the ability to buy another piece if necessary. During firmware, there may be different situations, as well as when cutting the canvas. It is advisable to stock up on the possibility of adjustment so that you can correctly restore the skin on the steering wheel or create a new pattern.

Necessary materials and tools

Ensuring a quality result can be achieved with the following components:

  1. High quality upholstery material;
  2. Spool of synthetic durable thread of the desired color;
  3. Hardened steel needles for leather, with material hardness up to 45-50 HRC;
  4. A pair of thimbles for pushing the needle;
  5. A roll of construction tape;
  6. A3 cardboard for making patterns;
  7. Roll of 10 m cling film;
  8. Marker with a thick core;
  9. Manicure scissors or a sharp knife;
  10. Two-component leather adhesive or epoxy;
  11. Hairdryer for drying powerful home or industrial.

Do-it-yourself leather-wrapped steering wheel

It is possible to determine the number and shape of blanks for the material only empirically. To do this, you need to create a pattern. Automotive enterprises that manufacture mass-produced products receive finished pattern from engineers and designers. We will use workarounds for self-repair.

Initially, you will need to make an impression from the surface of the "steering wheel", and then, dividing it into separate components, form patterns for the finished product.

Food film will serve as the basis for the frame. We wrap it around all surfaces where the steering wheel will be covered with leather. The next layer is formed with molar tape. It should very tightly envelop all the required areas. No swelling or sagging should be allowed. All indulgences will negatively affect the fixation of the upholstery.

Marker markup for separation the resulting workpiece. Connecting seams will run along the marked stripes. It is advisable to cut them so that they are not visible. Number each part in a certain order and draw up a diagram of the future assembly. Cut the pattern along the established lines with scissors or a knife.

Having removed all parts of the workpiece from the wheel, they need to be straightened using a low-heated iron (do not forget to save tape and film) or lay under something heavy (weights, a bucket of water, a cabinet). The straightened elements are transferred to the cardboard, not forgetting to add a 4-5 mm allowance for the seam, and also remove 2-3 mm at the joint around the rim, given that the measurement was carried out at a larger diameter.

Sewing upholstery on the steering wheel

Experienced specialists who do such an operation not for the first time can wrap the steering wheel with leather with their own hands without gluing the parts, but for beginners it is preferable use epoxy resin or glue. This eliminates measurement and manufacturing errors a little.

When trimming a car with an airbag, care must be taken to prevent unauthorized activation. For convenience, you can completely dismantle the wheel and do the firmware from any side in convenient conditions.

The new upholstery is practically laced up along the holes pre-stitched by the machine on the edge. You can pierce them with an awl yourself, but it is better to entrust this painstaking work to the sewing needle of the machine.

Experienced craftsmen pre-moisten the skin in warm water. So it becomes more elastic. After drying, the material adheres more closely to the surface due to the reduction in size.

After completing the firmware from all sides, and after drying the surface with a hairdryer, you need to let the glue dry, and only then return the steering wheel to its place. After that, you can put buttons, decor, pillow in place. Fans of self-tuning often mount a steering wheel heating with such an operation.

The steering wheel, as you know, is the link between the car and the driver. And the material that is pleasant to the touch, the comfort on the hands and many other factors affect how the driver feels the car. The steering wheel for the driver is not only the most significant detail, it is also significant in terms of the interior of the cabin. Shabby, torn in places, worn to holes, the material that covers the steering wheel indicates that it is time to change the skin, no matter how familiar and comfortable it may be.

Everyone has different tastes, someone likes a smooth polished steering wheel, someone is covered with almost snake skin, but almost everyone chooses the classic black leather. Any car enthusiast wants individuality, originality and chic. And one of the most popular ways to bring original design into the interior of the cabin - this is a constriction of the steering wheel. However, it is also an excellent element of car tuning.

It is worth noting that the service finish of the steering wheel is an expensive pleasure. That's why the best way in this case, do-it-yourself steering wheel hauling, which will save money and add individuality. Everything that is done by hand is exclusive in a single copy.

Tightening process

Before proceeding directly to the hauling, you need to decide what material the steering wheel will be covered with and choose its color.

The most comfortable leather to use is perforated leather, it is softer and more elastic, it is more convenient and comfortable to work with it than with smooth leather. While smooth leather has its merits, it is more durable than perforated leather. The optimal thickness of the skin should vary between 1.2 - 1.4 mm.


Covering the steering wheel with leather is not ideal for everyone. Working with leather requires certain knowledge and skills, so such an expensive pleasure as covering the steering wheel with leather should be done by a master of his craft. Otherwise, you can ruin expensive material, as a result, just waste money. Among other things, the most popular steering wheel is leather - it is comfortable, pleasant to the touch and durable.

Video

Below you can see the installation instructions for the steering leather braid:

Photo

Decorative design of interior elements

The steering wheel is the central element of the car interior, which is constantly in contact with the driver. Comfort while driving and the general appearance of the car interior directly depend on the ergonomics and design of the steering wheel, so it is important that the steering wheel has high performance and visual characteristics. To make driving as comfortable as possible, and the interior of the car stylish will help hauling the steering wheel.
Often, at the same time as the steering wheel is reupholstered, at the request of the client, the specialists of the AMD plus auto studio perform a reupholstery of the gearshift knob and the parking brake handle. The interior of the car looks especially beautiful and harmonious when all the elements are covered with the same leather and decorated in the same style - this option provides a holistic design and adds individuality to the interior. In this article we will talk about the visual design of car interior elements using decorative seams.

Decorative seam for the waist - integral element design, which connects the joined parts, decorates the dragged elements, emphasizes the individuality and unique style of the car interior. Upholstery of interior elements allows you to choose an option for decoration that perfectly complements the interior of the car and visually appeals to you.
You can choose a classic seam color or a bright contrast, repeat the standard decorative seam provided by the manufacturer, or choose an original, less common option. At your choice in the auto studio "AMD plus" there are more than ten options for decorative seams for the steering wheel and other interior elements, and more than twenty types of threads different color and thickness. The choice is yours!

12 types of seams to choose from

Most studios when hauling offer only 3-4 standard types of decorative seam design, from which it is sometimes difficult to choose the right option. The AMD plus auto studio team is sure that each car is unique, therefore, especially for you, we present an extended line of decorative seams, consisting of 12 positions. Choose your favorite option and emphasize your individuality!

Seam "macrame"

"Macrame" is an aesthetic decorative seam for tightening, which is most often used by German car manufacturers when tightening the steering wheel rim. "Macrame" is performed with thin threads, does not lift the skin and as a result forms an interesting ornate pattern. This is the most popular option among car owners.


Seam "BMW M"

The “BMW M” seam is similar in technique to the standard popular “macramé” seam, but differs in the same color scheme of three shades: red, blue and light blue. This option is traditionally used in all BMW M-series, but if desired, it can be used as a decor for cars of any brand.


Seam "sport"

The “sport” seam is similar in technique to the “macramé” seam, but has a more frequent pattern. The main difference is that when performing a “sport” seam, every loop of the stitch is captured, and when performing a “macramé” seam, every second loop is captured. "Sport" is most often used for decorating drag-and-drop interior elements in sports cars.


Seam "Christmas tree"

Herringbone is a popular decorative stitch most often used by Korean and Japanese car manufacturers. Herringbone lifts the skin, causing it to become convex and form a characteristic pattern. In order for the pattern to be evenly convex and securely fixed, thick threads are used when making a seam.


Seam "pigtail"

The pigtail seam is very similar to the previous herringbone and is also found in most cases in Korean and Japanese cars. The difference is in the location of the stitches relative to each other - in the “pigtail” seam they are asymmetrical to each other and, when screeded, form a characteristic convex pattern. The threads for the seam are thick and dense.


Seam "BMW Alpina"

Seam "BMW Alpina" - a classic option, which is used when decorating elements in BMW Alpina cars. The seam is made in a minimalist style and is distinguished by the unchanged blue-green colors. "BMW Alpina" will decorate the interior of the car and add a unique unique style to it.


Seam "Infiniti"

The seam "Infiniti" is most often used in the decorative design of elements in Infiniti vehicles. Features a minimalist design and original version most often found in white or black, but according to your desire it can be made in any color from the presented ones.


Seam "AMG"

The AMG seam is a stylish and unusual decorative seam that is used in the design of leather elements of high-performance Mercedes-AMG sports cars. It looks beautiful when performed both in a contrasting and in a single-color version and is suitable for decorating elements of a car of any brand.


Seam "Italy"

"Italy" - a seam that is most often found in cars of the Italian car industry - Fiat, Alfa Romeo. It is a seam in a strict minimalist style and visually resembles sewing “over the edge”. It looks equally stylish both in contrast and in the color corresponding to the selected skin tone.


Seam "butterfly"

"Butterfly" - a seam that, like "Italy", is found in most cases in Italian-made cars. It consists of separate geometric elements that look like the number 8 or a butterfly, for which it received the name of the same name. Does not tighten the skin and looks original on the interior elements.


Seam "cross"

"Cross" - a seam that is rarely used compared to previous options, but looks no less stylish and interesting on the elements, forming a continuous line of rhombuses or crosses. "Cross" almost does not tighten the skin, forms a flat seam and is made of strong threads of medium thickness.

Seam "step"

"Step" is a flat neat decorative seam, which is made of threads of medium thickness and does not tighten the skin on the steering wheel, gear knob and parking brake handle. It looks stylish and unusual both in a monochromatic design and in a contrasting bright version.


Contact the professionals!

The choice of seam depends on your individual preferences and the design features of the car interior. But the most important factor that is necessary to obtain a high result is professional craftsmen and quality workmanship. Therefore, in order to get neatly tightened interior elements with a perfectly even and beautiful decorative seam, contact the professionals!
Fantasize and choose the right option, and the specialists of the professional auto studio "AMD plus" will be happy to bring your ideas to life! We guarantee fast professional performance work and excellent results!

June 3, 2019

Without exaggeration, we can say that the steering wheel is not only one of the most important elements of car control, but also the "face" of the vehicle interior. Therefore, the most common way to give the interior attractiveness and personality is the steering wheel trim. A beginner can also do it, the main thing here is patience and attention to every little thing.

Materials and tools

Since the steering wheel is constantly in contact with the driver's hands, when choosing a material for sheathing, you should pay attention to quality, strength and durability. There are many options - you can choose fur, artificial or natural leather, silicone, foam rubber or wire.

The most popular and practical is a braid made of genuine leather. Such a braid retains its appearance for a long time, is pleasant to the touch, has good performance, looks expensive and solid. You can simply wipe it with a damp alcohol wipe to remove dust. It is better to give preference to perforated leather. It is softer and thanks to the pores it breathes better.

Important! You should choose automotive leather, and not furniture, otherwise after a short time the work will go down the drain.

Before you start the steering wheel, you should prepare everything necessary materials and tools. These include:

  • leather;
  • a large needle for sewing (you can take a red-hot one);
  • strong kapron thread;
  • thimble;
  • stationery knife;
  • masking tape;
  • cling film (you can take packaging);
  • marker or pencil;
  • medium density cardboard;
  • glue or epoxy.

Tightening procedure

Removing the steering wheel and the old braid

Before starting work, it is necessary to remove the steering wheel, using the manual for the repair and operation of the car. Disconnect the battery before dismantling! If there is an airbag in the hull, wait at least five minutes.

Remove old braid. You can just cut along the seam.

Creating a Pattern and Cutting a New Braid

Next, you need to make a pattern. To do this, first the steering wheel is neatly, evenly, without differences in height, wrapped with a film, and then tightly with masking tape. With a marker, the future pattern is divided into four parts and a mark is made for the inner seam along the inside of the steering wheel.

Before cutting, it is necessary to number all the details. Cut strictly along the lines!

According to the marked marks, you need to cut the masking tape and remove it from the steering wheel. It turns out four parts of the pattern. To level them, you can put a load on top for several hours. Or make a denser cardboard template by applying masking tape elements to it.

Then, according to the sample of the obtained pattern, elements of the future leather braid are cut out, an allowance of 1.5-2 ml is made along the length. Each element must be marked. Do not forget that the final result depends on the accuracy of the work at the stage of making the pattern.

Pattern details are sewn together using a sewing machine or a needle and thread. It is necessary to retreat from the edge by 2-3 mm, otherwise the material will tear when pulled. All parts are connected to form a ring. The finished ring is applied to the steering wheel. Everything has to be exactly the right size. If the braid walks along the steering wheel, it is necessary to take it in at the seam. For additional fixation, the steering wheel can be lubricated with glue or epoxy.

Fasteners for manual braid stitching

After that, you need to make fasteners, which will hold the seam connecting the edges of the braid.

There are two types of fastening:

  • holes;
  • stitching along the edges.

Holes along the edges of the braid can be made manually using an awl, or using a sewing machine with a needle without thread with a rounded tip.

The number of holes should be the same on both sides, the distance from the edge is approximately 4 mm, between the holes 4-5 mm. The work is quite laborious, it should turn out about 600 holes.

The second method is much simpler - it is enough to make a line on the edge of the braid with a stitch of 5-6 mm on a sewing machine. The distance from the edge of the product is 4 mm.

All knots are made from the inside and are fixed with no more than two stitches.

Stitching the braid on the steering wheel

There are many braid lacing options. The choice depends on the type of fastening and personal imagination. The easiest is to lace up like sneakers, threading a strong thread into the prepared bindings. You should start from the bottom and move counterclockwise, carefully straightening the folds and pulling the material well.

Reference! If in some place it was not possible to perfectly straighten the skin, you can use a hairdryer. When heated, the skin becomes more elastic and small wrinkles are smoothed out.

At the end of the sheathing, all the threads should be hidden under the skin, glue the knots with glue and walk with a hair dryer along the entire length of the steering wheel so that the skin fits better to the steering wheel. All seams can be smeared with special glue for the skin. This will prevent them from tearing apart.

Leather braid care

If the steering wheel is sheathed in leather, then it requires special attention, because dust and dirt easily accumulate in the pores of the leather. This is reflected not only in the appearance of the steering wheel, but also in the health of the driver. For cleaning, you can use special products for the skin or make your own product, for example, mixing warm water with shampoo for washing the car body.

To prolong the service life of such a braid, apply special means that cleanse and moisturize it. Such products always contain special filters that protect the skin from fading.

Of course, making a leather braid with your own hands is much more difficult than buying a finished one. But on the other hand, you will be rightfully proud of your work, enjoying its result.

Covering the steering wheel with leather is one of the types of car tuning. Often, car owners update the steering wheel after years of use to improve appearance and driving comfort.

It also sometimes happens that the car is perfect for all technical characteristics, but the appearance of the interior is not pleasing. This is where tuning comes to the rescue, capable of remaking the interior of a car to suit all the taste preferences of the owner, as well as threads.

Steering wheel wrapping is a creative process and should be approached responsibly.

After all, the steering wheel is what is closest to the driver and with which he directly contacts while driving.

When tightening, you can independently choose the type and color of the skin, as well as the type of seam and the color of the threads. Any combination is possible: it all depends on which steering wheel the driver wants to hold in his hands.

Let's take a closer look - what is a tight steering wheel and why is it needed

Covering the steering wheel plays not only a decorative role, but also can improve the appearance of the car.

By the appearance of the steering wheel, you can usually determine How many car years, but if a brand new and beautiful steering wheel, then it will not give out all the details about the car, which it can. Also one of the most important characteristics is the thickness of the steering wheel, this, by the way, is discussed in this video:


Thanks to the waist, this parameter can be adjusted to the individual preferences of the driver. It will not work to make the steering wheel thinner, but it is possible to make the steering wheel thicker on 4-8 millimeters. It seems that the difference is not significant, but it is 12%-24% of the normal handlebar thickness.

Another reason for constricting the steering wheel may be the desire to make it soft. Before skin-tight, the steering wheel is covered with porous, soft polyurethane. Soft rudders are used in all BMW E65 and M-series.

Tactile sensations play an important role in driving. By choosing a high quality material for wrapping, you get a guarantee that it will not slip and will hold well in your hands. This will definitely give you confidence when driving.

Summarize. Steering wheel reupholstery is not only a tuning element to improve the appearance of the steering wheel, but also a process that can improve specifications driving.

Types and options for covering + materials

    • Steering wheel rim

      Excellent white leather BMW E39 steering wheel rim with herringbone stitching.

      by the most in a simple way is the steering wheel rim. With this type of work, only the rim itself is covered with leather or leatherette, and where it docks with the knitting needles, the material is sheathed and glued.

    • Steering wheel upholstery with eco-leather

      Eco-leather is an excellent material for covering the steering wheel. The main thing is that it is environmentally friendly.

      Eco-leather is an innovative environmentally friendly material.It is very difficult to distinguish it from genuine leather. The material is not very expensive, but high-quality and reliable. Eco-leather is very elastic and perfectly fits the steering wheel, and the homogeneous structure of the material looks expensive and organic.

    • Original steering wheel wrap, choice of threads

      If you are very creative and not like everyone else (and also love a plaid and coffee) - this type of cover is for you.

      The original (standard constriction) is an absolute duplication of the factory covering of the steering wheel of a car. This is an ideal option for those who are completely satisfied with their car and the skin is needed only for updating.

      Usually, with such a constriction of the steering wheel, Genuine Leather. Don't forget that there is automotive leather and it cannot be replaced by leather for furniture or shoes.

      Automotive leather has special characteristics, such as:

      1. resistance to temperature changes;
      2. resistance to various kinds of mechanical and chemical damage;
      3. abrasion resistance.

      Also, hauling is possible according to your own sketches using complex geometry and expensive materials. For example, inserts made of expensive wood, which will make the car exquisite and unique in its own way.

      • A special role is played by the types of seams

      It all depends on how I trim the steering wheel. Asian and American car manufacturers cover the steering wheel with four pieces of leather, which results in four seams. German manufacturers do the same from one piece of leather, and the seam is one.

      Germans use seam "macramé", it looks very aesthetically pleasing, even, thin threads are used for it, and it does not lift the skin.


      And here Korean and Japanese manufacturers most often use a seam "herringbone" or "pigtail". These stitches raise the skin, which makes it a little bulging, thick threads are usually used.


      In principle, it is not particularly important which seam will be used, the main thing is that the work be done with high quality and painstakingly, and then the result will be high quality and beautiful.

      Types and options of seams. Click to enlarge

      Instructions for hauling the steering wheel with leather with your own hands at home

      There is another option for the steering wheel. By using step by step instructions it's not that hard to do it yourself. In order to get started, you need to arm yourself with all the necessary materials and tools.

      You will need:

  1. 2 strong semicircular gypsy needles;
  2. kapron thread;
  3. stationery knife;
  4. pencil or pen;
  5. awl;
  6. pliers;
  7. roofing scissors;
  8. cardboard;
  9. marker;
  10. a convenient place to work, where you can fix the steering wheel.

For everything to go well, follow the step-by-step instructions!

      • To get started, remove the steering wheel from the car, disassemble it, wash it and dry it to perfect condition. Before starting work, of course, you need to decide on the seam that will be used.
      • The next step is to markup. To do this, we take cling film, wrap the steering wheel, then wrap it with mounting tape. Mark with a marker, carefully cut along the contours with a clerical knife. We remove, carefully smooth out the elements - this is our sketch.
      • We apply a sketch to the skin, make markings along the edges, receding by 5 millimeters. These 5 mm will be for tightening the skin. Cut out the elements, sew them into one large round ribbon.
      • What happened, soak in warm water for twenty minutes. We wipe, dry, but not completely and pull on the steering wheel. In order not to make mistakes, we handle the skin carefully, as it is wet and elastic and can be easily damaged.
      • The next step is markup. We put on the cardboard through dashes every 8 mm. We apply it to the skin on the steering wheel and make holes every 8 mm with an awl.

        The work must be done gradually so that the seam is even. It is advisable to make 10 holes on each side to sew, and then continue. Treat work responsibly and slowly, otherwise dress up to redo work.

That's all. Share, like, tell your friends,
Ask questions in the comments and offer your options!

Keep reading
otherwise HE will stop you:
  1. Zoya

    My review

    I never thought that leather-wrapped steering wheel is so important for men ... now from my own experience I can say that most men do it for the image - they want to show their level of well-being and the solidity of their car. My husband did this out of necessity when he bought a far from new vehicle. I had to use my sewing experience and fit his steering wheel, it’s good that there were examples of various techniques in the article ... now, instead of the usual suits and dresses, I make good money on this business. By the way, men really like soft skin, but the seams do not matter to them!

  2. Natalia

    My husband made his own steering wheel constriction leather. Used the instructions above. It's good that there are such informative sites. The whole process of hauling is clearly outlined.
    Made it easy and simple. It turned out even very beautifully, and most importantly, it is convenient. The steering wheel does not slip, the hand does not sweat. We would like to do a reupholstery in the future. This process is described on the website page.

  3. Svetlana
  4. Andrey

    They did a constriction last summer on the e60 in the M package M, the steering wheel was trimmed. I chose the original skin as it was, but the color of the threads is in the range M: blue and red. It looked good. It looks like the first video. And it is very pleasant to the touch, I did not want to let it out of my hands. Definitely I'm for the stretch!

    Wow, why didn't I come across this article before! ?My husband likes leather steering wheel, says hand nice. And we did a close-fitting recently, but without instructions. I sat, sketched the steering wheel on a scale, and then drew patterns. It worked the second time. But since I found the instructions, I will do “work on the mistakes”. And then somehow it came out clumsy.

  5. Laura

    Our G8 Zhiguli were about 10 years old when my husband thought about reupholstering the steering wheel. The plastic has worn off a lot during use. Found soft black leather, we got the old one sewing machine Zinger, who writes well Leather Products. They carefully scribbled according to their own pattern and made a mistake. I wanted to make it prettier and we gave it to the workshop, where they put metal rivets on the holes for lacing. The cover is beautiful! But when we removed it a few years later, it turned out that the rivets had scratched the steering wheel badly. Now dragged with new skin, already without rivets.

    Do-it-yourself leather steering wheel trim is not a very complicated process, which will save on the involvement of specialists. The first skin can cause some trouble.



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