DIY Seat Upholstery In VW Bus – Part II

In Part I of my take on cheap seats in my Volkswagen Camper Bus, I showed the remains of the driver’s seat, the bare frame of the seat, and listed the products and items I am using to redo my front cab seats in my 71 Westfalia Camp-Mobile Bus.

Here in Part II, I’ll be showing the process of how I sewed a burlap cover to overlay the springs of the frame; which was not done in the original seat upholstery process.  Originally, the coconut hull cushion was just lain right over the springs; which to me seemed haphazard.  –Especially since the springs had, of late, been piercing through all the ragged layers and ripping my clothes.  I felt it was a very necessary step.

Then I cut-to-fit (cutting quite big, at first…so as-not to undercut; since I have limited supply), the carpet padding and glued two layers (wrong/rough sides together), to give my driver’s seat plenty of firm cushion.  Then…I went even further and stitched the cushion to the under-springs with Hemp Twine (see pics below).

I hope this tutorial will inspire some of you VW Bus enthusiasts to re-upholster your own seats, and let your creativity be your improvisational guide.  Thanks for reading my Blog.  Stay on the look-out for Part III, where I hope to finish this project with success!  :  )

Peace .V.. & Love!

The Process (in pictures) of the 1st Phase of Re-upholstering (Driver’s Seat): PART II 

*Click on Pics to Enlarge*

Using Old Coconut Hull Cushion, Cut Burlap to Fit Frame

The Layout of Burlap on Frame

Cut Both Burlap Covers for Seat Springs

Pin In Place on Seat Back and Bottom

Using Regular, but Sturdy, Needle…Sewing Burlap to Frame With Heavy Duty Thread

Burlap For Driver’s Side Seat Back, All Stitched!

Back View

Pin Burlap Over Driver’s Side Seat Bottom and Repeat as Before

All Done With First Layer of Driver’s Seat Redo

Optional Step: Smear a Line of Glue Over Burlap Stitching to Reinforce

Up Close of Glue Over Stitching of Burlap

Cut Padding a Bit Large (You can Trim Later, if Needed…but You can’t make larger if cut too small), using old Coco Hull padding.

Cut 2 Each of Seat Back and Bottom, From the Make-shift ‘padding’

Spray Glue to Rough Sides of Padding to Double Thickness, Then Weight with Bricks or anything Heavy ’til Dry (I allowed 24 hours to dry)

Once Padding is Dry, Spray Glue to Burlap (topside) and to underside of Padding, then weigh down to adhere.

Seat Pad During Seat Gluing Process

With an Upholstery needle, this time using Hemp Twine, stitch through thickness of padding an tie two ends of twine to seat spring on underside

Natural Hemp Twine

Repeat in Stitching Pattern of choice ’til both top and bottom pads are secure to frame.

First Stitch – Back View

Second Stitch at Back

3rd Stitch at Back

Bottom/Last Stitch of Seat Back

Finished Pad Stitching of Seat Back Piece

Stitching Pad to Seat Bottom Springs

Finished Secure-Stitching Seat Pad to Spring

To be Continued in Part III

Using What’s Left of Old Seat to Create New Template for Upholstering. Still Waiting on Fabric to Arrive from Baha, Mexico! Aye, Aye…!

 

DIY Seat Re-Upholstery in VW Camper Bus

DIY Seat Re-Upholstery in VW Camper Bus:

‘Need new seats in your VW Westfalia Camp-mobile or Bus, but you can’t afford to have them professionally done?  Well…you’re not alone!  I too found myself in this situation where the front seats in my old 71 Volkswagen Camper Bus were not only shredding and falling apart, but the seat springs were ripping our clothes when we sat down to drive.  I knew I couldn’t put off upholstering any longer.

With minimal to no funds for prettying up my old bus, I had to get creative.  Enter this Do-It-Yourself method I conjured up out of desperation and hard-headedness.  Re-purposing some leftover (brand new and unused) carpet padding from re-carpeting our daughter’s tiny room, I found it was a perfect fit (firm cushion and water-resistant on top side) for the job.

So, here’s Part I of the creation of my van’s CHEAP DIY seats.  :  )  I welcome you to follow my blog for Part II of this project.  I am awaiting my fabric so I can finish the job.  Wish me luck!  I’m learning as I go, and welcome any comments or suggestions any of you may have.  Thank you for stopping by!  :  )

.V.. (Peace) & Love!

ITEMS USED for RE-UPHOLSTERING Seats —

• A yard-and-a-half of Jute Burlap fabric
• Tan Upholstery or Heavy-duty thread
• Regular, but Large/Sturdy, Sewing Needle
• Upholstery Needle
• New ‘Moisture Resistant’ carpet padding (enough for two layers on seat and back)
• Spray adhesive
• Hemp Twine in various thicknesses
• Choice of Upholstery Fabric ( at least 4 yards) *Does not have to be upholstery fabric, but can be any medium or heavier weight fabric.*
• Fusible Webbing like Wonder Under (heavy weight, but still flexible)
• Elmer’s or similar school glue **Optional

THE PROCESS (in pictures) — PART I: The Tearing Down

The Driver’s Seat (the one I’m working on) Was Worse Than This!

Passenger Seat – Better Than Driver’s Seat Was

Coconut Hull Cushion From Driver’s Seat (what’s left of it)

What’s Left of Driver’s Seat Upholstery

Driver’s Seat Back – Nothing Left of It

Driver’s Seat Bottom – Nothing Left!

Bare Seat Spring

Down To the Bare Metal Driver’s Seat Frame