Learning how to make beautiful seams. Learning to make beautiful seams How to sew a braid on a leather steering wheel

Braiding the steering wheel of a car with your own hands is a simple process, but it requires accuracy and patience. In this article I will tell you how to make the simplest braid without the difficult for many process of stitching leather on the steering wheel.

The whole braiding process can be divided into three stages, the first of which will be the selection and purchase of the required amount of leather. It should be noted that the leather used in the manufacture of clothing or furniture upholstery is not suitable for the steering wheel, as it will quickly “wipe off”, losing its decent appearance, for which, in fact, the steering wheel is planned to be reupholstered. Therefore, the skin should be specialized, automotive.

Choose the skin color of your choice. It is desirable, of course, that it be in harmony with the color of the interior, front panel or the color of the car itself. It is not necessary to buy a single piece - you can choose leather of several shades for the steering wheel, while symmetrically placing multi-colored inserts around the circumference. Most often, black and dark gray leather is used for the steering wheel braid. Skin of light shades will quickly lose its original appearance even if driving gloves are used. The texture of the skin can also be chosen differently. For example, glossy leather on the top and bottom of the steering wheel, and textured, textured on the sides - such leather will slip less in your hands.

The second stage is preparation. You will need cling film and narrow tape. Wrap the steering wheel tightly with foil and wrap with tape. Then, at the place of the intended connection (the inside of the steering wheel), draw a line with a thin marker and make an even cut with an ordinary dangerous blade or paper knife. Especially carefully cut in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe junction of the knitting needles. Remove the resulting rough braid from the steering wheel.

Next, you need to make a pattern, but not yet from leather, but from thick paper. To do this, if possible, straighten the film-adhesive blank on paper and circle it. Cut and attach the resulting paper braid to the steering wheel. Carefully inspect for possible inaccuracies (the blanks at the junction should not overlap, it is better that there is a small gap - after all, the skin will have to be stretched). See if the braid fits nicely on the steering wheel spokes.

If everything fits perfectly, attach the resulting paper blank to the skin and circle. If you nevertheless make a braid from several pieces of leather, you need to add 5 mm to the transverse seams (with which you will sew the pieces of leather together). Carefully cut out the product and try it on the steering wheel again. If there are no comments, you can proceed to the third stage.

Stretch the leather around the circumference of the steering wheel. If everything is done correctly, the skin should overlap a little along the length - after all, you have to sew it in this place. Sometimes special grooves are made for the seams in the steering wheel. Mark with chalk the location of the steering spokes (in this case, the seam, if there is one, is usually located at the bottom). Remove the workpiece from the steering wheel and along the entire length, on both sides, retreating from the edge of 5-7 mm and in increments of 10 mm, make many holes for the lace or thread with which you will tighten the skin. In the areas of the needles marked with chalk, holes do not need to be punched.

Sew the braid along the length so that it fits snugly on the steering wheel. It remains with the help of a thread or lace (with the color of which you can also experiment) to fix the skin on the steering wheel. At the same time, choose the lacing option yourself - it can be lacing with one thread in two ends (as on boots), or circular lacing. There are many pattern options. But the thread must be necessarily strong and not very thin, otherwise it will cut the skin.

Do not be discouraged if in some places the skin is a little puffy. Leather is a material that after a while will surely take the shape of the object on which it is stretched. In extreme cases, you can slightly moisten the skin with plain water - this will definitely make the skin tighten!

On the video - the process of stretching the braid on the steering wheel:

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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 the 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 old is the car 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 wrapping is not only a tuning element to improve the appearance of the steering wheel, but also a process that can improve driving performance.

Types and options for covering + materials

• Steering wheel rim

  

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

  The simplest 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 is used. Do not forget that automotive leather exists and it cannot be replaced with 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.


But 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. With the help of step-by-step instructions, it is not so difficult 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. Andrew

   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 the leather steering wheel, says hand nicely. And we recently did a close-fitting, 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. We found soft black leather, we have an old Zinger sewing machine that sews leather goods perfectly. 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.

Imagine that you have decided to upgrade the interior of your car. We ordered seat covers made of genuine leather, pulled the front panel, ceiling, doors and even the gear knob. But your new interior will look unfinished until you change the look of the steering wheel. The easiest and fastest way to do this is to put on the steering braid.

Why do you need a steering braid

Surely you have repeatedly wondered: why do you need a braid at all, if the steering wheel can simply be painted in the desired color? To begin with, it performs a decorative function. You can choose the right material and color scheme to freshen up the interior of your car. The braid also has other useful functions. For example, it increases the thickness of the steering wheel, making the grip more comfortable. The material under your hands will be softer, and in cold weather, warmer than the original handlebar plastic.

In addition, the braid protects the steering wheel itself from mechanical damage: scratches, chips, scuffs. If the material has deteriorated during operation, it is easy to remove the braid and install a new one, while the steering wheel itself will have to be restored for a long time and carefully. If you got a used car, whose steering wheel can no longer boast of a factory look, such a cover will help hide all the flaws.

Another important feature: the braid will provide a reliable grip between the surface of the steering wheel and your hands. Your palms will not slip off while driving, which means that your trips will be safer.

The appearance of the steering wheel has become much more expensive, it now looks like on cars of a higher class. I would also like to especially note that the steering wheel has become thicker, not as slippery as before, and most importantly - now it is pleasant to the touch. In a word, I am pleased with what happened, including the price tag and ease of installation.

Arseniyhttps://www.drive2.ru/l/3031715/

Kinds

When choosing a steering wheel braid, you will come across a wide variety of materials. Among the most popular types are the following:

• braids made of natural and artificial leather;
• fur braids;
• wire braids;
• silicone pads;
• foam covers.

As a separate category, useful braids can be distinguished: in addition to their main functions, they have a number of additional advantages. These include, for example, heated steering wheel covers and massage pads. Let's consider each type in more detail.

Leather braids

As we have already noted, leather for the manufacture of braids is used both natural and artificial. Of course, genuine leather will be more durable, softer and more pleasant to the touch than artificial leather. However, its price can be 3-4 times higher, which makes it inaccessible to many motorists. Both artificial (it is also called eco-leather) and genuine leather have good performance characteristics. Such material will not fade in the sun and will not swell from moisture ingress. He is not afraid of temperature changes.

Usually, leather cases are chosen by male representatives. This material looks solid and expensive, fits into the interior of any car. A leather case can be a good gift for the holiday.

When choosing such a braid, give preference to perforated leather. It is softer to the touch and better breathable, creating a breathable effect.

Fur

The fur used for steering braids can also be artificial and natural. Natural fur retains heat better in cold weather. Although, if you do not ride in the cities of the Arctic, then artificial material will do just as well. Sheepskin is often used in the manufacture of covers.

Faux fur with long pile is often dyed in bright colors, complemented by fun elements. The use of such a cover will give out a cheerful and carefree personality in the car owner. Such braids are most often chosen by young women.

Wicker cases

Braided wire cases are also called retro braids because they were very popular in the middle of the last century. Now such braids are used by those who want to style their iron horse like a classic car from the times of the Soviet Union.

Wicker covers retain their main functions: protecting the steering wheel from damage and from slipping hands. At the same time, their price is much lower than that of leather and fur counterparts. The most popular material for making wicker covers is ordinary wire with insulation, which can be found in the garage of almost everyone. Some craftsmen make braids from stiff and thin clothesline.

Wire braid can be ordered in special workshops, or you can make it yourself using weaving patterns. Using different colors, you can create your own unique steering wheel design.

Silicone and foam cases

Often, silicone or foam rubber is used to make steering braids. Manufacturing technology helps to make covers made of these materials inexpensive, but perfectly coping with all tasks. The color scheme of such braids is very diverse: you can find both calm pastel shades and bright neon tones. Foam covers are often patterned with color, while clear silicone protects your steering wheel but reveals its original appearance.

Useful braids

Useful covers, as mentioned earlier, include heated braids. Any material can be used in their manufacture, but most often it is natural or eco-leather. It is enough to connect the wire from the cover to the cigarette lighter, and you are provided with additional heating of the palms.

Massage inserts on braids are usually made of rubber. A special relief affects certain points on the palms, improves blood circulation, thereby preventing fatigue and numbness of the hands.

How to choose the right braid for the steering wheel

When purchasing a braid, it is not enough to choose only the color and material. It is very important to determine the correct size and shape of the part.

By size

The cover must fit the steering wheel in size. If you choose too small, you will not be able to pull it on, and too large will dangle ugly and wrinkle. To find out the diameter of the steering wheel, use a meter tape.

The size range of steering covers is represented by the following types:

• S - the smallest size, suitable for handlebars with a diameter of 35 to 36 cm, usually used on small cars like Oka or Tavria;
• M - the average size for steering wheels 37–38 cm, found on most modern foreign and domestic passenger cars with a sedan, hatchback or liftback body type;
• L - large size, designed for handlebars, whose diameter is 39–40 cm;
• XL - steering wheel diameter 41–43 cm, usually found on UAZ and GAZelle cars
• 2XL - this size is found on some imported trucks, the steering wheel diameter of which is 47–48 cm.
• 3XL - for steering wheels with a diameter of 49 cm, found in domestic KAMAZ trucks.

It will be more reliable if you make a cover yourself or order it in a special workshop. Professionals will accurately measure the diameter of your steering wheel and prepare a braid that fits perfectly.

By car make and model

To find out the diameter of your handlebar, take a look at the owner's manual. Different models may have slightly different diameters. If you don’t want to take risks with the selection of a cover according to the size of the steering wheel, use a ready-made solution: on sale you can find special braids made according to the pattern for most popular cars. Enter a query in the search bar indicating your model and choose from the many options offered.

By purchasing a cover in this way, you can be sure that it will fit not only the diameter of the steering wheel, but also the thickness of the rim, as well as the location of the spokes and buttons.

By type

Everything is simple here: we determined the size and model, then you can proceed to visual selection. First of all, decide on the material. Leather, fur or modern synthetic materials will create a radically different image for you and your car. Consider the color scheme of the interior: if it is completely sheathed in black leather, then hot pink long fur will look ridiculous. If there are inserts in red, beige, blue or other contrasting shades in the skin, the steering wheel in a similar range will support the color scheme.

How to do it yourself - instructions

If you do not want to spend money on ready-made braids, then you can easily make it yourself. To do this, you will need a standard set of sewing supplies, the braiding material itself, a pattern, as well as a little time and patience.

Materials and tools

First of all, prepare all the necessary materials and tools. These include:

• selected material for the new cover;
• old case (if any);
• food film;
• masking tape;
• marker;
• tailor's chalk;
• sharp tailor's scissors and a clerical knife;
• special threads for working with leather;
• a sewing machine suitable for working with leather (or for the material of your choice);
• glue.

The process of creating a cover for the steering wheel

The process for creating the steering braid will differ depending on whether you are going to cover the spokes. If not, then it will be much easier to make it.

1. With a meter tape, measure two main parameters: the circumference of the steering wheel (the future length of the product), as well as the circumference of the rim itself (the future width of the product).
2. Based on these numbers, cut a strip of leather to the appropriate length and width. If you are using leather that is highly elastic, step back about 1 mm into the part. This will allow you to better and tighter pull the resulting cover on the steering wheel.
3. Sew the part with a sewing machine about 3 mm from the edge on both sides.

If you want the cover to cover the knitting needles, you definitely need to make patterns for the future pattern. This is done in the following way.

1. Wrap the steering wheel tightly with cling film.
2. Apply masking tape in several layers on top of the film. It should cover the entire surface of the steering wheel, with no gaps. Pay special attention to the knitting needles.
3. With a marker, draw a line along the center of the inside of the steering wheel rim. Now you mark the place of the future seam. Divide the steering wheel into sections from spoke to spoke. If you wish, you can make only one seam - the central one, but in this case you will have to try very hard when lacing.
4. Use a utility knife to cut the masking tape along the marked lines and remove it from the steering wheel. You've got some kind of patterns.
5. Attach the resulting patterns to the wrong side of the material from which the cover will be made. With chalk, carefully transfer the contours, observing all the bends.
6. Cut out the resulting piece. If you are using leather that is highly elastic, step back about 1 mm into the part. This will allow you to better and tighter pull the resulting cover on the steering wheel.
7. Sew the part with a sewing machine about 3 mm from the edge on both sides. If you wish, you can sew the parts together.
8. Coat the edges of the parts with a thin layer of glue and fix on the steering wheel. If you haven't stitched them before, make sure the seams are invisible.

Making a pattern for a steering braid

Sewing a braid with your own hands will be much easier if you already have an old cover. All you have to do is open it at the seams and transfer the contours to the new material, then cut, stitch and put on the steering wheel.

How to dress and lace up a braid

Now you have to properly put on and lace up the resulting braid. This process will differ, although not drastically, depending on whether the cover involves closing the spokes of the steering wheel.

Ways to install on the steering wheel with and without spokes

The main difference is the need to dismantle the steering wheel. If the braid doesn't fit the spokes, you can secure it by leaving the handlebar in place. But to install a cover with material for the spokes, you have to remove the steering wheel in a regular way.

Be sure to disconnect the battery before removing the steering wheel. If it contains an airbag, wait at least 5 minutes before disassembling the steering wheel.

On sale there are one-piece covers that do not need to be laced. They are put on the top of the steering wheel, and then pulled with force over the entire wheel. It is desirable that at the same time someone helps, fixing the overlay in the upper part. Otherwise, it may slip. The edges of such a cover will close, and you do not have to waste precious time on lacing.

If you made your own braid, or bought a lacing option, you'll have to secure it yourself. This is a rather long, but completely uncomplicated process. You do not need to be able to sew and make beautiful stitches, because everything you need is already ready.

1. If your case is made of genuine leather, soak it in warm water for 15-20 minutes. This will increase the elasticity of the material.
2. Arm yourself with a sewing needle. It shouldn't be particularly thick, as you'll have to pass it under the threads.
3. You will not need to pierce the material with a needle. Pay attention to the line that you (or the manufacturer) made in paragraphs No. 3 and 7 of the instructions for making a pattern. Pass the needle under the stitches and tighten the material.
4. Start at the bottom of the handlebar and move counterclockwise. It is most convenient to make the first screed at the beginning of one of the lower knitting needles.
5. Carefully straighten and slightly stretch the material. Try to avoid wrinkles and distortions.
6. Treat the entire seam in the same way. On the knitting needles you will have to fasten and break the thread. You can estimate in advance the required length and number of threads by measuring the distance between the knitting needles.
7. When the braid is completely fixed, smooth it again and dry it. After that, the material will tightly fit the steering wheel.

If in some places it is not possible to perfectly stretch the skin, warm it up with a regular hair dryer. As the temperature rises, its elasticity increases.

I put it on the steering wheel, put the seam in the center, and began to deal with the thread. I decided to sew through one, just looked at how leather steering wheels were trimmed on cars from the factory. As a result, an hour and a half or two work and the steering wheel is ready. There is still a meter of thread left. Now he looks at all like a native, the whole village is on the steering wheel. I am very pleased with the result, the steering wheel has become more comfortable and pleasant to the touch.

Tyoma Vorobyovhttps://www.drive2.ru/l/422671/

Video: installing a braid on the steering wheel

Types of steering braid lacing

Lacing braid is not much more difficult than lacing boots. You can use threads to match the material. In this case, it does not make much difference which method you will lace up the braid. But if you want to give your steering wheel an unusual look, use threads in one or more contrasting colors. Bright threads can be used even at the stage when the part is sewn.

Braid screed can be done in several ways. Who is more comfortable and nicer. I used the simplest, when the thread is threaded into each seam, fringing the braid along the contour and pulling it together like a shoe lace. The thread was the same color, the solution was temporary - so I didn't show off. For the future, there were plans to use red thread for the screed. But, for this, at least normal skin + additional trim is needed at least for the automatic transmission lever. So that the finish of the key elements does not differ from each other.

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Some types of lacing involve the simultaneous use of two needles and threads. Study carefully and choose the scheme that suits you best.

Macrame lacing looks quite unusual, so it is often used to fix the steering braid. The thread is passed under the stitch, pulled to the opposite side, and then passed under the stitch one higher. Thus, a diagonal lacing is obtained through every second stitch on both sides. The thread is tightly tightened and a seam is formed.

Video: macrame seam

In order to make lacing, called sports, it is necessary to start weaving with the previous method, and before the final screed, put in a second thread, which will pass under all the skipped stitches in the same way. Such a double macrame is considered sports lacing.

There is a second version of sports lacing. With it, only one thread is used, and it is threaded into each stitch, without gaps. After tightening, the seam looks very interesting.

Video: the second version of the sports seam

And also there are ways of lacing that do not need an initial line. Thread holes are punched using a special device. These seams include a pigtail, herringbone and some others. You can understand weaving patterns by studying the following image and video.

Video: herringbone seam

Video: cross stitch

There is nothing complicated in the technique of sewing, first we hook a loop on one side of the braid with a needle, then on the other, then again on the first and so on. At first, I simply “laced” the braid, and after I “laced” everything, I already stretched the thread. I did this for several reasons. Firstly, it will not work to tighten from the first section, because the opposite end of the braid is not fixed, and, secondly, since the adhesive tape does not stick, the edges of the braid walked quite a lot along the steering wheel.

SC0RPI0Nhttp://mysku.ru/blog/aliexpress/34499.html

Remember that the sides of the fabric should only be tightened after you have passed the lacing thread under all the necessary stitches. So the formed seam will be smoother. In order to get better results, practice on the area of ​​the braid before putting it on the steering wheel. If you are satisfied with how the selected seam looks, feel free to install the cover on the steering wheel.

Almost anyone can make a braid on the steering wheel of a car. If this is your first time doing this, opt for the no-knit case. If you already have experience in reupholstering other parts, you can choose more complex materials and methods. As for the lacing process, it takes more time than effort. If you or the manufacturer have bothered about the stitching on the details in advance, all you have to do is thread the thread under the stitches as if you were lacing your favorite sneakers. A variety of seams and weaves will help make your steering wheel different from others. And if it’s so easy to make a braid on the steering wheel, then why not save on the services of a car studio?

The steering wheel in the cabin is probably the most vulnerable part. He is most often pushed, stroked and even hit. To make it more convenient to manage the "steering wheel" and keep it safe and sound, it is better to put on a braid. Traffic safety also depends on the quality of the steering wheel cover. You can buy it in any store, but whether it fits in size or color. You can do it easier, order the tailoring of the product in special workshops, but it will be very expensive. But there is also a third option - to sew a cover on the steering wheel of a car with your own hands.

Advantages of self-tailoring a steering wheel cover

If you need a braid for the steering wheel, then you can make it yourself, using your hidden potential. Some will probably wonder why it is so complicated, because it is much easier to order it from craftsmen who have experience in the manufacture of such products. A do-it-yourself steering wheel cover will cost less. In fact, the car owner will pay only for the materials, and the manufacturing technology can be mastered quickly enough.

You can choose the material from which the braid is made and make, for example, a fur cover for the steering wheel, which will give the car dealership a little comfort and softness. Of the materials, leather and leather substitutes are also in demand. Due to their properties, they serve for a long time and create the effect of completeness.

Making a leather braid on the steering wheel with your own hands is not as difficult as it seems. The most difficult part of the sewing process will be the end, when you need to correctly arrange the seams so that the product does not spread. Sewing a steering wheel cover yourself can also save time. There may be a queue in the workshop and it is not known how long you have to wait.

How to sew a steering wheel cover with your own hands

A car owner who has decided must follow three steps in sequence. Firstly, make a pattern of the product, secondly, connect all its parts to make a base in the form of a circle, thirdly, putting it on the steering wheel, pull it off and fix it.

Sewing a steering wheel cover with your own hands is as easy as saying the word “Yes”, if you do everything in sequence. First, a pattern is made using improvised items. To do this, wrap the steering wheel with cling film, and on top with masking tape. It looks like a shell. On top of it, marks are applied with a marker where the elements of the pattern will be sewn together: the area next to the spokes and the inner circumference of the steering wheel. Then the “shell” is cut with a clerical knife along the marked marks and removed.

The pattern does not straighten out completely, but it is not difficult to transfer its shape first to paper, and then to the material. Along the edges of the outlined contour of the element, 1-2 centimeters must be added to process the seams. , you need to take into account their texture. For example, a fur braid will be made from a material that does not stretch at all, unlike leather. If there are not enough centimeters for the seam, then it will be difficult to pull it off and fix it.

At the second stage, you need to carefully fasten all the elements to get the shape of a circle. Stitching is best done with heavy-duty synthetic threads. The resulting product must be put on the steering wheel, pulling on the outside and wrapping the material inside the rim. This is how a do-it-yourself car steering wheel cover is tried on.

Before fastening the braid, you must first put it on, try to pull it off and cut off the extra flaps, if any. If the stitched elements of the pattern fit in size, then at the last stage you just need to lace up the cover on the steering wheel exactly the way the shoes are laced. With the help of a needle, the thread is threaded into the stitches of a line previously made on a sewing machine.

There are about a dozen seams with which the braid is fixed. The most common of these is the macrame stitch. It will beautifully decorate the joints of the fabric and prevent the cover from spreading due to its unusual interlacing.

Puzzled by how to make a steering wheel cover, you can use another of the proven options. Purchase a sewing kit that includes needles, threads, scissors and material that is pre-selected at the time of purchase. Most often, car owners choose corrugated leather in classic black.

Steering wheel features

Having dealt with that, you need to immediately learn some features of self-tailoring. Before proceeding with the pattern, the steering wheel must be removed so that it is more convenient to wrap it with a film and glue it with masking tape.

The fur braid on the steering wheel has a less stretchy texture, so when working with such material, you need to take into account an additional 1-2 cm for seams. Otherwise, it will be simply impossible to pull off the braid. A fur cover, like a leather one, creates a certain aesthetics in a car dealership, its manufacture should be as accurate as possible.

Having figured out how to put the cover on the steering wheel, you need to properly pull it off by choosing the right seam for this. The problem may arise for those who, in principle, have not held a thread and a needle in their hands before. Making your own braid requires a lot of patience.

It’s easy to figure out how to sew a steering wheel cover. You need to decide what material the steering wheel will be made of, be patient and get to work. Putting a cover on the steering wheel made by one's own hands, each driver can rightfully be proud of his creation, while saving a lot on a purchased model or ordering in specialized workshops.

The steering wheel is used by the driver during the entire driving time. It is it that first of all receives all the reactions in the form of stroking or pushing, expressing anger, joy or annoyance from the person who sits at the "steering wheel". Also, driving safety may depend on the quality of the steering wheel.

Do-it-yourself braiding on the steering wheel will help minimize the risks from inconvenient operation of the steering wheel. One of the advantages of self-installation is the selection of individual material and color to match the overall interior decor.

The choice of upholstery depends on the method of its attachment, further care for it, as well as the durability of the use of the selected material.

Leather braids

It is customary to use genuine leather as upholstery material. It is more durable and practical in processing. The material is selected with or without perforation. The presence of holes helps to give volume to the product, and is also an additional decoration. It is also a little visually smoothes possible irregularities surface or minor technical problems during processing.

Leather braid

Leather is the most comfortable of the materials due to its performance.

It is easy to care for and also more hygienic than other braid options. This item is especially relevant in cases where the car has several drivers. The leather steering wheel is easily wiped with an antiseptic solution before driving. For the material, such a procedure is not dangerous, but it will save you from getting “undesirable surprises”.

High-quality material can scare away at first with its price. However, not worth saving on such an important part of the car. The price will pay off with a long period of use, a good mood while driving and simple care.

Fur braids on the steering wheel

The use of fur braids only in the first couple of days may be of interest, then such an impractical and easily soiled material will bring more negative emotions when driving. The fur is quickly wrinkled in places of the most intensive use. The pile also gets dirty too quickly and loses its aesthetic appearance, especially light colors.

Fur braid on the steering wheel

Between villi clogged with a lot of dust and dirt, which reduces the level of hygiene for such a frequently used control. In summer, hands sweat quickly, the pile can also get wet and this causes slippage when driving. Such a factor can affect the safety of driving a vehicle.

Braided wire braids

Once upon a time, wire braids were fashionable on cars. They were often decorated mainly with domestic VAZ models. The practicality of this option lies in the relative strength of the plastic winding of the wire. It rarely wears off even with intensive use.

However, compared to imitation leather or genuine leather braided base is not as pretty and not hygienic enough. Dirt quickly collects between loose turns, which is not so easy to remove. Helps to restore a neat appearance by using solutions with household detergents.

Braided braids on the VAZ

In winter, such material quickly “zadubevaet” and weakly warms up. You have to wear gloves while driving.

Useful braids on the steering wheel

With self-manufacturing of the braid, you can make it not only beautiful, but also useful. For this, special massage inserts are made in the outer part. They improve the usability of the steering wheel, as well as contribute to the improvement of blood microcirculation in palms and fingers.

Along with massage seat covers, this braid helps with long journeys by car.

Heating can be carried out under a self-made braid. The option will be useful for all drivers in Russia, since the cold season in our country lasts several months. The button to turn on the heating can be displayed on the instrument panel.

Upholstery color and thickness

Do not choose trendy colors. They can quickly get bored, and you will need to re-tighten. And since it is unlikely that it will be possible to sew a braid on the steering wheel quickly, then for some time you will have to drive with the old, boring steering wheel constriction.

original braid

The material should preferably not be too thick. so that your hands don't get tired. For short distances, this is not a significant factor, but with prolonged use of a thick "steering wheel", fatigue will be noticeable.

Bulky inserts

It is unlikely that foam inserts under the braid will help. At first, they will add softness, although they will increase the thickness of the wheel. For cars with a thin steering wheel, this may turn out to be a bonus, but during operation such a thickener is enough lose shape quickly. The outer material due to this state of the foam rubber will sag and will scroll along the diameter.

For those who do not know how to make a braid on the steering wheel with their own hands voluminous and at the same time preserve the shape of the “steering wheel” for a long time, we can advise use gel pads. It will not flatten, as it is based on containers with an incompressible substance. It is enough to protect such a steering wheel from punctures and burns.

Braid with gel inserts

Basic parameters for selection

In order to determine the required size of the material for the braid, it is not necessary to remove the steering wheel. It is enough to take a tailor's meter and take a measurement on the outer part of the rim. This will be the base setting. You also need to measure the diameter of the rim to determine the desired width of the upholstery strip.

At the same time, an addition of 3-5 mm per seam is taken into account. Most often, the outer diameter is in the range of 35-41 cm. A smaller steering wheel is typical for sports-style cars, and they prefer to put a larger diameter on executive class cars. In addition to aesthetic perception, there are legally approved standards for steering wheel sizes.

Types of lacing with kapron thread

According to Russian GOST, the rim diameter should not exceed 40 mm.

Not all traffic police officers are at the post with a caliper for measurements, but with a clear discrepancy, you can get punished for such an excess.

Do-it-yourself braiding

Reliable tools and high-quality carefully selected material will help to get a good result. Let's bring leather steering wheel tuning example. To make a braid, you will need to stock up on the following set:

• leather strip approximately 120x10 cm in size and a few additional flaps;
• lasting nylon cord for firmware, about 3 meters, it can be replaced with leather twine;
• breakdown for perforation under a lace;
• minimum two needles from 50 mm long and a hook with a small head for tightening a nylon thread;
• pair of tailors thimbles;
• skein food film and a roll of tape
• drawing A1 sheet for the pattern.

Decorative seam on braid

There are two steering wheel options. In one case, only steering wheel tuning is used, and in the second, the spokes are also upholstered. Both options look nice when done neatly, but the method of decorating without upholstery of knitting needles is considered to be less laborious.

Spokeless steering wheel

In this case, you can get by with a strip of leather, the length of which is calculated by the formula, multiplying the number pi (3.14) by the length of the diameter. Additionally, you can use a tailor's meter to carry out empirical measurements of the outer circumference. At the same time, until the last stitching of the tape into a ring, you need to make a small stretch on the skin, as it will stretch slightly on the handlebar.

The ring can be made not only from a single piece, but also from combinations of perforated and smooth elements, material with extruded milling or relief embossing, using multi-colored inserts of various skin tones that harmoniously fit into the overall interior of the cabin.

Seam types

Allowances left for sewing parts of the braid, needs to be covered with glue for the skin. This operation will add strength and subsequently prevent the threads that connected the pieces of the pattern from standing out at the joints. The seams may stick out due to the allowances of the skin. This is removed by lightly tapping the seals with a hammer.

For lacing, holes are prepared using a breakdown. It is a metal tube with one edge sharpened. Having pointed it with such a side to the skin, on the other hand it is necessary to hit with a hammer, we get a hole. The excess skin will go into the punch hole.

After marking along the entire side for sewing, you can punch perforation for lacing with thread or leather twine. It is difficult to buy such a line separately, and it is almost impossible to find a long two-meter piece of genuine leather. For this, it is used a device made of a knitting needle and a sharply sharpened simple pencil.

Making a leather cord

They are tightly fastened to honey with adhesive tape and a spiral is drawn on a leather flap. The tip of the needle is held over the line drawn in pencil. Parallelism is observed between the edges of such an Archimedean spiral, which most engineers studied in universities. The thickness of the twine must be made at least 3-4 mm, otherwise it will break with a strong tightness.

To pull such a cord, you will need to use an awl. The process will be longer, but the result will be more original than firmware with a nylon thread.

It will be more convenient to start lacing immediately after the knitting needle. So the knot will not be "striking" in the eye. The operation is performed by several types of cross lacing. The simplest options are a cross or successive stitches. It is preferable to tighten after a full pass through the sector between the nearest spokes.

For better fixation, you can pour a little shoe glue with a syringe into the incision between the braid and the steering wheel until it is completely tightened. Heating the glued surfaces with a hair dryer will better distribute the liquid. Additionally, smoothing is applied on the outer side of the braid.

Punch for perforation

Knots of nylon cords must be smeared with superglue so that they don't get loose. Nylon slides between each other, and a small amount of glue will fix it in one place.

spoked steering wheel cover

A more complex option involves making patterns for sewing upholstery. It is done with the help of cling film, we wrap all the places for new upholstery with bark. We fix such a base with molar tape. After that, we draw the seams with a marker and number the resulting pattern details. On a separate sheet, we draw the layout of the numbered parts.

Now you can carefully cut the molar tape along the marked seams. The resulting parts are straightened and outlined on sheet A1. Then we cut out the patterns, taking into account the addition of dimensions to the connecting seams.

Step 1. We wrap it with a film, then with tape and number the sectors Step 2. We form patterns for sectors Step 3. Trying on stitched patterns on the steering wheel Step 4. Sew up all the seams Step 5. Putting the Decor and Buttons in Place

We sew the parts on a typewriter along the length of the steering wheel. You definitely need to do a little stretch. We punch perforation for lacing. Now you can fix the braid on the steering wheel and lace up the seam. First you need to remove the plastic decor and the cartridge with the airbag. After lacing, we return everything to its place. If necessary, glue the gap between the steering wheel and upholstery. Dry the glue with a hair dryer.