How to Use Pattern in Making a Seat Cover

Whether you are using a pattern you've made yourself or buying one that will fit the seats you want to cover, figuring out how to use a pattern can get you well on your way to customizing your vehicle from the inside out.

Instructions

1. Cut out the pattern. Follow the lines provided on the pattern sheet for each piece of the pattern.

2. Lay the fabric you are going to use out on a clean table or floor space large enough for your piece of fabric to lay flat. If you are doing more than one seat cover from the same piece of fabric, fold the fabric in half. Then, arrange the pattern pieces carefully on the fabric. Try to arrange the pieces as efficiently as possible to get the most use out of the fabric.

3. Pin the pattern cutouts in place to your fabric. If you are cutting out a double layer, make sure that the pin goes all the way through both layers of fabric.

4. Begin to cut out your fabric following the pattern cutouts exactly. Leave 1 to 1 1/2 inches around the edges of your pattern when cutting out the initial piece. This keeps you from accidentally cutting too much around the edge of your fabric. Once the piece is cut from the fabric, you can then trim the edges to the appropriate size.

5. Assemble the fabric pieces according to the instructions. A good way to keep track of what you're doing is to mark on the back of the fabric with a fabric safe marker or pencil to keep track of which pieces go where. Sew the pieces together according to the instructions provided with the pattern, sewing your seat cover inside out to hide the seams.

6. Check to make sure that the new seat cover fits the car seat correctly without gapping or pulling. If there are any problems, mark it on the wrong side of the seat cover and then go back and make alterations as needed to the seams.