A gift for the man who has everything!
If you have some basic sewing skills, this project shows how to make a pleather cover for golf clubs. Of course, you have the option to use pleather or leather, but remember to use the right sewing-machine needles for either one.
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If you are looking for a unique gift for the man who has everything and have some basic sewing skills, this project shows how to make a pleather cover for golf clubs. Of course, you have the option to use pleather or leather, but remember to use the right sewing-machine needles for either one.
- Before you begin, place a small piece of Scotch tape on the bottom of your standard presser foot, using an craft knife or sharp scissors to cut out the area where the needle and thread pass through. This will enable you to sew without the vinyl sticking to the foot as you go.
- This pattern is designed to accommodate a 460cc driver. If the club you are making your cover for is smaller than this (a fairway wood, for instance), resize the pattern pieces using your printer settings so they are scaled to an appropriate size. The pattern as provided has ample room to accommodate a slightly larger club than 460 cc, so no adjustments should have to be made in that case.
- When you print your pattern pieces, the grey square on each piece should measure precisely 25mm x 25mm. If it does not, you will have to adjust your printer settings to prevent the document from being scaled during printing.
- Once you print off your pattern pieces, you will notice that all but one is labelled with "top portion" or "lower portion." This is because these particular pieces were too large to fit on one sheet of paper, and thus had to separate them into parts. In order to create each of these complete pattern pieces, first locate the top and lower portions of each respective piece and cut each out. Using the shaded areas on each piece as your guide, overlap the upper and lower sections and secure with Scotch tape.
YOU WILL NEED:
Printed and assembled pattern pieces
2 contrasting colours backed vinyl
1 package 5mm piping
Upholstery weight thread
Double-sided sellotape
Leather needles
Piping presser foot
Pinking shears
Fabric weights
Scotch tape
Stapler
Size 15 snaps and snap setter (or sew-in Velcro)
Standard sewing gear: shears, ruler, etc.
Other: Computer, printer
HERE'S HOW:
1. Lay out your pattern pieces on the back of your vinyl. Use weights to hold pieces in place; cut out. Cut out one piece of vinyl with each pattern piece. Label your pieces from A to F; set aside.
2. Locate pieces A and B. Fold over the straight edges of each piece by 25mm and secure with double-sided sellotape, using weights to weigh fold down as you go.
3. Secure fold by edge stitching first along the length of each edge opposite the creased edge and then along the length of each creased edge, as shown.
4. Line up straight edges of completed pieces A and B with the straight edge of
piece C, right sides facing, overlapping the flaps sewn in the previous step so the outer
stitched edge of piece A is aligned with the inner stitching on piece B (refer to photos
below). Adhere with double-sided sellotape; stitch into place.
5. Turn completed panel right-side up and edge stitch just above sewn seam, with seam pressed toward piece C. Leave the centre flap portion unsewn if sewing through the multiple layers seems to stress your machine. Set aside.
6. To embellish piece D, trace two cups of slightly different size onto the back of contrasting vinyl to create a ring as shown. Cut out. Cut out a circle that is slightly smaller than your outer ring so it can nest inside. In a word processing program, create a number template in your desired size; adjust printer settings to print out as a mirror image. Trace template onto back of vinyl and cut out. Finally, cut out two 2cm vinyl strips; use pinking shears along long edges. Arrange all pieces on piece D.
7. Adhere 2cm strips to piece D with double-sided tape. (Use a small piece of Scotch tape across the top of the pieces to anchor them into place as you go so they don’t shift and become crooked.) Edge stitch around perimeter of each to secure. Also use tape to adhere number embellishment to inner circle; edge stitch into place. Adhere completed number circle and outer ring to piece D with tape; stitch to secure.
8. Right sides facing, align pieces E and F at the wider of their narrow ends. Secure with double-sided tape; stitch. Trim seam, tapering at each edge, as shown.
9. Secure piping to embellished piece D with double-sided tape, aligning stitching on piping 10mm from the outer edge, as shown.
10. Fold piece D in half lengthwise and snip a small notch within the seam allowance to mark the top centre. Starting at this top centre mark on piece D and the joining seam on the side with the long straight edge of pieces E and F, align both sections right sides together at the outer edges. Secure with staples as close as possible to the outer edge as you go.
11. Use piping foot to stitch pieces together, taking care to ensure piping remains within the notch on the bottom of the foot the entire way around. Because the vinyl is such a heavy material, you will have to rely mainly on feel to determine the location of the piping during sewing.
12. Repeat steps 10 and 11 to join the remaining raw edge of the piece you just completed with your back flap piece from step 5.
13. Once your entire cover is assembled, trim the lower edge so it is even. (Note: Until this point, pieces will likely be quite uneven.)
14. Cut two 3cm x 33cm strips of vinyl. Use pinking shears along the top edge of one of the pieces, if desired. Starting at the centre front, use double-sided sellotape to adhere the pinked edge just above the raw lower edge of the cover as shown.
15. Flip cover over and adhere second strip with tape so it is precisely aligned on all edges with the first strip. When you come to the side seams, flatten them toward the centre joining panel, toward one another (see photo).
16. Edge stitch in a rectangle around the perimeter of the aligned strips, stopping stitching just beyond the outer edge of the cover (refer to photo). Trim off excess.
17. Attach snaps (or Velcro) to closure, as shown. If using snaps, make sure to mark snap locations before setting them so they are spaced evenly. I recommend using 3-4 snaps total.