Alcantara interior build

[m3f_ccaarmerci_00818b2657]

*Disclaimer* I origionally posted pictures of a terrible self sewing job I did on the rear headrests. That explains comments...



Rear Panels. Still not 100% perfect, but I'm happy with it. The fronts should turn out much better...





Origional

http://images56.fotki.com/v127/filePt7Y/6e808/3/1757683/9542029/OLDPANEL2.jpg



http://images55.fotki.com/v507/fileZEdV/6e808/3/1757683/9542029/OLDPANEL.jpg





New:



http://images107.fotki.com/v159/filevcyK/6e808/3/1757683/9542029/OLDPANELNEW.jpg





Update of rear headrests:



Still not 100% perfect, but for a DIY it's not bad. You can hardly see them from the front. All you can see is that they are alcantara... I did all my "learning" with the back pieces. The front should turn out much better.



http://images58.fotki.com/v85/fileTa5N/6e808/3/1757683/9542029/RearHeadrest.jpg





My steering wheel (Except in leather) for reference



http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj260/drnkmnkflyplane/e7fdd9c4.jpg









Left to do:



Dye Dashboard Black

Dye front panels black/ cover front door cards alcantara

Dye center console bits

Dye rear deck (Would cover in alcantara to match rear headrests, but I'm lazy)

Cover trim piece above glovebox in alcantara

Install my new purty black carpet



Done:

Black front Vaders

Black rear Vaders

Rear Panels

Rear Headrests





More to come...

[m3f_Maginnovision]

That's some mighty blue thread.

[m3f_Braymond14_63960d99c1]

Lol, the thread and stitch pattern are terrible.


A for alcantara

F for bad stitching choice


Get a machine and non-yarn thread.

[m3f_KBuva06_44ef6e0a42]

http://forums.audiworld.com/picture.php?albumid=59088&pictureid=70549


reminds me of this, just gayer

[m3f_BMVV_E36M_3a5659be53]

http://forums.audiworld.com/picture.php?albumid=59088&pictureid=70549



reminds me of this, just gayer

That stitching really bothers me when I look at it. :roll:

[m3f_ccaarmerci_00818b2657]

Even with a machine it'd be hard to do the inside stitches like OEM. It's not as obvious when they're in the car. I was going to only do the stitching on my shift boot/ e-brake boot. The rest of the alcantara will be stitchless. I don't think it'll be that obvious, but I gave it a shot. If it bothers me too much, I may do the cross stitch in black so it won't be as loud... I wanted it to be a little more subtle like the steering wheel stitch.

[m3f_TopElement_96789dddac]

That stitching looks hideous, but not as bad as the thread!

[m3f_Braymond14_63960d99c1]

Here is some inspiration on how to do it correctly.


http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=127656&d=1291810349


http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=127655&d=1291810349

[m3f_ccaarmerci_00818b2657]

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj260/drnkmnkflyplane/64c6cfd5.jpg


Starting to re-do it. Better, but not perfect. They're the rear headrests so I'm not worried if they aren't perfect.

[m3f_JPoland_e17b491a3d]

I think your effort is pretty commendable here. I'm not sure I'd have the adventuresome attitude to try doing this myself.

I'm certainly no expert here but much of the interior stitching I've seen has been tight with very short stitch lengths as where you're seem pretty long.

Rather than trying/retrying with Alcantera, use something else until you get the stich pattern down.



Just my $0.02

[m3f_EXQUZ M3]

wow, rough crowd.



I don't think you're going to be able to get it right without a machine though.

[m3f_JPoland_e17b491a3d]

wow, rough crowd.



I don't think you're going to be able to get it right without a machine though.



I was just trying to be constructive. As I said, I think it is pretty cool that he is trying this and of course something like this will be a learning experience.

[m3f_///Matthew_66b7d6fd1d]

Dude...

[m3f_hcaleman_e2771eaa1d]

The contrasting stitching is too loud for me to handle, even on the well stitched example. That is all a matter of taste though. The stitching technique, wow.



This isn't the type of thing you want to learn to do on the fly. Get a machine and start doing lots of trial and error before moving onto the real material. You could always give up and just bring it into an upholstery place to have them use your material.



Re-covering the headliner and pillars may be easier for you to tackle first. You'll probably drive yourself nuts trying to stitch seat covers, wait until you have to deal with the curves around the bolsters.

[m3f_EXQUZ M3]

I was just trying to be constructive. As I said, I think it is pretty cool that he is trying this and of course something like this will be a learning experience.



Your comment is mild and constructive --- others however ...