How to Make a Pleated Seat Cover for a Motorcycle

X-HT-200646

If your motorcycle's vinyl seat cushion is ripped or worn, there's definitely something you can do about it. Our detailed how-to video will show you how to sew a new cover for your motorcycle and how to staple it in place. In our video, we're creating a gorgeous pleated seat cover. Pleating, or channeling, adds a high-end, expensive look and stylish design to an otherwise plain vinyl seat cushion. Join us in this video demonstration.

Video Chapters:

Patterning Scrim Foam & Fabric — 0:27 min.
Sewing Pleats — 3:04 min.
Installing Boxing — 5:12 min.
Topstitching — 10:17 min.
Stapling Cover to Seat — 11:28 min.
Materials List — 13:20 min.

Materials List:

Fabric Backed Sew Foam 58" (#124306)
EverSoft™ Smooth Indoor/Outdoor Black 54" Vinyl Fabric (#124470)
PremoBond® Tex 90 (V-92) Black UV Bonded Polyester Thread 4 oz. (1,350 yds.) (#123338)
3M™ Super 77™ Spray Adhesive Low VOC 18 oz. (#636100)

Tools List:

Tape Measure 120" (#102986)
Sailrite^® Short Nose Upholstery Staple Gun (#121410)
21 Gauge 1/2" (12mm) Staples 10,000/Box (Stainless Steel) (#8012SS)
Sailrite^® Ultrafeed^® LS Walking Foot Sewing Machine (#311502)
Paper, Marker, Scissors, Yardstick

Our original motorcycle seat did not have pleating, but that's OK. You can sew pleats into the new cushion cover using something called scrim foam or fabric backed sew foam. This thin foam has a fabric backing so you can sew through it to create the pleats or channeling effect. When sewing with sew foam, something you have to watch out for is fabric shrinkage that occurs when sewing the foam to your vinyl upholstery fabric. The video will cover how to anticipate and be prepared for this.

Vinyl upholstery fabric is a great choice for motorcycle seating. It is highly water resistant, very abrasion and UV resistant, and easy to clean. It also looks sleek and stylish and complements a motorcycle design very well. We carry a wide variety of vinyl fabrics from all the top brands including Morbern^®, Naugahyde^®and EverSoft™.

In this video, you'll learn how to pattern your seat cover using the existing one, how to sew pleats, and how to create your own boxing. You'll also learn how to sew topstitching along the top of the cover for a finished, professional-looking seat. Once the cover is finished, we'll show you how to staple it in place to the wood backer board of your motorcycle seat.

To handle the thickness of the sew foam and upholstery vinyl, we're sewing with the Sailrite^® Ultrafeed^® LS Walking Foot Sewing Machine. This walking foot sewing machine handles incredibly thick fabric assemblies with ease.