Multi-piece Cluster Hood (Padded with 1/4" Foam)
This piece involves french seams. French seams are difficult around curves.. youtube has some great tutorials:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8r_HMAjWvU"]UPHOLSTERY BASICS - French-Seams on square corners - YouTube[/ame]
My template's outline is exactly where the seam should be. You can see 1st trial run in the background. I use about 3/8" overlap past the seam. I make tick marks that should match when doing the blind seam.
I use double-sided tape to stick the pieces together.
You want "leather against leather" when you do your blind seam. It seems easy, but becomes very complicated when you go to sew the rounded parts.
Here is after the blind seam.
I peel the double sided tape off the backside edges. Then apply more double sides tape to flatten both overlaps. I then use a mallet to flatten the seam.
I tried some different things on the backside. My cuts on the upper piece were way too thick. I probably did not need to cut at all.
On the inside section (outer curve).. it must stretch outwards to lay flat.. so you must cut slits and adhere down. Then you need to fill the gaps with small cut pieces.
On the inside section (inner curve).. you must remove sections so they do not overlap. My job was somewhat poor.. but worked fine.
Then do your top stitch on both sides of the seam.. Carefully. I hate ruining parts that are 90% done with a botched top stitch.
Here is an example of careless top stitching.. really makes you hate yourself on wasted hours of work.
