doing a cross stitch on my new Momo Italy wood steering wheel.

not easy. This will take 3 days at the rate I'm going.

 

It seems a shame to cover all that Beautiful wood!
I would drive with gloves.
Come to think of it, I DO drive with gloves!
(';')

 

Elinor that's because I don't want to damage the finish. And leather feels like gloves. And it looks awesome in black leather and wood.

 

Very interesting.

1. Reminds me of decades ago. Folks got seat covers for their new cars to protect the upholstery?? The original in wool or mohair, very comfortable. Attractive and well done.
first some awful straw in weird colors. I plead guilty to at least four. sets. Not in new cars, but in cars that had decent seats. Then even worse, the clear plastic. OJ, nice original visible. But cold in winter and hot in summer, never, "just right". Happy that custom is in the past. The velour in my little Olds Achieva and the T bird before it most comfortable. but, I am OK with the vinyl in my Jeep and the Jaguar.

2. Jose: the Ileather does look nice on that nice wood. Are you using a curved needle and thread that will not rot away. Human perspiration is tough stuff !!!

3. I think that is the stich surgeons used before brads and glue!! I've attempted it a time or two. Why not recalled, but for sure not on flesh!!!

Carl

 

Carl
I am doing cross-stitching, it requires two straight needles, one at each end of the thread. You cross a hole with one needle, then across it with the other to form an "X". Very difficult because I get confused and end up screwing it and have to pull the thread out and restart. If the phone rings and I answer, when I get back I have lost the rythm and have to figure it out again.

Then I use a curved needle to pull the previous two or three "X" stitches tight while pulling on the two other thread ends. It is starting to look "pro".

Today I'm doing another quarter and that's it, this is not an easy job. No wonder they charge $300.00+ to re-cover steering wheels in leather. Wearing blue rubber gloves helps with grabbing and torquing the thread and holding and pushing the needles through the leather.

I'll post a picture when I finish. The combination of black leather and wood spokes looks awesome, and the color tone of the Momo steering wheel matches the dash and console panel perfectly. I got this wheel from David. Then Saul at British Autowood did the horn push center ring because he owed me !

 

Jose:

Wow, even more complex than I envisaged. Nice work.


Elinor: Apologies for seeking to "correct" a lady. Aa words are of great interest to me, I'll risk it. The device to move stuff on one wheel is a wheel barrow . An relation to barrow ditch not known to me...

Carl. .

 

Probably has something to do with where/when one grew up, Carl.
Where I grew up Everyone knows what a borrow ditch is, and also the contrivance of half a barrel on a frame with one wheel at the front.
If it bothers you that much I'll consider "correcting" it.
(';')

 

 

Elinor:

It does not. If it suits you, that is good enough for me. Never thought of the 1/2 barrel plus wheel theory.

So, my interest in words and their meanings is enhanced.

So, I owe you thanks...

Carl

 

Day 3 or 4, can't remember. Only halfway there. I'll do another quarter today.

 

Now that you have so much done and I can see the difference, and more of the cabin shows in the picture, that Will look nice when finished!
(';')

 

Looking great.

Reading with interest. I have a '57 Cadillac steering wheel I'd like to leather wrap too.

A couple of questions-

What was the source of the leather wrap and supplies you used for yours? I'm familiar with Wheelskins and ordered their sample package, but are there others?

The intersection of the wheel and the spoke - is it simply cut leather, or is the leather folded on itself to make a more finished edge?

Did your steering wheel have scallops on the back for your fingers, and if so, how did the leather follow that contour?

Thanks!

 

Hi,
I prefer the Superior "Superskin" leather covers, the package comes with 2 needles and 2 spools of thread. Also comes in 4 grip sizes, A, B, C, D. They are in Memphis Tennessee, they make them solid or perforated ("Sport Grip"). I prefer the solid.
here's their page: SuperSkin

I get them at O'Reilly's, ( a lot cheaper than eBay or Amazon and if needed, they exchange it ), I have used Superior covers since the 1990's in other steering wheels.

At this point, it is just the cut leather at the spoke and wheel intersection, but I am going to devise something so the spoke is fully finished up the the wood spokes cover. Folding it over itself is a good idea. Thanks.

yes, the steering wheel has scallops on the top rear third, and on the 9:00 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions the wood starts to widen too until the 11:00 o'clock and 2 o'clock position. But the leather stretches nicely as you tighten it, so it assumes whatever shape the steering wheel has.sideways, rear, or whatever. The longer it sits over the shapes, the more it assumes the shape. The Superior leather is a lot more pliable (less hard) than the Wheelskins leather.

TIP: I measured the grip of this steering wheel to be 4 1/8", so I purchased Size D. Turned out it was too much leather overlapping itself. Then I tried Size C, still too much. I settled on Size B because when you tighten it, the two edges come together nicely. The lady at O'Reilly's told me: "HONEY NEXT TIME BRING THE STEERING WHEEL !!"

 

 

Daf11e,
I got carried away with the muffler tips for the other car and took a break from the leather cover which was swelling my hands!
I'm getting back to it today.

 

Jose, by the time you return to that wheel you'll have to re-learn the stitching technique!

 

I'm on break! I restarted stitching and I already made 2 mistakes! had to pull everything back. Good times, Bad times, you know I've had my share...

 

Finished!

now to the S type tailpipe tips!

 

 

Daf11e I agree, it was too much wood, now the mix of wood and black is balanced. Thanks!