Hello everybody. Wondering if by the grace of god someone out there is an auto upholsterer (or has done a DIY) and has a pattern for the Limited seats. I've got a '97 limited with power seats but I believe any of the power seats will do..

I'd take the covers off my truck (DD) and sit on foam for a few days but I honestly don't know that I'd be able to accurately make the pattern. In order to get an upholsterer to make new covers I want to have a pattern or I've got to pay them to make a pattern....extra time and a lotta money.

I've found an upholsterer who will make faux leather seat covers for a full set (front and rear seats) for $600 total. She will charge $500 if she has to make the pattern. My other option is to go the Katskinz route (quoted at $1400 including install) or get a full set on eBay for $1000 (US Auto Seat Cover) and install myself

Getting New foam too?

That is what I did, didn't think I needed it but upholsterer said it would help.

It was much more than help, it makes the seats baby soft yet firm and supportive, better than new.

I just went with whatever pattern they had, new is still better, cost about $700 for both fronts, bottom and tops.

Heard nothing but good about Katzkinz, but they are a little spendy.

Yes! Putting in a memory foam layer on the seat and slight lumbar support (in the driver's seat that is...passengers will have OEM...)

And yeah -- that's around the price I saw for just the front covers. I'm looking for the pattern these companies use (for the front and rear if possible.) Basically the upholsterers either use existing patterns (from doing past work) or create their own patterns by taking off the seat covers and then remeasuring and building a new pattern. Takes a lot of time and is a big part of the cost for auto upholstery work as far as I know.

Can't your upholstery guy just remove the passenger seat to determine the pattern? From there the most downtime will be from redoing the foam in your driver's seat.

Lseat.com is popular in E30 circles. Maybe not the pinnacle of quality, but better than old, dry leather nonetheless.

Yeah she definitely can, like I said the problem is that creating the pattern is almost half the time / cost. That's why I came here to see if anyone had the specs. Seems to be a very difficult thing to find though, I haven't found a DIY on it. I would even be interested in buying the pattern from someone as well. Even buying the patterns for the seats from someone else who has already done this job would be cheaper.

I don't have an industrial sewing machine or the skills to do it myself but here's a short video that visualizes some of the steps necessary to actually do this.

If I end up paying for an upholsterer to do the whole job I'm honestly considering keeping the pattern and starting a 3rd Gen Upholstery business lmao

Fair enough. Have you looked into other upholstery shops? $600 + 500 is not a good deal. Faux leather is marketing magic for some shit vinyl you'd find in an old work truck. Naugahyde too. The Katzkin looks like a fair deal by comparison. I'd just go self-install new foam and Lseat covers.

I have some extra seat covers? pay for shipping and I will send you a complete seat. it's not mint condition but you can use it for the pattern so you don't have lose a seat waiting on a pattern.

I have done 6x seats in these trucks now, 2x brand new everything, 4x new foam and salvaged passenger side seat covers from decent junk yard trucks. all with seat heaters added in, I live in the frozen north.

having done the seats I can confirm $700 should give you 2x front seats that are as good as new. it's not cheap to live the dream.

Yeah I've looked at four different spots. I'm actually supplying the fabric myself so the price I'm hoping to pay is just the labor of actually sewing the final pieces (but it's looking like I'm gunna have to pay for the pattern making too.)


Will PM you. I think I'm going to see if I can convince my girlfriend to learn pattern making, she's awesome with sewing but we don't have the proper sewing machine to work with the materials I'm looking for. Could def use a spare set to work with if we end up going that route...looks unlikely that I'll find a pattern.

It's crazy, I have found everything I could ever imagine on this forum from why I need Honda windshield washer nozzles to what exact 20 cables I need to put a Scion stereo in my truck...but I bring up upholstery and nobody has the goods...I think I see a business opportunity in the lack of sewing / pattern-making / upholstery knowledge haha

If I figure out how to do this I will post a thread!

I paid about $350 for a new seat cover and foam bottom for my driver's seat a few years back on ebay

Yep that's about what I'm looking at from a few places quoted from a local upholster (including install.) $700ish for the front two and around 700+ for the rear seats. Total job at $1300-1500.

Give me a couple days; because I think I’ve got what you’re after.

If not; I can get it.

I did this once.

Well, started too.

I found some RealTree covered canvas, (still have a damn good bit of it actually) that’s was almost like a suede feel. I was going to do black canvas and that RealTree, with black piping.

I took my old seats apart; and used them for ‘templates’ to cut out the canvas; adding about 1/4” all around to be safe.

Let me see if I can find some pics.


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Awesome--Thank you!!

Sorry to resurrect the dead, but did you ever find this stuff?