Disaster!!!

[bumperblue]

Yesterday decided that the original blue fabric parcel cover could do with a clean after 20 years. Anyway, had a good look at it and also realised the colour had completely faded, more a splotchy pastel blue than dark blue like the underside or in the pockets. So, brain wave! Bought some dark blue wash and dye powder from a well known manufacturer. Took the metal and elastic bits off and placed in washing machine, 30 degree wash, no eco mode and no prewash, dont you know. And waited the 38 mins. Imagine my delight when when peering through the glass door I saw a perfectly blue cloth - result!! Errrr no, opened door grabbed cloth and my hand literally tore through the fabric, whoops, put to hand around the bundle and carefully pulled it out. The cloth was torn in quite a few places and you could actually just with a finger a thumb rub them together and the material disintegrated. Either the material had deteriorated more than I imagined or there had been a reaction with the dye. So, two things anyone a) know what sort of material the cover was made of and is it available (its kind of like a stretchy smooth dralon. b) dont go near a washing machine, we are not qualified and only bad things happen.

 

[Hilux]

May I assume you have the split seat cover?

If its still roughly in shape (as a template) I would have thought a good vehicle upholsterer may be able to find something to match?

 

[bmnelsc]

I had the same problem with my black one (S2 split seat) - didn't wash it but it was extremely faded and easy to put fingers through (when pulling sideways on the fabric - front to back was still ok). My sister in law is handy with a sewing machine and after much searching to find fabric with a little stretch in both directions (very hard to find) she sewed a new panel over the existing cloth.

We did look at taking it completely apart and using it as a template but with the rivets on the end of the metal cross piece and the "grommet"s on the holes where the hatch cords come through it was looking difficult to do a proper job with a high standard of finish. The sewed on panel looks good tho when the cover is deployed and everything works as it should.

Also the cover is still complete for use as a template if I stumble across some proper fabric and an upholsterer who would take on the job.

 

[simkin911]

Bumperblue - I had this problem myself. One the blinds looked like it had been attacked by a "big cat".

I dropped a blind off at a local trimmers in July. They estimated £150-£200 to make an entire blind from stratch to factory spec but this was highly dependent on finding material of a reasonable match (more difficult in different colours too). I needed two.

In the meantime, I took my mum with me to a local fabric shop - we spent £7 on material and my mum (a long since retired seamstress) made a blind for me over a few hours. I gave her £20 to spend at the bingo since I'm a good son. []

The blind looked really quite good.

Stroke of luck two weeks ago - after months of looking for a decent blind on Ebay and missing out on a few around the £120 mark, I won one for £37! It's in excellent shape.

The trimmers got in touch this week to say they were still having difficulty sourcing factory specification material so I told them not to bother now.

I am sure the trimmers would have made a great job but I'm quite happy with what I have now.

 

[DivineE]

ORIGINAL: simkin911

In the meantime, I took my mum with me to a local fabric shop - we spent £7 on material and my mum (a long since retired seamstress) made a blind for me over a few hours. I gave her £20 to spend at the bingo since I'm a good son. []

The blind looked really quite good.

I see a reverse Victorian style business opportunity here, so much for having kids to feed the house. Use the older generations