Homemade dash mat/cover?

beckid wrote:
Has anyone made a dash mat? I know one company sells them but I'm wondering if I can do it less expensively myself. What materials would be used? DH thinks indoor/outdoor from Lowes would work

I'm wondering the same thing myself. I've already traced the template. I'd prefer something that can go in the wash (rather than carpet) given our 2 dogs, but don't want something that will slip when they jump on or off the dash.

DH and I looked at Joanne's yesterday and weren't sure about any of the materials - looked at marine vinyl, some of the other vinyl products on the $8/yard table, and the outdoor cushion fabrics (which seemed much too slippery)

Will be watching this thread for ideas.

Michelle

this is the site for the couple in florida i commented on.covers by josie prices starting @ 99.95 plus other deals.

I did find a company online and they were asking $250.00 for a dash mat which I thought was too much. I may try to do it myself by making a pattern with butcher paper and going from there. If it turns out good I'll post photos... if not back to the drawing board!

Had one custom made for mine in Quartzsite, the guy made a pattern with tin foil then cut the material to fit and sewed it together. If it would help you, only saw him one year don't think it was much of a profit after the time he spent doing it.

bought mine from a couple in florida, cannot for the life of me remember the name or their web site. I did not think the price was out of line and the quality and fit were great.

We found some rubber backed bathroom rugs at Bed Bath and Beyond.
Bought 2 and fit well. Dog liked them. That is all that counts.

We went to Home Depot and shopped the "odd sizes" bin in the carpet dept and found the perfect stuff - a dark grey very short nap. DW cut it with regular scissors. We wound up with a two-piece cover - one for the bulge over the dash, the other for the flat areas.

Cost about $20.

We'd picked up some heavy fabric at Joanne's that was much too light and wouldn't stay in place. But it made a very nice pattern for cutting the new stuff.

Go with a dark color to minimize reflections in the windshield.

al

If the commercial ones are the molded type, I think some indoor outdoor carpet will look like, .... well, indoor outdoor carpet.
bumpy

I've seen those dash covers and WOW what they charge you for them!

You could go to any Joannes fabric and pick up material that matches what the companies that sell them use. Literally thousands of materials to choose from at these fabric box stores. Velour and Suede are popular dash mats.
http://www.dashmat.com/