Thanks guys; so glad you're getting some positives out of this effort.
Sounds good Jim, just PM me when you're thinking of something like that.
Today: Sewing and installing the dinette "back-wall" cushion.
With the fabric cut, it was time to sew a seam at each of the four corners. These are short, shouldn't be too hard - right?
From the back side, I folded over the first corner into a 45. Lowered the presser foot, and gingerly put my own foot down on the throttle.
Upon flipping it over and turning it inside in, (outside out?) I got this.
Of course that sharp corner was expected. And as expected, I didn't like it. I had pre-planned a "miter" to the corner, and DW showed me how.
The gist is to cap off the seam with a short perpendicular cross seam. To get there, you fold the fabric/corner into a sort of "house peak" shape, with the first seam straight up and down in the vertical.
Depending on the project, you might fold the first seam to one side or the other, or cut a small slice and fold to both sides. I just folded to the "sides" of the finished cushion.
And "hand-rolled" several stitches, then went back over it - for kicks, if nothing else.
That capped off the sharp corner like this. It's not perfect, and each corner looked slightly different, but it made for a better finish in my mind.
Here's all four.
Then it was back out to the shop.
Here I took a little scrap and added it to the foam rubber length, as the Skamper Camper cushion used, was a little shorter than our dinette area, and even the shortened area we were covering on the wall.
That's on top of the carpeted plywood platform board, carpet face down now.
I cut the Thermolam corners and fitted it to the foam size.
Then rolled it over, folded it in, and stapled it (3/8" T50 staples) to the board.
Then did the same with the fabric. Now here is some discussion.
The foam is thin (1.5") and weak. Easily compressed. So instead of having a "mitered corner" box cushion, it was like, "pull that sucker in tight". No need for the seams or anything!
This would have just as easily been done with a flat piece of fabric, and folded, trimmed corners! But oh well, like my Mother told me after I was lamenting how my my disc-jockey schooling didn't lead to my actual career, she said, "no experience or schooling" is wasted. It all adds to "foundation".
I could tell you stories about my Mom's strengths! Especially in the workplace of the 60s and 70s, and in light of what I agree is an imbalance between the genders in our society, something that's starting to become a subject of worthwhile discussion - but maybe I'll save that reflection for when we do
"Fairweather June". Suffice for now, that I take a stand for the respected balance of both! Working together!
Anyway, the fancy corners I created, made for a nice spot to pull down into the plywood corners!
I had to trim some out to get the folds satisfactory. And the results were like this.
I guess the seams actually worked well, even if the installation took on a slightly different use of same.
Set in place it was something like this.
Now to fasten it to the wall, I wanted visual balance, and screws into framing, not just paneling. As it turned out, that worked well with this pattern. I used 2" black construction (sheetrock) screws, with the brass decorative washers, in play throughout the camper.
And I liked that height for the slight visual of the cream colored trim behind, and at the top of the cushion.
Note the temporary spacer boards below the cushion holding it up 2"
Drilling the screw holes through the cushion (big enough to help prevent screw twist to the fabrics) was CRAZY! First I used a leather punch on the carpet side. Then 1/8" drill bit through the wood, pressed down on a scrap board edge through the foam, the Thermolam, and the fabric. The Thermolam was the least cooperative, but worked best with firm (two knees and full body weight) on top of the carpeted board, full foam/fabric compression and drill pressure downward into the scrap wood edge below. The Thermolam really wanted to twist up. Tough Stuff!
Here's the one end, and access to the internal camper corner bracket.
And the other end.
The space underneath.
And with other pieces in place.
Note the wall cushion's height is handy for an arm rest. And with the mounting screws in the middle of the cushion's height, the cushion is flip-able if the top ever gets soiled or worn.
These poly wrapped foam pieces will "compress" further as the covers get put on. There's a sizing method to that end; something I learned about regarding how big to size your foam, and covers. So that'll be next. If I can figure out how to do it.
