Handmade suede shift boot
 

My stock boot was starting to crack and tare where the leather creases, so with my Sunday, I decided to go to the fabric store, bought some high-end black suede, some upholstry thread and needles.
3 Hours of measuring,cutting a stitching later...

Here's the outcome! I'm extremely happy with the results.
Only thing now is a new shift knob, I was thinking the MOMO "Gotham" knob, but was also thinking of going unique and machining my own at work... We'll see.

Let me know what you guys think.

How much did you pay for the suede and how big was the hide?

They sold it in linear 6ft sections, so I went with a 2ft x 6ftx (12sqft) for $23
They offered some cheaper suede but this was clearly the stuff to get after checking them out.
I only used about 2sq ft for the boot, so I have a lot left over. I was thinking of splashing suede in a few more areas.

One more pic of the new one, and another pic of the reason I made this to begin with...

Looks good. If that is genuine leather suede, then it's quite an awesome deal.

Any ideas on where else the suede might look decent?

I was thinking of a few possibilities...
Door handle bezels
The hood over the gauge cluster
Parking brake lever (looks difficult...)
I'd like to do the armrests but they seem like they'd have clearance issues

Thanx-
Yes it's real leather suede. Thick stuff at that too... Was a bit nerve racking when the time came to squeeze it between the two rings. I thought for sure I was going to damage the bottom, but I took an extra few minutes to make certain I wouldn't ruin almost 3hrs of work.

Not bad at all.

How'd you make that I want one!

leave it as is, dont attempt any of those places.

the hood over the gauge cluster would look weird

they make parking brake covers that slide over it but they look like crap

my opinion is to buy some red thread and use a sewing machine to get some nice red threaded lines where the seams are. thats what i think you should do with the rest of the fabric.

wow thanks guys
This was the first thing i've ever stitched myself.
I took a lot of time measuring, because I understood the pattern would ultimately determine how the boot sits in the console, and leaving room to curl the suede for the top collar of the boot was important too.
The pictures don't do this justice to be honest. I'll pop the console off and snap some pics after work 2mro.
I intended on taking pics as I went through the project but I got caught up in a rythm and didn't want to throw myself off.

It took a lot of thinking, making sure to have enough room to do everything and keep things lined up and straight.
If anybody's really interested in doing this, let me know while I still have the materials on the table. I'll piece together a DIY when I get home 2mro.

EricB.
I was thinking of making the seam/hem in red stitching, actually really torn about it.
Like you said, I don't have a sewing machine, and red stitching after the crease would require a perfect line.
In the end I decided to see how it looks, and after seeing the results of a back hidden stitching, my taste is actually leaning against the contrasting thread.
Thanks for your 2 cents on the components.

I have done my steering wheel and hand brake handle. For my shiftboot, a high torque sewing machine was a must in order to get the stitching I wanted. Leather isn't the easiest to stitch as you already know :rofl: .

My steering wheel took a total of 26-28 working hours (split into two weeks) to do even with some leather experience. It came out really well, but trust me, if I had to do it again even if I'm provided with free material, I wouldn't. I wouldn't even do it for a friend when he offered me $200 :rofl: .

I used cow hide and bees waxed red nylon thread. The specific thread and bees wax had to be shipped from a friend in Canada since I couldn't find the right thread anywhere, even online. I tried using red dyed silk thread in the past, but it lost its color quick.

:icon_tup:Looks really good.

SayNo-
I'm glad you mentioned the steering wheel troubles, because I've been considering it, but after going over the process in my head, it certainly seems like it'd be a hair puller to do right... yes, leather's a PITA to thread clean.
Have any pics of the hand brake? I have a few ideas tossin around but not sure what would look best.

That looks great... I wouldn't even attempt that because I know it wouldn't come out looking that clean.

As for ideas for other locations... the roof liner would look pretty nice, though it would require a larger piece than you have left over. Also, the little door insert things (can't think of what to call them) wouldn't look bad. I'm talking about the sections in the door that would be red for the red/black interior.

edit... here's a link to someone that did what I was talking about with blue suede: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/my-blue-suede-rx-8-a-39324/

Again, the door would probably require a little more than what you have, but you should have a piece big enough to at least get started on the rear doors or maybe one side's front and rear.

Thanks for the comment-
Yeah, I was thinking of changing the red door panel inserts, but I'd like to keep that on the side-burner until I'm ready to let go the red/black interior.
The roof liner would be awesome. I saw somebody on here with a black suede (poly-suede) roof and it looked great. I'm just concerned about using proper adhesives and the possibility of the fabric sagging down after temperature changes, humidity, and time...kinda like you see on older cars.
Steering wheel would be great, but I've determined it's beyond my current abilities as well.

I'm still set on the parking brake. I've been doing a little surfing/research on similar projects with heavy fabrics. I think I can do it, but it's going to take a lot measuring and plotting.
Worse case- I waste some time, a little suede, and I learn a thing or two.
I'll be sure to post things as I go this time. Might as well keep it in the same thread. I'll change the title when the project is under way

Tonight- Brainstorming
Tomorrow- Measuring
Wednesday- Picking up the fishing boat from storage :)
Thursday- Stenciling-Tracing-Pinning
Friday- Cutting-Stitching
Saturday-Cutting-Stitching
Sunday- Hopefully in the final stages for a late night finish...

LOL, we'll see how well I can hold up to the plan.

Unfortunately, the door inserts aren't inserts, they are an integral part of the door panel.

Nice job on the boot!

Thanx-
Yeah, I remember the red portion of the door panel is fixed to the panel. I'm confident i could still pull it off, but like I said, I'd like to keep the 2 tone pieces as is for now.

Today... I began making measurements and plotting things out for a portion of the hand brake lever.
I've concluded to make a full wrap of the lever, all black plastic to be wrapped in suede.
I've determined it's very doable, just really complicated. I'm not going to let it be pudgey or loose. I'm going to bind it all with a thick black thread, was thinking red, but would rather be safe than sorry after the time it will take.

Not bad for $23

Here's $65 lol
Attachment 289378

I like the knob with the black suede (looks like poly-suede)
You did a good job on the side console pieces.
I plan on changing mine, but I don't think I'll be going with CF laminate.