How to Make Bike Seat Covers

sitting of bicycle image by Andrew Buckin from Fotolia.com

Whether due to age or use, eventually the cover to a bike seat is bound to wear out. Purchasing new seat covers can be expensive, so by making your own, you can save yourself some cash. You will also be able to create you own personal bike seat cover that translates your own personal style and taste. If you can measure and know how to operate a sewing machine, you can make a bike seat cover in no time.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Bathing suit fabric
Measuring tape
Pen
Wax paper
Pins
Scissors
Sewing machine
Elastic
Safety pin

Step 1

Purchase approximately one-half yard of bathing suit material. Bathing suit material has stretch to it, as it consists of Lycra or spandex. It will be easier to work with and fit more uniformly to the bike seat.

Step 2

Remove the bike seat from the post, if possible. You will be able to measure and make your seat pattern with the seat attached to the post, but removing the seat will make this step easier.

Step 3

Tear off a sheet of wax paper that is a little larger than the bike seat. Lay the seat face down on the wax paper and trace around it. Add one-quarter inch to the sides of your pattern and cut out. The extra quarter-inch allows for the seams.

Step 4

Measure the sides of the bike seat, noting the area's width and length. Add one inch to both measurements. Draw these measurements out on wax paper to form the pattern for the sides of the seat that will attach to the top cover.

Step 5

Lay your patterns out on the fabric and pin in place. Cut the fabric to the size of your bike seat pattern pieces.

Step 6

Join the ends of the sides together, wrong sides facing each other, and make a one-inch seam, joining the pieces together. You should end up with one big loop.

Step 7

Pin together the sidepiece of fabric to your top seat fabric, wrong sides together. Sew the two pieces of fabric together. You should end up with what now looks like a bike seat cover.

Step 8

Fold the bottom edge of the sides towards the inside one inch, pinning in place. Sew a three-quarter inch seam around the edge, allowing a one-inch section to remain unsewn. This is where you will insert the piece of elastic.

Step 9

Cut a piece of one-half inch elastic three inches shorter than the diameter measurement of your sides. You need the elastic to be shorter so you will have some stretch to keep the bike seat in place. For example, if the side measurement is 20 inches, you will want your elastic piece to be 17 inches long.

Step 10

Pin a safety pin to the end of the elastic and slip through the seam opening. Pull the elastic through until it exits the opposite end of the seam. Pin the elastic together and sew a seam. Sew the seam opening close. Place the bike seat cover over your bike seat, adjusting as necessary.

Article Written By Joyce Starr

Joyce Starr is a professional writer from Florida and owns a landscaping company and garden center. She has published articles about camping in Florida, lawn care and gardening and writes for a local gardening newsletter. She shares her love and knowledge of the outdoors and nature through her writing.

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