I caulked everything too before I caulked over the wheel well (had a leak in the storage locker). It stopped the leak. As far as polishing after you caulk--it will turn the caulk a grey color. I wish I could have polished the entire thing before caulking, but I had some leaks to take care of. The caulking that I did after I finished polishing looks a thousand times better than what I did before.
the cushions look great. i have a few questions? what size foam did you use? do the cushions have zippers in the back, piping on the edges? also how did you get the pattern for the small cushion that fits in the corner(on the backrest)? we are in the middle of building our dinette and I'm already nervous about the upholstery job. I'll try and post some pictures soon.
oh , i'm sure our dinette measurements are different, but how many yards of fabric did you use?
Nicole
First of all, of course --- thank you, it always feels so good when others like all the work I'm obsessing over!!
I used 24 yards of material, and could have used 27! I ended up with a different fabric for the bottom of the middle gaucho and the back of 2 backrests (though you can't tell). I didn't want to be sewing forever, so I did a simple pillow case type cover, with a strip of piping only in the front. I sewed the corners to get the box shape.. am I making sense? Oh yeah, and I hate doing zippers, so I did Velcro. I used thick Velcro so when the cushions sag or the fabric stretches out, I can adjust the Velcro to tighten it back up!
I used 4" foam for the bottoms and 3" for the back. I will carry a 1" piece to make up the difference when converting to the bed. As far as the curved cushion goes... my husband had complex cuttings to do out of wood and thought I'd have the same issue with the foam----- but I just used rectangular pieces and they look good to me. The foam doesn't need to be as exact as the wood. I did cover the foam with batting--- which I needed a lot of!
I wish I could have polished the entire thing before caulking, but I had some leaks to take care of. The caulking that I did after I finished polishing looks a thousand times better than what I did before.
This is what has bothered me the whole time I'm spending so much energy getting the caulking to look good! My husband is a caulking connaisseur so I had a lot to live up to!!
I think I found my leak though........>>>>>DUH<<<<<<<<<<<
There's an exterior outlet, that I've glanced at a thousand times. The gasket thing underneath looked decent ... from the bottom. It turns out there's a 1/4" gap on top slurping all the water and sending it down the interior of the wall, onto the wheel well, and onto the floor!!!! When I removed the plate it was wetter than my boys diaper... sorry... and muddy... I'll stop.
I HAD to caulk too. I must wait to polish.. I HAD to caulk .
I am such a bozo. I wanted to do these curtains sort of production-style.. I've thought about it so much, I thought I had it all figured out. So I took my 12 yards of curtain fabric and my 12 yards of black-out liner and began to sew one side together. The plan: have one side done, cut lengths and widths as needed- simplify. I checked and double checked that I was sewing the right sides together.....WRONG. uuugh. Oh well, such is my story.
I finished the front window panels after a long day of wrestling pins and scissors from my toddler!! The little bugger is very enterprising when he's getting less attention !
What I have learned:
1. Pretend to be someone else checking what you're doing- so you don't do something you know you're not doing .
2. DO NOT (unless you're a professional, or have endless money &/or patience) cut all your panels to start with- even if you think you've got it all figured out!! Disregard if you're imaginary friend says to.
3. Finish one set of curtains from start to finish. You learn a lot about little things that pop up which makes the rest easier. Like when you've never used the blind hem stitch on your machine and you drink a mocha, and you could of used an extra 1/2" to work with....After you've done that, then do them all production-line (less thread/presser foot/ stitch changing)!!
4. When doing the pleats: remember if you have a pattern (flowers/ stripes/ etc)- there will be an up-side down. I figured since there are pleats on both ends it won't matter... IT DOES. I used the old panel for a pattern... One side has a wider section- to attach to the wall & the end- is the middle of the window and is smaller. I have to fix that- cause I DUH-ed.
I put them up with a flash light last night!
Oh and Things the Husband Should Learn:
Say, with glorious excitement (hands slap cheeks), " WOW!! They are beautiful! They look so professional!! I can't believe it!! You are amazing! Now let me cook you dinner.!"
Last edited by sequoiacoast; 11-10-2006 at 09:05 AM.
Since you are thinking of me anyway, and its not THAT far past my birthday, wanna make me a set of drapes too? . Just foolin, Im sure yours look fantastic though, cant wait to see them.
Wow, am I empressed. Doing your own curtains. If you have noticed there have not been too many who have tried that. Also there were several things on my rig that I had to do over. You know the learning process. How about pictures of the curtain making process. Some of us guys could use a lesson or two. Keep us posted on the great work.
Don
Thank you boys!
I'll take pictures, good idea. I'll pretend to be a photo-journalist interviewing myself for a new show on HGTV.... "How long can one woman go without a shower".. no..."Airstreams and split personality disorder"...
I had to laugh when I read your description of the curtain ordeal, because I have been there. The only difference is, after a few failed starts, I neatly folded all of the fabric, placed it in a bag, and drove it to my mother's so she could finish them. Learned my lesson, too - on the second Airstream, I just gave her the fabric right from the start. More power to you for finishing them - looking forward to the pictures!
__________________
Mel
1960 Caravel "Boris"
1967 Safari "Sparky"
WBCCI BC Unit #4258
Since you are thinking of me anyway, and its not THAT far past my birthday, wanna make me a set of drapes too? . Just foolin, Im sure yours look fantastic though, cant wait to see them.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Are you freezing yet?? How about that furnace? You're supposed to figure it all out so I don't have to !
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Are you freezing yet?? How about that furnace? You're supposed to figure it all out so I don't have to !
Thanks! I think I told you that the guy helping me bailed out of the project. Currently I am thinking I will have a metal frame made to hold the furnace at the correct height for the old vents and go from there. How to make the outlet and ducts function is a conundrum I havent worked out yet. You know, I am suprised someone else hasnt already figured this one out....
Step 1:
Take measurements of curtain tracks. On mine there is an upper and lower. Pay attention to the lower rack (as it is shorter) for your measurements. I drew it out to help the feeble parts of my mind (the ones that constantly forget what you're doing).
If you can't read it- to get the measurements for cutting the fabric I added 7" to the width of each window track measurement. For example, my front window track measured 49" in width, so I cut 2 panels at 56" wide. The extra width allows the fullness in the curtain when it's closed. I added 11" to the length to accomodate 4" interfacing (pleater-tape) in the hems (top and bottom).
*My curtains have pleats on both top and bottom and are connected to top and bottom tracks.
>14 yds curtain fabric & liner (I used blackout)
>Interfacing for pleats (pleater tape- probably a made-up word-spellcheck thinks so) I used 4" stiff stuff, nothing fancy. Measure the widths of all curtain tracks, add 7", multiply by 4 = yardage of pleater tape.
> at least 3 spools of matching thread
{I am including many pictures but can't write inbetween- so I will have to post separately, sorry }
Step 2:
1. After you have the proper length and width cut of both curtain fabric and liner (and it's square) cut a 1 1/4" length off the liner.
2. With right sides together, sew down the sides (lengthwise), leaving the ends (top & bottom) open.
3. Turn right-side out press the panel so that the curtain fabric has an even reveal on the back.
4. Cut the pleater tape for the top and bottom. Insert into the panel, and fold fabric over. Be sure to put the pleater tape in low enough to fold over and overlap an additional 1"+. (use the pleater tape for a guide) Press/ pin. ( see pics)
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. Just foolin, Im sure yours look fantastic though, cant wait to see them.
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