FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
Yes we do! You can purchase all of our Courses on DVD here: Lucky Needle Courses on DVD
Yes, we are proud to support our military and veterans. Just send us an email from the contact form and we will set you up with a military discount.
I buy my supplies from a combination of local suppliers and online. My favorite online supplier is Albright’s supplies. I also recommend finding and getting to know your local suppliers as well.
I always recommend using Weldwood Landau Top Contact Cement. Also, this is the gun I use Central Pneumatic Automotive / Industrial Air Paint Spray Gun.
Absolutely YES! I highly recommend you start with The Apprentice Course. I designed this course to teach you from the very beginning and build your skills to the point where you are ready to take some of the more advanced courses available here.
I personally use size 92 bonded polyester from Coats with a size 18 or 19 needle. There are other good thread brands available. The important thing is to use bonded polyester for the UV protection. Make sure to watch this video about choosing proper needle size.
I have had and used many machines over the years. In these courses I am using a Juki LU-562 with a clutch type motor. This is the first machine I ever owned and started my upholstery business with. I chose to use this machine in the videos because I wanted to show you that you don’t need a new expensive machine to do great work. I payed $600 on Craig’s List for this machine 10 years ago and I was in business.
Make sure to download our free sewing machine buyers guide HERE for more information on what machine is best for you.
I don’t specifically cover boat or marine upholstery in any of the courses yet. I do plan on making a course on this topic in the future. However most of what you learn in The Apprentice Course and The Seats Course will directly apply to boat upholstery.
Currently I don’t host any live training. I am considering this for the future. If you are interested please feel free to email me telling me about your interest and what you would like to see in a live training event.
Apprentice Course
For this type of upholstery because we sew through many thick layers you need an industrial walking foot. Check this video to see exactly what that is. You can probably get away with practicing your basic seams on a home style machine but once your ready to make something like a seat cover that machine will not be able to handle that much material.
Make sure to download our free sewing machine buyers guide HERE for more information on what machine is best for you and your budget.
It depends on your budget. If you’re just getting started I always suggest buying used. You can find some nice used machines on Craig’s List for a great price. Just make sure you get a walking foot. Most name brands will be good for you. Juki, Pfaff, Adler, Consew, Brother, etc.
Make sure to download our free sewing machine buyers guide HERE for more information on what machine is best for you and your budget.
If you are just starting out It’s a good idea to get a servo motor. They are much easier to control and you can adjust the speed setting. One of the hardest things for people when they are learning to sew is speed control. This will help speed up the learning process. If you buy a used machine that has a clutch motor you can but servo motors online for around $150 and they are easy to install.
Yes we do! You can purchase all of our Courses on DVD here: Lucky Needle Courses on DVD
Yes, we are proud to support our military and veterans. Just send us an email from the contact form and we will set you up with a military discount.
I buy my supplies from a combination of local suppliers and online. My favorite online supplier is Albright’s supplies. I also recommend finding and getting to know your local suppliers as well.
I always recommend using Weldwood Landau Top Contact Cement. Also, this is the gun I use Central Pneumatic Automotive / Industrial Air Paint Spray Gun.
Absolutely YES! I highly recommend you start with The Apprentice Course. I designed this course to teach you from the very beginning and build your skills to the point where you are ready to take some of the more advanced courses available here.
I personally use size 92 bonded polyester from Coats with a size 18 or 19 needle. There are other good thread brands available. The important thing is to use bonded polyester for the UV protection. Make sure to watch this video about choosing proper needle size.
I have had and used many machines over the years. In these courses I am using a Juki LU-562 with a clutch type motor. This is the first machine I ever owned and started my upholstery business with. I chose to use this machine in the videos because I wanted to show you that you don’t need a new expensive machine to do great work. I payed $600 on Craig’s List for this machine 10 years ago and I was in business.
Make sure to download our free sewing machine buyers guide HERE for more information on what machine is best for you.
I don’t specifically cover boat or marine upholstery in any of the courses yet. I do plan on making a course on this topic in the future. However most of what you learn in The Apprentice Course and The Seats Course will directly apply to boat upholstery.
Currently I don’t host any live training. I am considering this for the future. If you are interested please feel free to email me telling me about your interest and what you would like to see in a live training event.
Seats
Yes, I show you how to properly repair damaged foam in this course.
Yes, I show you how to make a new design and create your patterns for this design from scratch without using the old cover at all.
This course focuses mostly on creating and sewing seat covers. I do show you how to cut and shape foam and make a basic foam cushion on a bench seat. Creating full custom 3D seat foam was a little too advanced for this course. I will be covering this topic in a more advanced seats course in the future.
This course focuses mostly on creating and sewing seat covers. I do go into how to repair broken seat frames. However, creating seat frames and foam from scratch was a little too advanced for this course. I will be covering this topic in a more advanced seats course in the future.
Door Panels
I used to use 1/8” staples but those have become really hard to find. Now I use 5/32” and they work just fine.
This course covers the types of door panels you see in the pictures. Mostly you see panels like this is hotrods and older cars. Building 3D door panels is a very advanced subject and we need to learn this style first. I will be covering that subject in a future course.
Currently the course does not cover that style of modern door panel.
Carpet
No. The reason is because in order to make a seamless molded carpet like the factory you need expensive heat forming molds and equipment. The methods we teach in this course don’t require any of that special equipment. Also, I think this way looks better that the factory molded carpet anyways.
Headliners
Currently this course does not cover making a pattern If you don’t have the original headliner. This is because patterning a suspended headliner from scratch is very time consuming. Instead what I always do and I recommend is to buy a cheep premade headliner. Then cut that apart for your pattern. It will save you tons of time. I do understand sometimes this isn’t an option and will be adding this subject to the course in the near future.