Sooner or later, you may have a question - how to reupholster the steering wheel with leather yourself? This can happen for various reasons, for example, you have a plastic steering wheel and you want it to look presentable. Or you already have an old leather steering wheel, but it has worn out over time and just needs to be updated! In general, there are a lot of reasons, including the general tuning of the car, today I want to tell you and show you a photo of such a wrap with comments, of course...
It should be noted right away that there are now three technologies for re-upholstery - covering. I'll list it point by point:
1) The easiest and cheapest way is to buy a Chinese universal case, which can be made from either genuine leather or ECO-LEATHER.
2) We contact a special studio where they can fit anything for you! Easy, but costly.
3) When you buy leather yourself, make a stencil and then retighten it. It’s difficult, especially if you don’t have the skills, but it’s cheap, you learn the technology (then you can sell it to others for money).
We will analyze each option in order, always taking photos and videos.
Chinese universal case
It is now gaining popularity in our country, it is very easy to buy on the same “ALI”, after which they will send it to your home, and you will already have the steering wheel re-tied. By the way, the kit comes with instructions on how to do everything yourself.
The difficulty is that if you have never done it yourself, and you do not have even minimal sewing skills, then again it will be difficult! You may also damage the case. So the option is really cheap, such a cover costs a maximum of 500 - 800 rubles, but even after correct reupholstery it does not look very, let’s say, presentable, because only the steering wheel is covered, and the elements adjacent to the center remain old. So it's not for everyone! Let's watch a detailed video.
Special studio
What can I say, my friend had a BMW 3 Series, its braiding had worn out over time (the car was 8 years old). Of course, it was possible not to change it, but the steering wheel was black, and the scuffs were very noticeable! A Chinese cover on a BMW would look simply terrible, so the decision was made to remove the steering wheel - to make everything from high-quality leather, in general, to restore the external “previous” appearance. The owner himself had never been a “seamstress”, and therefore simply turned to a special organization.
The operating principle was as follows:
1) Carefully removed the steering wheel, disconnected the airbag, and disassembled it.
3) The cover was removed and a new one was made from it.
4) After which they simply pulled it onto the steering wheel and secured it with new stitching.
It turned out very impressive, it’s a pity that I don’t have a photo left now (and my friend sold the car) - you can distinguish “FIG” from the real thing!
DIY reupholstery
Well, and of course the most interesting thing is reupholstering it yourself. Now there are many different technologies, and everyone says that he has the best. Personally, I didn’t overtighten myself, but I consulted with the guys who “ate the dog” on this. And they showed me the best technology specifically for beginners.
Now there will be photo instructions for reupholstering:
1) Disassemble the steering wheel
2) We cover it with masking tape in the right places, that is, we also cover the connecting elements that go to the center.
3) Then we draw places for separation.
4) Cut and remove the tape, we get a stencil. Let's number it.
5) After we transfer everything to the skin, cut out the stencils and sew them together. It should be noted that you still need to stitch along the edges, we retreat 4 - 5 mm. It is advisable to use reinforced thread, also known as “reinforced” thread. It is this seam that we will connect.
6) Now we pull the cover over the steering wheel, it will be difficult to fit, this is normal!
7) Afterwards we begin to connect our seam, here whoever wants, you can use any seam - “sports”, “herringbone”, star, etc.
8) The reupholstery is ready.
We learn how to make beautiful seams (for reupholstering the steering wheel, door panels, gearbox attachments).
How to make a beautiful seam on the steering wheel or gearbox? We often ask this question, but when they tell us the cost, often a person refuses and simply burns out the idea.
We often see beautiful stitches and seams on steering wheels, gearboxes, door trim, etc. in sports and expensive cars.
Now we will show you how you can do this for your car, with your own hands, at minimal cost.
Types of seams
Macro seam
Macro is a very popular seam, often used to reupholster the steering wheels of many German car brands. 
We mark the future line on both sides using a compass and a gel pen. 
The distance from the edge is 4-5 mm, so the seam turns out more beautiful.
We make a line on a typewriter. If it is not there, then after marking with a pen using sharpened tweezers or a compass with 2 needles, we fill the holes along the line at an equal distance and make an imitation of a machine seam.
We apply it to the part, immediately fasten the thread, threading it first from the bottom, so that the knot is inside.
Then, on the other side (already from the front side), we thread the needle and also thread it from the inside through the first hole. We do the action 2 times.
The stitches should be parallel to each other.
Without tightening, we lace through one stitch to the end.
Then, prying the thread, we begin to tighten, forming our seam.
And we get the final result
Sports Seam
Let's go back to the previous macrome lacing, before tightening. If you add another thread, a second one and run it through the skipped stitches, you will get a “Sport Stitch”.
We stretch the threads and get a beautiful seam.
Sports seam 2
We mark and make a seam as mentioned above, all work is similar to the previous one...
The only difference is that everything is sewn with one thread in each stitch.
Then we carefully tighten it slowly and get such a wonderful seam.
Seam Pigtail
To make the markings we will use a compass with a gel pen.
We mark a straight line along the joint and make holes in a checkerboard pattern (not opposite each other) along the entire perimeter of the product.
We take a needle with a small eye so that the holes do not become larger, and thread a thread measuring 5 times the length of the future seam. We make a knot at one end, thread it through one bottom hole to the knot, then into the adjacent hole on the other part, pull them together and make a couple more stitches between them.
Herringbone seam
This seam is essentially very simple; it can be used to reupholster the steering wheel, gearbox attachments, handbrake, armrests, etc.
In this example, the following parameters are given: the distance from the edge is 6 mm, the distance between the holes is 7 mm.
We make holes using a compass with 2 needles along a pre-designated path.
We thread the needle from the inside and go crosswise as when lacing.
The beginning and end of the seam are the same as the above macrome or sports one.
When finished, carefully pull the seam through.
The final result of this work
Covering the steering wheel with leather is one of the types of car tuning. Often, car owners update their steering wheel after many years of use to improve the appearance and driving comfort.
It also sometimes happens that a car is perfect in all technical characteristics, but the appearance of the interior is not pleasing. This is where tuning comes to the rescue, capable of remaking the car interior to suit all the taste preferences of the owner, as well as threads.
Covering the steering wheel is a creative process and must be approached responsibly.
After all, the steering wheel is what is closest to the driver and with which he is in direct contact while driving.
When making a tight fit, you can independently choose the type and color of the leather, as well as the type of seam and the color of the threads. Any combination is possible: it all depends on what kind of steering wheel the driver wants to hold in his hands.
Let's take a closer look at what a steering wheel cover is and why it is needed
The steering wheel cover not only plays a decorative role, but can also improve the appearance of the car.
By the appearance of the steering wheel you can usually determine how old is the car, but if the steering wheel is new and beautiful, then it will not give out all the details about the car that it can. Also, one of the most important characteristics is the thickness of the steering wheel, which, by the way, is discussed in this video:
Thanks to the constriction, this parameter can be adjusted to the individual preferences of the driver. It will not be possible to make the steering wheel thinner, but it is possible to make the steering wheel thicker 4-8 millimeters. It seems that the difference is not significant but this is 12%-24% of the usual steering wheel thickness.
Another reason for tightening the steering wheel may be the desire to make it soft. Before covering the leather, the steering wheel is covered with porous, soft polyurethane. Soft steering wheels are used in all BMW E65 and M-series.
Tactile sensations play an important role when driving. By choosing high-quality material for covering, you get a guarantee that it will not slip and will hold well in your hands. This will definitely give you confidence when driving.
Summarize. Steering wheel reupholstery is not only a tuning element to improve the appearance of the steering wheel, but also a process that can improve driving performance.
Types and options of covering + materials
Steering wheel rim reupholstery
The BMW E39 steering wheel rim is perfectly covered in white leather using a herringbone stitch.
In the easiest way is the steering wheel rim cover. In this type of work, only the rim itself is covered with leather or leatherette, and where it connects with the knitting needles, the material is sheathed and glued.
Eco-leather steering wheel upholstery
Eco-leather is an excellent material for covering the steering wheel. The main thing is that it is environmentally friendly.
Eco-leather is an innovative environmentally friendly material.It is very difficult to distinguish it from genuine leather. The material is not very expensive, but high quality and reliable. Eco-leather is very elastic and fits the steering wheel perfectly, and the homogeneous structure of the material looks expensive and organic.
Original steering wheel reupholstery, choice of threads
If you are very creative and not like everyone else (and also love a blanket and coffee), this type of cover is for you.
The original (standard wrapping) is an absolute duplication of the factory wrapping of the car's steering wheel. This is an ideal option for those who are completely satisfied with their car and need a cover only for updating.
Usually, when reupholstering the steering wheel in this way, genuine leather is used. Do not forget that there is only automotive leather and it cannot be replaced with leather for furniture or shoes.
Automotive leather has special characteristics, such as:
- resistance to temperature changes;
- resistance to various types of mechanical and chemical damage;
- abrasion resistance.
Upholstery is also possible according to your own sketches using complex geometry and expensive materials. For example, inserts made of expensive wood, which will make the car exquisite and unique of its kind.
The types of seams play a special role
It all depends on how I trim the steering wheel. Asian and American car manufacturers cover the steering wheel from four pieces of leather, which is why there are four seams. German manufacturers do the same from one piece of leather, and there is only one seam.
Germans use macrame seam, it looks very aesthetically pleasing, smooth, it uses thin threads, and it does not lift the skin.
And here Korean and Japanese manufacturers most often use a seam "herringbone" or "braid". These seams raise the skin, causing it to become slightly convex; thick threads are usually used.
In principle, it is not particularly important which seam will be used, the main thing is that the work is done efficiently and painstakingly, and then the result will be high quality and beautiful.
Types and options of seams. Click to enlarge
Instructions for reupholstering a steering wheel with leather at home
There is another option for re-upholstering the steering wheel. With the help of step-by-step instructions, it is not so difficult to do it yourself. In order to get started, you need to arm yourself with all the necessary materials and tools.
You will need:
- 2 strong semicircular gypsy needles;
- nylon thread;
- stationery knife;
- pencil or pen;
- awl;
- pliers;
- roofing scissors;
- cardboard;
- marker;
- a convenient place to work where you can secure the steering wheel.
To ensure everything goes well, follow the step-by-step instructions!
- To get started, we remove the steering wheel from the car, disassemble it, wash it and dry it to perfect condition. Before starting work, of course, you need to decide on the seam that will be used.
- The next step is to make markings. To do this, take cling film, wrap the steering wheel, then wrap it with mounting tape. We apply markings with a marker and carefully cut along the contours with a stationery knife. We remove and carefully smooth out the elements - this is our sketch.
- We attach the sketch to the skin, make markings along the edges, retreating 5 millimeters. This 5 mm will be used to tighten the skin. We cut out the elements and sew them into one large round ribbon.
- Soak the resulting product in warm water for twenty minutes. We wipe it, dry it, but not completely, and put it on the steering wheel. To avoid making mistakes, we handle the leather carefully, as it is wet and elastic and can be easily damaged.
- The next step will be marking. We apply it to the cardboard through every 8 mm lines. We apply it to the leather on the steering wheel and make holes every 8 mm with an awl.
The work must be done gradually so that the seam is even. It is advisable to sew 10 holes on each side and then continue. Treat your work responsibly and slowly, otherwise you will get dressed up and redo the work.
That's all. Share, like, tell your friends,
Ask questions and suggest your options in the comments!
otherwise HE will stop you:
- Zoya
My review
I never thought that covering the steering wheel with leather is so important for men... now from my own experience I can say that most men do it for their image - they want to show the level of their well-being and the solidity of their car. My husband did this out of necessity when he bought a less than new vehicle. I had to use my sewing experience and cover its steering wheel, it’s good that there were examples of various techniques in the article... now, instead of the usual suits and dresses, I make good money from this business. By the way, men really like soft leather, but seams don’t matter to them!
- Natalia
My husband reupholstered the steering wheel with leather himself. I used the instructions given above. It's good that there are such educational sites. The entire re-upholstery process is clearly outlined.
Did it easily and simply. It even turned out very beautiful, and most importantly, it was comfortable. The steering wheel does not slip, the hand does not sweat. We would like to reupholster the interior in the future. This process is described on the website page. - Svetlana
- Andrey
We did a reupholstery last summer on the E60 in the M package. The steering wheel was trimmed. I chose the original leather as it was, but the color of the threads is in the M range: blue and red. It looked good. It looks like in the first video. And it was very pleasant to the touch, I didn’t want to let it go from my hands. I’m definitely in favor of re-upholstery!
Oh, why didn’t I come across this article earlier! ?My husband likes the leather steering wheel, it feels good on his hand. And we recently did the fitting, but without instructions. I sat and sketched the steering wheel to scale, and then drew the patterns. It worked the second time. But since I found the instructions, I’ll do some “work on the mistakes.” But somehow it turned out rather clumsily.
- Laura
Our Lada Eight was about 10 years old when my husband started thinking about re-upholstering the steering wheel. The plastic has become very worn out during use! We found soft black leather, we have an old Zinger sewing machine that sews leather perfectly. We carefully stitched according to a pattern we had made ourselves and made a mistake. We wanted to make it more beautiful, so we took it to a workshop, where we put metal rivets on the holes for the lacing. The case turned out beautiful! But when we removed it a few years later, it turned out that the rivets had severely scratched the steering wheel. Now they have reupholstered it with new leather, without rivets.
Covering the steering wheel with leather yourself is not a very complicated process, which will save on hiring specialists. The first covering can cause some trouble.
To add comfort to driving, many motorists buy special covers for the steering wheel. This modification not only improves comfort, but also reduces fatigue in the driver’s hands. Thanks to this innovation, the interior also changes for the better.
Today, the automobile market is simply inundated with similar products. But why pay more if you can create an original designer case in half a day? The best material for the steering wheel is, of course, genuine leather. It is not recommended to take dermantine or other artificial substitutes, because they wear out quickly and do not have the necessary elasticity.
Steering wheel reupholstery - tools and materials
Reupholstering the steering wheel yourself involves using the following tools and materials:
- Masking tape or cling film are perfect for making a pattern;
- Cardboard or thick paper.
- Pencil/marker, sharp knife (preferably a stationery knife).
- Reliable and durable thread - nylon is the best choice.
- Don't forget about thimbles for your fingers - safety first.
- Sewing needles made of hardened steel.
- A set of screwdrivers and wrenches that will be needed to install and remove the steering wheel.
- And most importantly - soft natural leather.
For manual tightening, it is recommended to take two types of material: smooth and perforated leather. This combination will provide comfort while driving and give the interior an aesthetic appearance. Perforated leather has high elasticity. Smooth leather is known for its resistance to wear and tear. Therefore, if you combine these two layers, you get a strong, soft, elastic material. Numerous experiments have shown that the best choice is leather with a thickness of 1.2-1.4 millimeters. The most popular color is black, but you can choose another color – it’s a matter of taste.
Create a template
In order to achieve high-quality leather covering of the steering wheel with your own hands, you need to start working by making a pattern. The template can be created from tape and film. We remove the steering wheel (do not forget to remove the signal cover), then unscrew the fastening nut connecting the steering device to the shaft. When removing the steering wheel, you need to swing it in different directions. Next, we make a model of the steering wheel from masking tape and cling film, and then a template. This is done like this:
- The steering wheel is wrapped with film.
- Painting tape is placed on top.
- The places where the seams will be are marked with a pencil or marker.
- Carefully cut out the tape along the lines. As a result, you should have four elements in front of you: three cruciform and one rectangular.
- We unfold all the parts for the workpiece and number them.
- Next, we lay them out on thick paper (cardboard) and make patterns of the same shape that will be used for the pattern.
Leather pattern for steering wheel cover
Now you need to decide what style you want to reupholster the steering wheel. To do this, you can get acquainted with various sketches. But it is unlikely that many solutions can be obtained from four elements. But you can always make each sector from several elements by combining different shades of material. Of course, it will take more time, and also effort. But the result will be a designer work of art. The best place to look for ideas is the Internet: there are a huge number of variations with a case. When we have figured out the design, we can lay out the leather on the work surface and begin the pattern.
You will come across a huge number of seams. But among motorists, the following styles are more popular: braid, macrame and sports. They form the strongest possible connection and also look great on the steering wheel
While doing this procedure, do not miss an important point: each sector of the template is transferred to the skin with a small margin. That is, you lay out the template and cut out 1-1.5 centimeters more from the edges. This reserve is needed for increased strength of the seams. If the skin is close to each other, then there is a high probability that the seams will come apart. Therefore, it is worth tightening the steering wheel well the first time, so as not to redo it later.
Once you have cut out the pieces you need, check that the dimensions are correct, taking into account the stock: simply apply the leather to the steering wheel. Don't be upset if you overdo it with the stock - you can always remove the excess with scissors.
After all procedures are completed, you can start sewing.
We make a case
Work loves order - we lay out materials and tools on the table in accordance with how they will be located in the case. We sew the elements in the given order. You should sweep the edges of each sector so that there is no tightening of the skin in the future. For stitching, the best choice would be strong nylon threads - you need to retreat at least 3 millimeters from the edge . All parts, except the marked seams, must be sewn in the form of a ring.
After you have all the edges sewn and the workpiece is completely sewn, begin to pull the new cover onto the steering wheel so that the seam joints are in the places of the cuts. Afterwards we eliminate sagging and smooth the skin. You can put the skin on epoxy resin or glue - but this is everyone’s choice.
Steering wheel reupholstery - the final stage
The reupholstery of the steering wheel has not yet been completed, the last stage remains. We need to tighten the edges of the cover so that it is tightly fixed to the steering wheel. We warn you that this procedure is quite labor-intensive and can take a lot of time. First of all, decide where the seam will start. You need to secure the thread and then sew the cover together with careful and precise movements. In the place where the edge tie touches the signal cover, you need to thoroughly coat the edges of the leather with glue - preferably if it is rubber glue.
When work on the cover is completed, you can safely install the steering wheel on the car. You may see slight creases on the cover - this is not a big deal. If you took natural high-quality leather, all minor defects will disappear over time due to increased elasticity. As you can see, covering a steering wheel with leather yourself is accessible not only to craftsmen; the main thing is patience and minimal sewing skills.
Steering wheel reupholstery on video
You can make your car look attractive yourself. All you need is imagination and, of course, desire. You can change or update interior elements or some parts under the hood. In this article I will tell you how to cover an old steering wheel. Do-it-yourself leather steering wheel reupholstery is the first step towards updating and improving the car's interior. Don't think that only specialists can do this. Re-upholstering the steering wheel with your own hands is not only an instructive, but also quite an interesting process.
Considering the fact that the steering wheel is a part of the car, human contact with which is made throughout the entire route, therefore, it is necessary to choose only high-quality material for reupholstery and it is desirable that it should be genuine leather. Since any other fabric will deteriorate from constant rubbing of hands on the steering wheel after just a month of using the car. The intended skin should not be very thick, but it should not be thin either. If it is too thick, then you will not be able to pierce it with a needle, and if its thickness is small, then the new steering wheel cover can deteriorate very quickly. The optimal thickness of the material for covering the steering wheel is 1.3 millimeters. An ability such as extensibility should be of average value. This is a very important criterion to consider before purchasing. Its elasticity should allow the material to fit tightly on the steering wheel, otherwise there’s no point in thinking about quality.
You can consider the option of having perforation. This is a rather unusual and attractive look, and it is also pleasant to work with. But, having such positive qualities, I can also highlight its negative side - wear and tear. The only optimal solution for you is natural smooth leather. 
Before purchasing, make sure that the material offered to you really has the necessary qualities, and that they are not slipping you a substitute. You also need to pay special attention to additional materials that will be used in this matter. The thread should be as strong as possible, because it will pull the edges together, so it should not break easily. Choose a strong needle, make sure it does not bend. My advice is to buy several of them.
What will you need?
To reupholster you will need the following materials and tools:
- Leather (it must meet all necessary criteria);
- Stitching needle (the needle must be strong). If possible, use Soviet-made needles, as they are really high quality;
- Strong thread (nylon is used);
- Two thimbles (it’s almost impossible to work without them). They will keep your fingers from getting punctured.
- Masking tape, sheets of Whatman paper (it is better to use thick cardboard);
- Pencil or felt-tip pen;
- Film;
- Knife (it is better to use a stationery knife).
After preparing all the material, you can proceed with the remaining processes: cutting and reupholstering.
Making a pattern
In order to correctly tighten the steering wheel, and for the result of your work to have an impressive appearance, you need to make a pattern. To do this, you need to make a preliminary layout (template).
It is made of adhesive tape and film, which must be used to cover the steering wheel. But before this you need to remove the steering wheel, as this will make the work easier. 
The first step is to remove the cover from the signal and unscrew the fastening nut that holds the steering wheel to the shaft. After this, using loosening movements in different directions, remove the steering wheel from the splines. Now that the steering wheel is removed, you can do the preliminary layout. To create it, you need to wrap a film around the steering wheel and apply masking tape over it. Do not skimp on material, wrap it in several layers. 
Once the entire rim is covered, you need to use a marker to make marks where the seam will go (where the parts join). This is done for the reason that it is very difficult to make a one-piece case, so it will be made of four parts. And those places where the parts will be connected to each other are marked with a marker. We also draw a marker along the inside of the steering wheel. It is advisable to draw all lines as evenly as possible. This will allow you to make smoother original parts when cutting. After all the lines have been drawn, the layout must be cut with a stationery knife along these lines.
After cutting, you should have four separate elements. Now they need to be leveled and attached to the cardboard to create patterns for the pattern. 
After the patterns are ready, they need to be applied to the base material in order to produce the final version of the covering. But, it is important to remember that you do not need to cut it exactly to size, but give some allowances for each edge of the part and then bend it. This is necessary in order to sew them together efficiently, and so that the thread does not tear the skin during tightening. 
That is, the seam will be strong enough and the skin will not tear when stitched. In addition, the folds give the new steering wheel a more aesthetic appearance. Allowances can be given immediately while you are tracing the pattern. You can also first trace, and then use a ruler to add one centimeter to each edge. This way you will maintain an even retreat on each side.
After this, you can check how correctly the cutting of the elements was done. You need to place each of the patterns in the intended place and see how they are positioned: their edges should meet each other. If the stock left is too large, you can trim the edges. If everything is fine, nothing bothers you, you can begin the final process - sewing the parts together.
Step-by-step instructions for reupholstering
So, everything is ready, you can start. At this stage, it is important to follow the order of doing the work so as not to mess anything up.
- The first step is to overcast all the edges that will be sewn together. The fact is that each edge will bend (we left indents specifically for this), and since the thickness will double at the bend, it will not have a beautiful appearance and it will be very difficult to pierce such thickness with a needle. That's why stitching is necessary. It will allow you to maintain the required thickness of the leather along the edges and thereby make the edges strong.
- We lay out our (4) parts of the future steering wheel cover on some surface. They need to be laid out exactly in the order in which they will be located on the steering wheel.
- Prepare the needle (pull the thread into it).
- Now you need to sew all the individual elements together sequentially.
As a result, you should have a hoop. - Now you need to pull it onto the steering wheel. Position it so that the seams match the cuts.
- Next, you can fix the cover on the steering wheel using glue or epoxy resin. Everyone makes this decision personally, you don’t have to stick it.
- Now try to stretch the leather (even it out) to determine how much to fold the edges before the final step.
The last stage is the most difficult, since here it is important to maintain uniform skin tension throughout the steering wheel. It is not only difficult, but also difficult. It is much better if you ask someone to help you (one tightens and the other stitches). 
So, the first thing you need to do is decide which edge to start from. Basically, it just depends on convenience. You need to stretch the skin to form a joint; if the joint does not meet, it’s okay, thanks to its elasticity, the joint will be pulled together with thread. The entire cover is sewn together in this way.
In those places where the cover can go under the signal cover, you need to do without thread and use glue. After completion, you need to straighten the new cover on the steering wheel; if there are any folds, it’s not a big deal. After a few days they will smooth out and the surface will be completely smooth. Now you can install the steering wheel in its original place, secure it with a fastening nut and cover the signal cover.
Covering the steering wheel with leather will significantly change the appearance of not only this element, but will also emphasize the overall appearance of the car's interior. In addition, by doing this yourself, you not only saved your money, but also gained good experience in reupholstering, and also became more familiar with the steering structure of your car.
Video " Steering wheel reupholstery”
A video about the work of a master from the Rusty Brothers company reupholstering a steering wheel rim in the BMW M style with leather. After watching the recording, you will learn what tools you need to prepare and how to cover the steering wheel yourself with leather.