Mindscanner #63

HOW TO DO BOOT COVERS

Notes:

-- If you are one of the fortunate few who can somehow find pre-ribbed vinyl, you won't need the soft vinyl or the batting, just get ½ yd of the ribbed vinyl.

-- Chintz welting is 3/8" wide, and the ones I have seen are made by the Conso and the Wrights companies. They are usually found by drapery and upholstery sections in fabric stores. If you cannot get any covered cording, you will have to make your own, so get 4 yds of a 3/8" wide cotton piping, which you will cover using the broadcloth.

-- Sewing on vinyl can be a major pain in the foot-- of your sewing machine. To get the vinyl to whiz right through your machine without sticking, spray it with a very light coat of non-stick cooking oil spray, and just wipe it off when you are finished sewing.

On a sheet of posterboard, make a pattern of a ½ trapezoid: 14" tall by 8" (top) by 6" (bottom, see figure 1). Using this pattern, cut 2 of one side and 2 of the other side out of the marine vinyl. For those with larger than average calves, cut your ½ trapezoid 14" tall by 11" (top) by 8" (bottom) and for those taller than average, add a few inches to the height. Take 14" of the chintz welting or cording and sew it to the middle of each for the center "bar" that runs down the middle of the spat. Sew the cording along the bottom of the spat, and then hem up the bottom, so that both cords together form an upside down "T" (See figure 2).

Cut out a rectangle 16" x 24" of the soft vinyl, the batting/fleece, and the broadcloth. Layer it with the vinyl on top and the broadcloth on the bottom, pinning the layers together to hold them still and even. You're going to quilt the 3 layers together in lines. Ideally, the lines should be ½ " apart. If you don't sew much, this is the hardest and most time-consuming part of the spats, so take your time and go slowly, moving your straight pins around as necessary. Once you've finished quilting the rectangle, cut it in half, and even out the top and bottom so that you have 2 strips that are about 6" tall by 22"-24" long (see figure 3). Add your cording to the top and bottom of each strip (see figure 4). For those of you who have managed to get the ribbed vinyl, skip the quilting and simply cut 2 strips 6" x 24" and add the cording to the top and bottom.

Lay the quilted/ribbed section over the top of the lower half of the spat and sew it down. Make sure you leave excess quilted section to either side of the top before you sew it down. You want to be able to cut the excess off and end up with a finished trapezoidal shape (see figure 5).

Out of the spandex/knit, cut 2 panels 4" x 24", making sure that the 4" width is the stretchy part, if your knit is only a one-way stretch. (All this means is that the fabric will stretch one way, but not another, and you need it to stretch to pull the finished spat over your foot and up your calf.) Sew it down to one side of your spat, right sides together, leaving a bit of excess at the top and bottom to be finished later (see figure 6). Making sure that each side lines up, sew the other side of the knit to the other side of the spat, again with right sides together (see figure 7). You'll end up with an inside-out spat. Take your excess knit at either end, turn it in, and hem it. Tacking it down loosely by hand works fine for this. Once this is done, turn your spat right side out, and you're done (see figure 8)! One final note: Put your spat on before you put on your boot, then pull it down over the tops of your boots and center the way it sits, then go out there and kick some Feddie ass! Enjoy!

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] ,

or call me at 859 - 491- 2930 10am-10pm

K'Jett