windlace wrinkling problem
 

I'm having trouble with windlace wrinkling on the tight corner around a wrap-around windshield. In the past we have used cloth or leather covered rod and never had a problem with wrinkles, but using vinyl and it wrinkles alot. I have steamed, stretched and cut relief cuts right up to the stitches and it still wrinkles on me. The vinyl is sewn and the sponge rod is not glued to the vinyl, in less sharp bends, stretching and reliefs work great, but this corner won't smooth out. is there something I'm overlooking or is it the nature of the beast?http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b6...l/IMG_1602.jpg

What did you sew the windlace with? If you didn't use a 3/4" welt foot on your sewing machine, ( assuming 1/2" sponge rod or 5/8" welt foot for 3/8" sponge rod) you will get wrinkles like that. Still, that is a very severe corner, and some wrinkling will probably occur no matter what, but it should be less than what you have there.

I used a welt foot to sew it. maybe I might have to sew a dart like I did in the sharp 90 dgree corner, but was thinking there is something I am overlooking. Maybe a few more pics an someone will notice something I am missing.http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b6...3-27105020.jpg http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b6...3-27105111.jpg

This is just a thought, but how about taking the stitching out completely in the corner and pulling the vinyl as tight as you can?

I have a piece of cloth windlace here and it did the same thing when I bent it like yours, although not as severely.

That is a great idea, I'll give it a try. Thanks!

I'm thinking this vehicle is a later 50's or early 60's, is that right?

I was also thinking that you could staple your windlace up to about 2" away from the corner, and then pulled it across the corner and stapled it down 2" away from the other side of the corner, and then pulled it up and away into the corner that that might work or at least help.

Yep, its a '59 ford wagon.

thanks for the advice. I ended up cutting out the stitching completely and stapled just the outer side and steaming and stretching it as I stapled it along the curve, then I did the same to the inner side.

The end result is a whole lot better than what was there, not perfect but ok. . .
thanks
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b6...3-30175031.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b6...3-30175923.jpg


] http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b6...30181509-1.jpg

That's about as perfect as you could expect, I think it looks great. I'm glad it worked out for you.

windlace
 

Looks a lot better. I think if you did the same on the straight parts away from the corner, 6 or 8 inches, you could possibly loose the last few wrinkles.

This is the sort of thread that makes this site great. Glad it worked out for you and the rest us got to learn from it. Thanks for the update.

look who woke from the dead :D

have any pics of the car?

something when you cut you material make sure the stretch goes the long way cut.
you need the stretch to go the right way, as it will stretch one way
might help

I just learned something. Well, a couple of somethings.

Thanks Guys! :thumbup:

I think that looks great! I have the same problem on my '29 REO's sunroof, which was in place when I bought the vehicle. What I'm curious about is, what are you stapling to? Did you install some sort of wood surrounding the opening?