Seat Re-covering Suggestions

Hi All,
I received this seat cover for the VF500F. Clearly I am not an upholsterer, as seen in the photo. I have re-covered simple vintage bike seats, but this is a bit trickier.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the crotch to look better, short of having it professionally done ?
Thanks,
Shawn

 

I do all of my own covers. You need to pull / stretch a lot more than you are doing. I have to pull staples quite often as I continue to work and redo sections as issues arise. Don't be afraid to set a few to hold it, and redo them as more get in place.

It is not fun. I've done over a dozen now. Get the cover nice and warm and work in a warm area. My Hawk seat was probably one of the more challenging. I also accidentally found out that the cheap Harbor Freight staples (blunt) are way better for seat covers than the Arrow pointy tipped ones. Arrow like to kick at an angle, but the HF ones go straight in to the seat pan. When I'm all done I go around and "set" or redo any weird ones.

 

Thanks Cap'n. I was using the edge seams as a reference. I think my staples are from HF, as the gun itself was purchased there.
So the crotch area will eventually smooth out with more facelifting tucks-n-staples?
Warm...not here. I can't do projects in the house, so it may need to be redone come Summer. I had a CJ5 that got a new soft top. Had to install that in the baking sun, for the same reason.
Thanks again!

 

This is instuctive.

 

The hardest part is getting the staples to penetrate fully into the pan I have found.

This is a difficult job but can be done but don't be in a hurry. Warm is your friend here. I just did a Hawk GT seat and it looked like crap in the area as you show above. I ended up walking away for a few weeks and it magically started to conform to the seat foam.

As Capt 80's said above you must get it tighter than you have it. I have never ripped one from pulling too tight. i think I have done 10 or more and they all came out great....eventually.