***DIY Tri-Stitch Shift & E-Brake Boot***
 

Time:2-5 hrs (Take your time and it will look great)
Difficulty 2 of 10. (if you can sew a button you can Tri-stitch)
Tools Needed:
Thread
Needle
Thimble
Tri-Stitch color thread
X-acto knife
Super Glue
Good lighting source to see what your doing.
Total cost: $5 :4ngie:

Note: This was done on leather.This process can also be applied to any other material, i.e alcantara, suede, etc...

Well you want to start of by taking out your shift boot and e-brake boot. Don't hurt yourself taking out your shift knob. You can use the search button to find out how, it's simple!!

Here is a good reference point on what the pattern should look like.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...tures012-2.jpg

I went to Michaels arts and crafts store to buy some thread. These are the colors I used, that I thought matched the best. Color codes: 909, 3842, 519. *feel free to use any other color that you think is a better match*
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...tures013-1.jpg

You'll need some Krazy Glue and a x-acto knife
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures018.jpg

If you don't have any sewing equipment, pick some up at Michaels or any arts and craft store, get needles, and a thimble!
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...tures014-1.jpg

Once you have your shift boot off. Examine the stitch patterns so you know what your getting self into
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures017.jpg

Use the x-acto knife to separate the leather from the housing. Go slow to not cut/slice the boot
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures019.jpg
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures020.jpg
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures021.jpg

Turn the boot inside out
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures022.jpg

Find the stitch points near the bottom
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...tures023-1.jpg

Use the x-acto knife to take apart the stitching
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures024.jpg

Pull the thread out 1(one) at a time. Repeat steps to remove the other stitching.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures025.jpg

This is what it should look like after you are done removing the stitching. http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures026.jpg

DO NOT REMOVE THE STITCHING IN THE MIDDLE IT WILL SPLIT THE BOOT. JUST TAKE OUT THE OUTER MOST STITCH'S.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures027.jpg

Thread the needle
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures028.jpg
Start at the top. Remember to start with the right color. Go in and out to make a loop on the inside of the boot.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures029.jpg
Loop!
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures030.jpg

Extend the thread down to the bottom first stitch. .
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures031.jpg

Go into the first stitch. Note: try your best to use the existing holes to re-stitch
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures032.jpg

Now. This is the Tricky part. What you want to do is pull the thread through the boot, over the extend thread on the outside and back down the same hole you went up through. This will pull the outside extended thread down. Repeat all the way to the top. Tighten every 2-3 stitches by giving the thread a good pull. Take your time http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures033.jpg

Once you got all the way to the top, use the loop you made a few steps back to tie the thread together nice and tight.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures038.jpg

This is what it should look like.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures039.jpg

Do the same process for the other side. Start at the top and make a loop on the inside of the boot.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures040.jpg

Extend the thread to the first hole near the bottom
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures041.jpg

Repeat steps to stitch: pull the thread through the boot, over the extend thread on the outside and back down the same hole you went up through. This will pull the outside extended thread down. Repeat all the way to the top. Tighten every 2-3 stitches by giving the thread a good pull. Take your time. Don't forget to tie a knot at the end using the loop you made a few steps back
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures042.jpg

Almost there!:excited:
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures043.jpg

Now the easy part. Start at the bottom, go through the bottom left or right stitch (doesn't matter which one you start with). Tie one end down. Now Go back out the same hole.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures046.jpg

You want to make a Zig-Zag pattern, alternating one stitch on each side as you go across. Pull the thread under the stitch and give a nice pull every 2 to ensure tightness. Look at the first picture for reference.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures047.jpg

Work your way to the top. Take your time.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures048.jpg

At the top, thread the needle to the inside of the boot and tie it down.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures050.jpg

Now that you are done. Take the boot and wrap it back around the housing.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures051.jpg

Secure it with Krazy Glue. Let glue dry for about 5 mins.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures053.jpg

Done! Enjoy your new Tri-Stitch shift boot.:thanks:
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures052.jpg

Start of by taking your E-Brake boot out of the car. I pop's right out. Just pull! The process is exactly the same as the Shift boot just a little longer.

Use the x-acto knife to separate the leather from the housing. Go slow to not cut/slice the boot.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures054.jpg

http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures055.jpg

The e-brake handle is held on by a zip tie, no need to cut it. Just wiggle it out.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures056.jpg

Slide the handle out
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures057.jpg

Find the stitch points near the bottom, use the x-acto knife to cut them and pull them one by one.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures058.jpg

Stitched are out!
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures059.jpg

Remember to make the loop on the inside of the boot at the top near the handle. Extend the end to the bottom stitch to start.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...ictures060.jpg

The only thing different I did on the E-brake boot than the shift boot was I use a thicker needle. Reasons: 1) Easier to thread the needle. You find that threading the needle is the hardest part if you don't have steady hands or the right needle that goes with the thread. 2: made the holes a tiny bit bigger, which made it so much easier and faster. I got the E-brake done in half the time compared to the shift boot.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...cture001-3.jpg

Remember to use the existing holes, and give a nice pull every 2-3 to ensure tightness. Repeat the steps as the shift boot, once one side is done again repeat the same process on the other side.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...cture002-3.jpg

Once both sides of the stitching is done. Repeat the same steps to tri-stitch. Remember to pull every 2 to get a nice even Zig-Zag pattern.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...00318-0214.jpg

Once you finish one side. Repeat the steps again to the other set of stitching! You are Half way done!!!
Once you finish the last set of stitching don't forget to tie all the threads down.
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...cture003-3.jpg

Now that you are done. Take the boot and wrap it back around the housing.
Secure it with Krazy Glue. Let glue dry for about 5 mins.
Install everything back into the car.
Done! Enjoy your new Tri-Stitch e-brake boot.




Results!!!!!
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...cture001-4.jpg
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...cture002-4.jpg
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...cture003-4.jpg
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...cture004-3.jpg
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...cture005-3.jpg
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...cture006-2.jpg
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s...cture009-2.jpg

Thanks for looking. If you have any questions just ask them on here and I will do my best to answer them.

Nice idea, it would look better if the stitching was closer together.

looks great! though i think it might look odd in my beige interior

yea it would! but i have an after market leather shift boot and E-brake boot. The OEM one was old and had holes left from the previous owner. Not to shabby for not knowing what i was doing!

Very nice, I was waiting for a write up like this, now only if someone dissected the boot and the e-brake boot and wrote up pattern for tri stiched alcantara boot DIY...

Wouldnt it be the same :confused:

lol i just cut up my shift boot up to make a pattern. good job op at first i thought damn his fingers are going to get chewed up trying to punch that leather then saw you used the original holes looks great.

Thanks everyone. I'm working on the e-brake boot now. post will be up tomorrow

Looks great, might have to do this.

E-brake DIY is up on post #2.

Nice idea

looks damn goood bro

im next Green please? can drop it off asap

lol... i would but it's way to time consuming to do. if i had a machine then i would defiantly consider doing this for people.

OP you inspired me

here is a pic of what I did... got the same brand thread as you... FYI for others I went to Jo Anne Fabrics, the thread I got was in the embroidery section, they have 100's of colors so plenty of customization options out there, I also used embroidery needles, probably a little easier to thread with the thicker thread than a regular sewing needle. I was also just playing around to see if I would really like it so I just used my old vinyl boot and did not remove it from the frame, its probably easier to remove it and do it like that, but not necessary.

http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/q...5/DSC00008.jpg

:thumbsup: Looks pretty damn good! :) Do u have a close up of the stitch patter. It looks different

Awesome THREAD. (get the pun)

This was real clever OP.

:thumbsup:

no clear pics of the threads, I doubled up on the outside lines so two black stripes and two yellow, then one red the way up the middle, then one red between the inner black and yellow, so it gives it a different look not quite as sparse as the stock stitch pattern

Very unique! Did you just do the shift boot? this would look so :drool: on the e-brake boot. Then your interior is :str8pimpi