It is spring. But it is rather wet. And not really hot either ... So the carbrios stay inside or drive outside with the hoods closed. And also convertible top deserves maintenance.
In addition to regular cleaning, the stitching also requires attention.
That stitching is very easy to check: just rub the nails over the stitching. With an older cover there is a chance that the stitching will simply be rubbed away.
Polyester / cotton yarn
Many caps are and are stitched with a polyester / cotton yarn. The needle is of course always larger or at least as large as the yarn used is thick. Otherwise the yarn could not pass through the stitching hole. The sailmaker uses this mixed yarn for a reason. The polyester core of the yarn provides strength. The cotton cover of the yarn ensures the watertightness. Cotton expands when it gets wet. The cotton swells and closes the stitching hole.
Paste first, then choke
If the sailmaker 2 wants to sew parts of a hood together, he often sticks them together first. He uses double-sided tape for this. This keeps the parts nicely on top of each other, so that he can easily stitch over it in a straight line.
The big disadvantage of cotton
Cotton is a natural product. And: "Everything that nature gives will eventually be taken back by nature."
And so it is with the cotton of the blending yarn. It will digest and deteriorate due to all kinds of influences. The biggest culprit is the harmful UV radiation. Although the stitching still looks good, it could just be that it is completely digested. Your convertible top really only has its connection because of the double-sided tape used.
Check the stitching of the hood regularly
There is 1 easy way to know if your convertible top is still stitched properly. Just go over the stitching firmly with your nails. Does the stitching stay good or do you see it getting thinner right away? Or maybe pulverize completely? Or your nail breaks. Oops ...
It is advisable to have the hood stitched again if you see that the stitching has become bad. This saves costs and is very sustainable