Making a close up pad part 4.

At this point it was time to make the cushioned lid. This had been notoriously difficult in the past because you have to stretch the suede over and around the board to fix it in place and to create the gentle slope around the sides. With suede often what happens is that as you stretch it (no matter how you do it) it stretches un evenly so you get a rippled effect which is almost impossible to overcome. 

Given a lot of experience, trial and error, I eventually discovered, Interfacing... Interfacing is a fabric that you lay on first; It wont stretch so you can easily create the shaping and fit for the pad BEFORE you lay over the suede... Result? Well you end up with a perfect edge and a much better quality finish in half the time that it takes to work with suede alone.

The trick is to lay on the foam first using spray adhesive then do the same with the interfacing which is stapled into place on the back of the board then the same again with the suede. It is important to use spray adhesive each layer, that way you cant pinch the fabric with your fingers once its ready. It's a much better fit and finish this way.