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I once re-covered the seats in a static by removing the old covers, unpicking the seams and using the pieces as patterns for the new fabric (I used Flame retardent Dralon).  I then reused the original zips.  If the seats have buttons through them, you will need to remove these first. They can be recovered in the new fabric and replaced - although, if I remember correctly, you need a special needle to do this.

 It is not too difficult to do and I used a small domestic sewing machine.

Good luck if you decide to give it a try - it really made my old van look better!

i did mine for our van, i got the material off ebay from a shop in bradford, in fact i have a huge chunk of the material left over but it only cost me £13 anyway, its fire retardant

i took part each original cover and then ironed it flat and used that as the template, washed the edging by hand and dried and reused those,

for the buttons ask at an upholsterers as they will do them for you if you dont fancy it yourself

this is how mine turned out, i used a house hold machine and at times it was a bit of a struggle but i managed it and i have one very big cushion to sew that took 4 hands to hold still but it worked have a look below

to be honest the hardest part of doing all this was getting them back in the car to take to the caravan!

im not a professional sewer just well practised and took my time doing them, one at a time, actually it didnt take as long as you think once you get the first one out the way you seem to know what to do then, its the buttons that make it look finnished off properly. i got the needle for doing that from the upholsterers its a 16 inch needle that you will need.

shame you didnt live nearer to me, i could have helped you do them.

I've just made new curtains and cushion covers for "Holi" and next on the list of to-do jobs is replacing the seat covers.
The biggest problem I am having is finding some really bright, retro fabric in keeping with her 1969 age!!

I am planning to use the current covers as a template as already suggested but I may cheat and make a slightly larger envelope end and seal it with velcro for ease!!

i considered doing what your saying with the velcro but in the end i sat and sewn them by hand properly, it gets the tension right over the whole seat and makes it look far better imho. no point doing all this and then no being happy with the end result is there?

HEJC72 - have you tried going to calverts at northallerton? they have a large range of fabrics in there.

haha i know it well not that far from me then?

also thinking about it you could try boyes or dunelm mill also at morton park morrisons there is a good little shop that sells upholstrery fabric and hes not expensive either, ive had some good bargains from him.

what sort of colours are you looking for then, from memory your van is blue isnt it?

Holi has the beige quilted sides (at the moment!)  but I have just bought some really bright fabrics in pink, yellow, turquiose, orange and green which made the curtains and cushions.

Wanting to give her a real hippy/retro feel to match my Mini (see gallery image!)

Have been banned from Dunelm Mill by OH as I have a habit of going a bit mad in there (plus it is very close to Go Outdoors - a lethal combination!!)

hahhaa so have i!!! i cant go in without adult supervision, oh that reminds me have you looked at ikeas fabric dept that might have something for you.

would suggest you go for something plainish then on the seats or its all going to be a bit too much, and use some of that fabric to make tie backs and cushion covers too.

just found this on fleabay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10M-RED-MICRO-CORD-DESIGNER-CURTAIN-UPHOLSTERY-FABRIC_W0QQitemZ390106101250QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Crafts_Fabric_Textiles_SM?hash=item5ad422b602 nice and bright colour too!!