How to neatly join 4-way stretch carpet in your van build

There usually comes a point in a van conversion where you realise you have to choose between bare exposed metal and stretch carpet. Some people choose the carpet the whole damn thing which I will never understand, but however you feel about stretch carpet, chances are you'll need to make a join, and I found very little good advice on this when I did my first van, so I discovered this way using trial and error and by raiding my sewing box.
These scissors are great because they are sharp and small, and have angled handles that sit away from the surface so allow you to get a flat, close cut, and the "duck bill" protects you from accidentally snipping into the fabric you want to keep in place.
You want to bond a really tight, close "T" with the fabric and the surface, and then use these special scissors to gradually trim down the excess bit by bit until they lie perfectly flat.
What I use to get an almost invisible seam (contains affiliates):
- Stretch carpet (white grey) and plenty of spray glue: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282082861910
- Applique/duck-billed scissors - like these - amzn.to/4doYdOX
Find more items used in my van build and my top items for van life at bit.ly/jodiesvanbuildlist
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
To see how we carpeted the doors, click here: • Stunning Campervan Doo...

[@GlassInYourFins]

This actually works, and the offset scissors are indeed a great tip.

[@Eraserhead....]

To get a good join.over lap the carpet then cut through both .its best and most easy way.

[@Budget-Cars-And-Bikes]

After 4 conversions, I'm still learning new things 😁

[@scottnuttall3494]

You have made my first attempt at carpet lining a van so much better with your special scissors advice! I can barely see the sections I have cut even though I know exactly where to look! Thank you 😊

[@johnwren3976]

Try a small overlap of carpet. Cut through both layers with razor to get matching edges. Remove underlying cutoff. Press to fit.

[@richylad]

Thanks Jodie, I’m 95% through my lining job, but it was good to see another approach to getting a neat join, 👍🏻

[@vanscran1672]

Top class work, I'm about to do my back doors so I'll try the U trim, and the joining method you've demonstrated. 😁😁😁👍👍👍👍

[@roddas26]

Thank you thank you thank you. This was brilliant. I'm hopefully going to have a nice a finish as you achieved on my new van. Now to purchase some duck billed scissors 🦆✂️. Cheers from New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@SongBillong]

Such a neat join, fair play! I'll probably end up using a bit more than that to hide the inevitable multitude of sins I'll create in my conversion 😆 Lots of great little tips on this channel, so you've got a sub from me!

[@passenger3]

Really good information and tutorial 👌🏻 you deserve more subs and view's

[@vanventureswithjodie]

Thanks Nick, that's very kind of you 😊

[@passenger3]

@@vanventureswithjodie more than welcome 🤗

[@davearmitage392]

impressive top tip... subscribed

[@vanventureswithjodie]

Thanks! It took me a few failed attempts in my first van to figure this out so thought it would be good to share 😊

[@davearmitage392]

@@vanventureswithjodie your pain is our gain, you’ve built a beautiful home. Well done!

[@sunseeker8457]

Easier and quicker to just over lap one end 2 or 3 cm and tuck it over itself for a nice finish then gluing them together and cutting on the outside.

[@vanventureswithjodie]

Might be faster but you end up with three layers of carpet on top of each other instead of a smooth and seamless join, right?

[@stevedrake4505]

How much carpet have you use for your boxer van? Just planning to do ours