Half Hood - the final version

Incremental improvements on the soft top - this time with heavier fabric and a cleaner design with no supporting straps & minimal stitching in the roof section which should help it stay water tight. Every holding pin or line of stitching is a leak in waiting.

Materials

Fabric is selected to take a press seam (on the non PU lined side), which makes assembly, marking out and hemming easier, also still just light enough to machine a double thickness on the family heirloom 60s Singer Sewing machine. 1000 D PU Black Canvas from Forest Fabrics on eBay. Thread is 40s Bonded nylon - again just light enough that the sewing machine can handle it.

Design

I re-used the hood frame, this time instead of a simple pocket at the front edge to receive it the fabric is riveted on. The rivets are along the top edge facing upwards out of sight.

No pattern really; just marking up the shape on the car with tailors chalk - single pleat at the rear corners to follow the roll bar shape and similar tucked into the hood frame at the front.

Stitching detail in red thread simplified the shape of the front corner allows a simple hem along the now straight bottom edge.  Lift the dot fastenings used on the car end of the straps, while the do leave an exposed peg when not in use (will not get through IVA) - they cannot come off/undone unless they are pulled in a specific direction.

Rear side straps at an angle to try and pull the bottom edge of the side taught as well as down, these retain the existing velcro attachment on the drivers side so it can be released while sitting and help get in/out.

Bias binding tape along the back gives a straightforward  tidy result and avoids the need to try and hem a curve. The curve shape drawn on after mocking up the rear straps to ensure enough tension is maintained in the centre of the roof section.