I'd start by occasionally putting $20s in an envelope. It's fabric. Jeans wear out. So will the top.
I'm not a seamstress either. I also didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. But hey, I'm a guy. I can give advice about stuff I know little about. My wife, who is a seamstress who sewed commercially, isn't available to ask right now. I'll run this by her when she gets home. If I'm wrong she'll correct me.
Go to Joe Ann's Fabrics (or whatever you have like it in your area), look sad and male (which the women will translate to stupid - right now that's a good thing) and ask what kind of needle and thread to use. Try to get a woman your mom's age, or if you're old look for someone your daughter's age. It shouldn't be one who will think you're hitting on her, even if you really are.
The needle shouldn't be too big around or too long. Use thread that matches what you have - I'm guessing black. Try for the same diameter and type. Tell her you'll be sewing canvas. Don't use too long a piece at a time or it'll tangle. If you're only doing three inches you should be able to get away with one piece without too many problems. Don't let it double up in the stitch or it'll look too thick. Don't stick the needle into a part of the top that doesn't already have stitching.
Open the top a little to get some slack. Carefully put the binding tape back in place and stitch through the existing holes as much as possible. Be sure to start and end at least a half inch into the good stitching. Go slow and be careful. Keep it even. Use those metal finger end things. Try to be patient.
Knot the end of the thread. My wife has a trick where she twirls the thread on the tip of her finger and pulls and she miraculously has a double knot. I have no idea how that happens. Start from the bottom where the stitching is still good. Up. Forward one stitch. Down. Forward one stitch. Up. Back one stitch. down. Forward one stitch. Up. Forward one stitch. Down. Forward one stitch. Up. Back one stitch. Down. Forward one stitch. Up. Forward one stitch. Down. Keep going that way. If you do this correctly (assuming I've explained it correctly) you'll have solid end to end stitching on the top. Every other one on the bottom.
Keep in mind this was originally done on a machine that uses magic to get one stitch after the other evenly on both the top and the bottom. You want to make it look like that on the top. That's the side people, including you, will see.
If the women at the fabric store tell you I'm wrong and to do something else, say "Yes ma'am, he's sorry." and do as you're told.
Of course, you can always ask them if there's someone they'd suggest. If you look forlorn you may get lucky. No, no, not that way. They wouldn't work there if they didn't sew, at least some. Odds are one of them used to do it commercially. When you're bargaining with her over price just remember $1050 (minimum) plus installation for a new one. Even at $50 to sew 3" you're a solid grand and a half ahead.
Keep putting $20s in that envelope. If you get to $1500 and the stitching is still good keep the envelope under the mattress until you need it. Or buy yourself a set of Yokohama AD08r racing tires. Start over again with the $20s.
Good luck.
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Steve
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