Howard, my soft top looks like crap.Scott, I just had a new top installed. It took a professional upholsterer many hrs to do the work. It came out terrific. In articles I have read, people that sell the tops highly recommend a pro to do the work, unless you have some expertise. If you try to do it yourself and it comes out crappy, you'll probably conclude that the pro was well worth the $.
Good luck, Howard

My short term solution is to install a hard top, which will work better for me during the Pacific Northwest Rain Festival (Jan 31- Dec 31).

I am curious where you live and how much you paid to have a pro do it. If anyone else has had the soft top professionally installed, I'd be curious as to costs.
Thanks.