Why not just put those small bumps as instances in a center of polygons or vertexes or use geometry nodes. And then use data transfer to transfer UV and normals from a carrier surface to those bumps . That way you could make them random or wear them down in certain places
the chair was made with this exact same methodand it can wrap around harsher curves, but you should make sure your pattern geometry has nearly the same density as your geometry you are projecting onits also possible to create pinned vertex groups in your pattern, deform and then use the cloth modifier on the whole geo,…