https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/inserting-a-regular-zipper • Posted by bobbinandbaste
New to sewing and haven’t put a zipper into an outfit or home wares item? Follow these steps and with a little practice, you will master it! Zippers come in many sorts – regular, open ended, invisible, plastic and metal. If you are new to installing zippers, it’s best to learn how to with a regular zipper. Regular zippers can be installed in a number of ways, here’s the easiest.
New to sewing and haven’t put a zipper into an outfit or home wares item? Follow these steps and with a little practice, you will master it! Zippers come in many sorts – regular, open ended, invisible, plastic and metal. If you are new to installing zippers, it’s best to learn how to with a regular zipper. Regular zippers can be installed in a number of ways, here’s the easiest.
Step 1: Ensure the seam you wish to put the zipper into is at least 1.5cm in width. Finish the edges of fabric to prevent fraying with either an overlocker/serger or a zig zag stitch.
Step 2: Measure the zipper (from the silver tab at the end to just before the claws finish at the top) and mark the start and end of where the zipper will be inserted onto the fabric using a washable fabric marker.
Step 3: Sew a 1.5cm seam at either end of the seam up until where you marked the start and end of the zipper. If you are installing a zipper into a dress, it’s likely you’ll only need to do this at the end of the zipper. Reverse stitch at the ends to make sure the stitching does not loosen.
Step 4: Open up the seam and press the seams flat on the inside.
Step 5: Place the zipper under the seam and on the right side hand stitch the zipper in place. Ensure the silver tab is placed just under the end of the seam. When you start hand stitching the first side of the zipper ensure the zipper teeth are completely covered by the seam.
Tip: Hand stitch using a contrast thread so it’s easy to see when you need to rip the thread out later.
Step 6: After you have hand stitched it in place you can head to the sewing machine to machine stitch the zipper in place. Stitch about 0.5cm from the seam edge and use your zipper foot. When you get to sewing the top and bottom of the zipper, reverse back and forth to strengthen the seam area.
Step 7: Once you finished sewing around the zipper, use your seam ripper to pull out the basting stitches. To finish off you might like to press the zipper area to ensure it’s completely flat. ….and voila!