How (and when) to insert a zipper.
Posted by Wendy Breakstone Ladd | Filed under Sewing Fun
OK… let me just say this.. It may seem like common zipper knowledge, but if you’re anything like me when trying a new project you’ll hold off doing the hardest part till last. Every article I read made inserting a zipper sound like child’s play (even for a beginner). But none of the articles I read said that YOU NEED TO INSTALL THE ZIPPER INTO THE APPROPRIATE SEAM FIRST – RATHER THAN LAST. Ah ha – procrastinating your zipper installation will only make matters worse.
Really this makes good sense for two reasons:
1. you can easily maneuver your your zipper seam open
2. If you screw up, you haven’t spent time sewing up the rest of the project and you can just start over or get out the handy-dandy seam-ripper (my favorite tool).
I’m about to sew a few basic pillow cases from this awesome Raoul Textiles Oriental linen fabric (I picked it up at their annual 
“Sell off The Scraps & Samples” open to the public sale) for xmas presents for my BFF neighbor. These pillowcases will have zippers so I’m gearing up for my adventures with my zipper foot.
Here’s how to start your zipper installation:
1. Baste seam where zipper will be placed – right sides of fabric together
2. press seam allowance open – wrong side up facing you when you press open
3. Lay zipper where you want it on the seam – right side of zipper facing down onto wrong side of fabric
4. Pin zipper in place
4. Sew in zipper – here’s where you have to watch the videos and read the links below
5. Remove basting from right side – and you’re done
VIDEO TUTORIALS:
- Centered Zipper Installation: This is the way that my sewing teacher taught me and its very easy to visually follow the directions here.
- Zipper Insertion – centered zipper
-Pin Zipper and Baste Seam (the gal in this video has an adorable red vintage sewing machine)
(there are several videos on the subject but most are long, tedious and annoying.)
WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS:
- Basic Zipper Installation
Bottom line on sewing zippers: A zipper cost about $2.50 – buy a few and practice. Also, go to your local sewing machine or fabric shop with your project. Someone there will give you a free one-on-one and show you.
Happy holidays!
Tags: beginner sewing, sew zipper, topstitch, zipper installation
