Hands up who hates mending clothes? (Me! Me! Me!)
When my sister-in-law asked if I’d mend her hoodie by replacing the zipper, I silently groaned except for the fact she was generously babysitting our kids on Saturday night so how could I say no?!
![Zipper 101 Zipper 101](https://www.nextprom.com/content/images/0001117_dark_teal_chiffon_bridesmaid_dressesteal_bridesmaid_dresses_cheap_wm.jpeg)
Zippers 4 Ways – I wrote this post a few years ago after speaking on the same topic at Sewing Summit. In the post, I discuss how to insert a top zipper (like in a zippered pouch), how to insert a zipper into a panel of a bag, two different ways to install a zippered pocket, and how to sew an invisible zipper. Zipper is stuck: If your zipper is stuck, there is a good chance that there is something blocking the slider from moving. Fabric or loose threads are common reasons why a zipper gets stuck. You can use a zipper lubricant (like IOSSO ® E-Z Snap, Zipzap, or YKK ® ZIPPY COOL ® ) to lubricate the slider and free your zipper.
As it turns out it was a really quick and easy job so today I thought I’d show you how I did it so you can start tackling that pile of clothes for mending that I KNOW you have lying around your house. Tell me I’m wrong!!
Supplies:
- Jacket (separating) zipper the same length as the original – in this case 56cm
- Zipper foot for your machine
- Seam ripper
- Matching thread
Here was the victim…the zipper pull was missing as well as the stopper.
First job, rip that zipper out!
Start with your seam ripper by pulling out a few threads near the end until you can start releasing the zipper edge away from the fabric.
Once you can get in between the zipper and the fabric, use your seam ripper to pull both lines of stitching at the same time.
Rip, rip, rip! This bit is really quick now (and somewhat satisfying…)
Sailrite Zipper 101
Make sure you remove all the bits of leftover thread so you have a clean slate to work with.
You can see now how easy it would be if you wanted to alter any of your current non-zippered jumpers or hoodies into zippered ones!
Just cut down the centre of the hoodie, finish the edges and move onto the next step of inserting the zipper! Metadatics 1 5 3 – powerful audio metadata editor. (Before cutting anything, just check to see how you’ll finish the top and bottom edges to ensure you can achieve a neat finish.)
Sailrite Zipper 101
Next job…sew on the new zipper.
If your hoodie fabric is fairly lightweight, it’s a good idea to add a long strip of iron-on interfacing to the edge of the fabric at this stage. This will help to avoid a “wavy” edge once the zipper is in place.
Separate the zipper into its two parts and line up one side of the zipper aligning the raw edge of the zipper with the raw edge of the fabric, right sides together.
Pin or use Wonder Tape to hold the zipper in position.
Attach the zipper foot to your machine and sew as close to the zipper as you can while achieving a straight line. Be sure to backstitch at the start and finish.
You will need to stop part way through, lower your needle and move the zipper pull to the other side of your presser foot.
Next, fold your newly sewn zipper back to the finished position.
Now, you need to top stitch approx. 5-7mm (1/4 inch) from the edge of the folded fabric.
You will be sewing through two layers of fleece and the zipper edge so I recommend using a slightly longer stitch length than normal (approx. 3.0). I also used a denim/jeans needle partly because it was already on my machine but on this thick fleece it also seemed like a good idea.
Now, repeat for the other side.
Hurrah!!! Mending complete!
A perfect, functioning new zipper in much less time than you’d think!
Want to learn more about zippers? Check out this FREE Craftsy class on Mastering Zipper Techniques (affiliate link). The video tutorials are easy to follow so you’ll be an expert in no time!
So, who’s with me? What are you going to mend this week?
Powerphotos 1 1 3 download free. (And if someone asks you to do it for them – don’t forget to ask when they’re going to babysit!)
Happy mending!
Omnifocus 2 11 download free. Nat.
“Sliders” are really the simplest of things to use but are a complicated subject when it comes to understanding them and their application. There are literally thousands of kinds of sliders, and we have thousands of cases of tens of thousands of pieces of them to prove it! There is so much to explain here that we will only touch on it briefly to get you started so you can make some good choices right away, then you can review in depth details in Zipper 101 if you like. The important thing to remember is that sliders are defined by the chain they are to work on. Metal zipper chain needs to have sliders made specifically to work on metal zipper chain. Nylon coil zipper chain needs to have sliders made specifically to work on nylon coil zipper chain. Plastic zipper chain needs to have sliders made specifically to work on plastic zipper chain. Now I know what you are thinking, “I got it already”, but I have to make sure it is understood that only matched sliders and chain will work. Now, after you identify a nylon coil slider for the nylon coil chain for instance, you also need to make sure the gauge of the slider matches the gauge of the chain. ONLY a #3 nylon slider will fit #3 nylon coil chain. There are lots of caveats with sliders and they are all dealt with in Zipper 101, where I urge you to read more, especially if you are going to match sliders and chains purchased from two different sources; something I would advise against for the most part.
The main part of a slider is the body of the slider. This is the actual part of the slider that slips onto the zipper chain and runs up and down. To this body there could be no other parts at all or as many as four or five, really small parts, but parts non the less. The main part attached to the slider body would be the puller and would be the most common.
Sailrite Video Zipper 101
Now I would like to give a brief explanation of the different slider types and their functions. Simplest of all is the non lock slider. It is as its name implies; a slider that does not lock in any way. To refresh your memory of what is locking or not, I am referring to the slider body in relation to the zipper chain. The term locking means the slider stays put where you want it to as opposed to one that can move up and down the chain as the garment or item is moved about simply by casual contact or gravity. A non lock slider can move about on its own; it is used on things like futon covers or handbags. The next major type is the locking slider, one that stays where it is
put. This can happen automatically when it is released, or can happen
when a certain action is taken, like pushing the puller down to lay
parallel with the zipper chain. The types of locking sliders are many,
much more information can be found in Zipper 101.
put. This can happen automatically when it is released, or can happen
when a certain action is taken, like pushing the puller down to lay
parallel with the zipper chain. The types of locking sliders are many,
much more information can be found in Zipper 101.
Sailrite Video Zipper 101
Everything else about sliders is variable and optional. There are literally thousands of puller combinations for any number of slider bodies. Some of the pullers affect the function of the slider and some are purely decorative as well as functional. For a Pin Lock slider for example, the puller is integral to the operation of the overall slider since the locking pin is actually on the puller, engaged only when the puller is pushed into the chain by the user. Some sliders are even defined by the overall combination of parts, like a small rounded short puller mounted to a non lock body is commonly referred to as a Bell Tab slider. The finishes we offer also can be overwhelming. Most sliders made for metal chains match the chain finish; antique brass chain would almost always dictate an antique brass finish on the slider. But on nylon coil or plastic chain, the slider finishes can be any shade of paint or any type of plated or oxidized finish imaginable.