Sewology Sunday - Installing Zippers

Every Sunday, we are going to post a Sewology article. These articles will cover fun, informative and/or helpful topics in the sewing world. Some will be tutorials (like todays), some will be tips, and others will be what ever we come up with! Here are some of our future post ideas. If you have an idea for us, we would love to have a guest Sewology Sunday blogger!

  • Paper-Piecing tutorial
  • Stash Busting
  • Sewing Room Organization
  • Color Theory
  • Tips from a Longarm Quilter
  • Boxed Bottom tutorial
  • Purse Handle tutorial
  • Why we LOVE Starch
  • Bag Hardware Tutorials
  • Batiks vs. Printed Cottons
  • Sewing with Bias Edges
Hopefully we don't run out of ideas! But any who, today's Sewology Sunday is Zipper Installation! I am going to do a little tutorial on how to install zippers quickly, accurately and easily. If you are anything like me, zippers scare you! They scared me for a long time, until my mom (Kristy) came up with this fabulous and simple way to install them. This tutorial is based off of the Cassidy Crossover Purse Pattern instructions and is meant to be a helpful addition for Diagrams 2 and 3. 
Tack the end of the zipper to keep the teeth together.
Center the ends of the zipper into the tab against the fold. Sew SLOWLY along the fold. 
(Don't want to break the needle!)
Iron both sides of the tab open. (Don't melt the zipper teeth. Use a pressing cloth if needed) 
Trim edges even with the zipper.
Lay Zipper right side up on lining fabric against the crease. Baste zipper down using a scant 1/4" seam. (Shown in white chalked lines.) With needle down, move the zipper head out of the way as you come to it.
Enclose zipper into fold and sew with 1/4" seam, again, moving zipper head when needed.
Flip the front and back bag pieces up and press well. 
Edge stitch on the top and bottom of the lining fabric. (Ignore the dust covered foot)
Lay zipper unit on lining fabric fabric against the crease. Baste zipper unit on lining using a scant 1/4" seam. Again, moving zipper head as needed.
Enclose zipper into the fold and sew with a 1/4" seam, again moving zipper head as needed. 
(I'm sure you've got it by now!)
Flip the front and back bag pieces up and press well. Edge stitch on the top and bottom of the lining fabric. Voila!

That is how we put in our zippers so they have no exposed edges. That is all for our Sewology Sunday. Have a fantastic week and see you next Sunday for our Superbowl Sewology Sunday! Hmm football and fabric, could be fun!

Comments

Nancy seyfried

Nancy seyfried said:

Thanks for the tutorial re zippers. Easy to understand. Now I just hope I can remember it when I go to do it! Love the quilt designs. I am searching for just the right contemporary dis’ing for a friend. Some of these would be perfect! Thanks.

Nancy seyfried

Nancy seyfried said:

Thanks for the tutorial re zippers. Easy to understand. Now I just hope I can remember it when I go to do it! Love the quilt designs. I am searching for just the right contemporary dis’ing for a friend. Some of these would be perfect! Thanks.

Karen

Karen said:

Trying to make Bugsy Backpack – this zipper tutorial does not help with that.

Kim

Kim said:

Making daily duffle. Page 4, diagram 11 putting zipper unit on bag doesn’t make sense.

Lui Zellner

Lui Zellner said:

I’m having trouble making sense of the zipper insertion Directions for the Bugsy backpack.

Karyn

Karyn said:

I am making the Bugsy Backpack, also. I agree the zipper instructions are a bit confusing. It took a lot of brain storming to figure out what the instructions meant. I did figure it out and am happy with the results!

Sharon

Sharon said:

This did not help me to understand how to put the zipper in for the Selby Satchel. In fact, this confused me even more in figuring out how to put the zipper in my project. Totally frustrated right now.

Ellie

Ellie said:

Agree with the others, please post specific instructions on how to install the zipper on the Bugsy backpack. This is my first time installing a zipper and also making a backpack!

Kathryn D Marang

Kathryn D Marang said:

I can’t understand how to finish the zipper in the Daily Duffle. How do you baste the lining fabric after you have the zipper sewn to both sides?

Diane Ducharme

Diane Ducharme said:

I am making the Bugsy backpack, when i follow the directions for the zipper the zipper catches and is not smooth.

Do you have any suggestions on what i could be doing wrong?

Please HELP??

Diane

gigi

gigi said:

can you have a tutorial on how to place a pull on the zipper tape

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