Burda Style For people who sew

Though I do prefer an invisible zipper, sometimes it just isn't practical. So I usually end up centering an all purpose zip. This is when you sew the seam before installing the zip, and then top stitch on the right side of the fabric, on either side of the seamline, avoiding the zipper teeth. The problem is you quite often end up with a bubble around the zipper pull as it hits the zipper foot. I've seen a lot of suggestions for getting around this by opening the zipper and sewing each side separately, then zipping it up and finishing etc. But honestly I find that to be really fidley. I find it much easier to & quicker to simply buy a zipper a few inches longer than I need, and then putting the pull end of the zipper above the edge of the garment. That way you can easily top stitch the zip in place, then unzip it, fold down or trim the excess and finish up. It's much easier and neater in my opinion. Detailed <a href="http://megannielsen.com/?p=113">photos & steps</a> on <a href="http://www.megannielsen.com/">my website</a>

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7 Comments

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  Jun 22, 2009, 11.19 AMby trolldoll

  this is brilliant.i cant believe i didnt think of that!thanks for sharing, im never going to buy the right size zippers again!
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  Mar 2, 2009, 02.53 PMby nehmah

  For Eastmeetswest, If you want to make sure your pull stays put, between Step 7 & 8, on both sides of the zipper tape, mark the spot where you want to end, then make a bar tack (that’s a narrow, tight zigzag stitch) over the zipper teeth on each side of the zipper. Then go to Step 8 and proceed. (If there is a problem understanding the above, let me know or better still, post the correction so fabric, time and patience are not destroyed.) Cordially, Nehmah
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  Feb 25, 2009, 10.58 AMby onlysonly

  I agree; very well-done tutorial. I HATE sewing zippers, but you’ve laid it out very clearly & it makes more sense now. Thanks!
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  Feb 24, 2009, 07.50 AMby dkocsis45

  eastmeetwest – the top of the garment or where the zipper is turned over becomes your new stop.

  very well done how to… thank you. I just usually would slow way down around the zip pull and usually would sew far enough away that it wouldn’t really get in the way. .. but there was always still that little bit.

  Thanks again!
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  Feb 23, 2009, 02.34 PMby eastmeetwest

  I may be understanding you wrong, but if you trim the excess, do you trim the stopper on the zipper? And if so, how do add a new one?
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  Feb 19, 2009, 02.20 PMby cicaktoes

  Wow – what a simple and practical idea! I always have trouble sewing around the zipper pull!!
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  Feb 18, 2009, 01.08 PMby Redoubt

  I hadn’t thought of this, but I will be sure to try it next time I use a zipper!