Comments on: Centered zipper construction

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:48:19 +0000

Nice tutorial. Thanks.

I’m curious. I’d like to make a fine garment (ie, formal dress). Are invisible zippers OK for this purpose? I’ve heard that they’re a sure sign of a homemade garment. Can a similar technique to that described here be used for an invisible zipper with a lining or even a regular zipper with a lining instead of the facing?

By: Natalija

Natalija — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:46:04 +0000

Dear Kathleen, thank you for your great tutorials. I want to try all the zipper tutorials, but I started with this center first. My results for a first try are great, but I have a bit of problems. How close to the zipper teeth do I stitch? As close as possible? My outer fabric is catching into the zipper at one point and that makes me think I did it too close. Also I second feodora’s question, how should I top-stitch it? Open or closed. My “lips” are not covering the zipper as they are yours, although I do think there is enough fabric. Is it all about pressing? Thank you.

By: Shirley Backers

Shirley Backers — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:05:41 +0000

I am about to start my own blog and would like permission to like to your tutorials. They are great.

Shirley Backers

By: feodora

feodora — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:59:57 +0000

Kathleen,
I ran into two problems when I tried the centered zipper. One, I had a hard time keeping the pressed edge of the fabric centered over the zipper. and two, when I topstitched, it made the ‘lips’ of fabric tend to stand up over the zipper teeth. Should I topstitch with the zipper open or closed? and is there a requisite distance from the teeth to keep the fabric lying down? (I’m sewing on muslin) thanks.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 16:42:32 +0000

Kathleen,
This looks great! Just to clarify for me, you are using a regular coil zipper, correct? Not an invisible zipper? The finished outcome looks like an invisible zipper to me, and I love it. I’m going to get busy and practice some samples. I love the clean finish of it all. Thanks for the tutorials!

By: Diane

Diane — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 14:39:49 +0000

Thank you, Kathleen! My dress was lined to the edge awaiting the zipper and all I had to do was pick out a few stitches at the neck edge for the tape to extend into the seamline. Why is this method such a secret? It’s like bagging a jacket lining.

By: Fashion-Incubator

Fashion-Incubator — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 18:22:01 +0000

Invisible zipper tutorial pt.1

Owing to the generous contribution of one of our readers, Jinjer from the bay area, I’m pleased to include the following invisible zipper tutorial. As Jinjer makes frequent reference to it, you may want to review my centered zipper tutorial…

By: Dixie

Dixie — Thu, 11 Aug 2005 15:35:16 +0000

Really great zipper lesson! I’ve been sewing for 55 years and always on the look-out for better ways and this is a gem. I must say that my 1955 home ec. lessons NEVER dealt with this zipper, either.
Thanks for sharing.

By: Josh Latham

Josh Latham — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 06:20:00 +0000

My fears are calmed about the zipper. I think I will try the centered zipper first. You would think I would know more about inserting zippers because I did it for 7 years, almost every day. But the zippers I installed were done in an unusual way. These were disposable tyvek coveralls used in dust free zones. The zipper was simply sewed down one side of the front, folded over and sewed down the other side and when I got to the end I just ran off into the crotch. It had to look good enough to be worn a few times.

Mark your calendar because Tommy Hilfiger’s new reality show “The Cut” starts on June 9th (Thu). Could be worth something discussing on this board together.

By: kathleen

kathleen — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 16:19:13 +0000

Josh, I know you’re working on the lapped zipper; try doing the centered application; it’s comparatively streamlined.

If you sew the centered zipper, I want you to try an *experiment* and when sewing the zipper tape, just ride the presser foot along the edge with no particular focus on getting the seam allowance “just right”. You’ll be amazed to find that even with sloppy allowance, the zipper will STILL come out correctly, lol. Only then will you see just how well designed industrial process methods are.