Zipper insertion
The process of sewing a zipper into an opening, often using a zipper foot and basting.
Where it is used
Sewing Bodice Side Seams
p. 6- Place front and back bodice right sides together. Sew the right side seam completely with a 1 cm seam allowance. On the left side seam, leave an opening for the invisible zipper, stitching only from the armhole to the zipper mark.
Marking Zipper Reference Points
p. 9- Mark reference points on the sewn zipper tape where the waistband seams meet. Zip up and transfer these marks to the other side of the zipper tape.
Sewing First Zipper Tape
p. 9- Using an invisible zipper foot, stitch the zipper tape in place from the top stop down to 2-3 mm before the skirt side seam starts.
Basting Invisible Zipper
p. 9- Pre-shrink the zipper. Unzip and place one zipper tape right side down on the right side of the dress left side seam. Align the tape edge with the seam edge and baste.
Sewing Second Zipper Tape
p. 10- Stitch the second zipper tape using the invisible zipper foot, starting from the top stop down to the lower reference mark.
Basting Second Zipper Tape
p. 10- Unzip and align the second zipper tape face down on the other side of the opening, matching the waistband reference marks. Pin and baste in place.
Checking Zipper Alignment
p. 10- Turn the zipper ends inside, close the zipper, and verify that the waistband seams align perfectly. Lightly press through a pressing cloth.
Trimming Zipper Tail
p. 10- Trim the excess zipper tail down to 2 cm. Cut a small fabric scrap measuring 4 cm wide by 3 cm long.
Wrapping Zipper End
p. 11- Place the extra fabric piece right sides together with the lower edge of the zipper and sew across using presser foot width.
Finishing Zipper Wrap
p. 11- Fold the lower raw edge of the wrap piece over the zipper end, pin, and stitch 1-2 mm from the edge to cleanly enclose the raw zipper tail.
Sew Right Zipper
p. 8- Sew the zipper in place using a single-sided presser foot on your sewing machine, keeping a 1.0 cm seam allowance from the edge of the zipper tape.
Sew Left Zipper
p. 9- Sew the zipper in place using a sewing machine with a single presser foot; keep the stitch line 1.0 cm from the edge of the zipper tape.
Related terms
requiresConcealed zipper
requiresMetal zipper
requiresMetal zipper
requiresZipper
requiresSingle-toe presser foot
requiresSingle-toe zipper foot
requiresStraight stitch sewing machine
requiresSewing machine
stabilized byStraight-grain fusible tape
stabilized byFusible interfacing