This is the first dress I've made that needs a zipper... I sewed it in last night but it was kind of puckery so I have to take it out and try again. If I use a zipper foot will that help? Any other suggestions?
2006-10-19 08:57:02 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
I would take it out and use an invisible zipper. That is not a joke. They will hide better in the seam. Also I start at the top and work my way down one side then when and if it looks straight, I zip it up and pin the other side and then where I left off at the bottom, I continue back to the top. The upper edges, I tuck and sew down with a few stitches. I have no sewing background, but I have done a lot of costuming for theatre productions, and sometimes I find great dresses that need new zippers or a zipper. It takes practice and patience... be prepared to rip it all out and start over.. that is how you learn, then once you get it it's cake, you never forget.
I don't have a zipper foot, I have a 1951 Singer sewing machine that only does a straight stitch...and that is all I have needed.
good luck hope this helps :)
2006-10-20 08:41:25 · answer #1 · answered by Tanya N (thesingingbeaner) 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
This is an easy way and you will hae even seams and the edges will meet perfectly! Use a long stitch and sew the seam up where the zipper goes all the way up to the neck. Then pin the zipper to it with the seam edges folded back against the zipper. Then sew in a straight line on the top of the dress, with a zipper foot,and use a guide to keep your seam straight. Sew all around with a reg stitch.When you finish sewing, pull out the thread from the zipper seam.Easy and straight and no puckers! Best wishes! I wore clothes to school in the 5th grade that I made. I still like to make things and do crafts and costumes, etc.
2006-10-20 10:21:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've been sewing for over 35 years - designed and made my wedding gown.
First, sew up the seam the zipper is in UP TO THE POINT of where the bottom of the zipper is - you should have MARKED that on your fabric with a marker or a tailor tack or perhaps a notch. At that point, tack the seam. Then, use a machine basting stitch to sew the seam the rest of the way, that is, baste the seam shut where the zipper is going. Press your seam open. Pressing is VERY important in sewing.
Next, pin the zipper centered over the basted seam, aligning the endpoint - the METAL end on the zipper, not the end of the fabric, with the mark you made for the beginning part of the zipper. HAND baste your zipper in, this should only take about 5 minutes. Make a chalk mark on the right side of the garment at the endpoint of the zipper.
Now, making sure the zipper is centered in the seam, use a zipper foot and ON THE RIGHT SIDE of the garment, sew the zipper in. GO SLOWLY. Sew fairly close to the seam - about 2/8 ths of an inch. Sew just past the chalk mark which indicates the end of the zipper, leave the needle in the fabric, turn the seam, stitch a couple of stiches, leave the needle in again, and turn the fabric and stitch back up the other side of the zipper. After you tack and break off the end of the seam, you might want to reinforce the bottom stitches - that is, just go over them back and forth a couple of times to reinforce.
Open up the basted seam of the fabric with a seam ripper, and VOILA! your zipper is nicely placed! It's not hard, it just takes a bit of patience.
2006-10-20 07:41:42 · answer #3 · answered by hausfrau31557 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, definitely use a zipper foot. Also, I always put in the zipper before I sew the side seams, so the fabric is easier to manipulate. The following three sites have lots of directions. The first one is for a standard zipper and has pictures. It is pretty much the way I would do the zipper.
The second site is for invisible zippers, a slightly different technique.
The third site has dozens of links for sewing, several of them are for zippers.
Don't fret about the zipper. Many sewers shy away from zippers, because they can be tricky. If your fabric is special such as silk, velvet, panne, real suede, etc. you may want to consider taking the garment and zipper to a professional seamstress or dry cleaners and pay to have someone else do the zipper Shh, we won't tell.
2006-10-19 14:38:35 · answer #4 · answered by bizime 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
First off, good luck with your dress. I am sure many of us seamstresses would love to see it once it is complete.
About the zipper: Installing Zippers is the most difficult thing to do when sewing. Definately use a zipper foot. Also, Someone mentioned opening up the zipper first. That is a great suggestion. This is what I normally do: Open up the zipper, pin it to the fabric right where I want it, baste in a contrasting color, sew zipper and fabric together, remove basting. That should help you a bit.
2006-10-20 05:35:32 · answer #5 · answered by collegechickbre 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Use a long basting stitch on your sewing machine and sew a seam exactly where you want your the fabric to meet in the middle of the zipper. Pin the zipper in on the raw edges that you just created and baste by hand. Sew it in with the machine with a zipper foot and then take out the original first seam you put in. You will have a perfect hidden zipper with the fabric meeting exactly in the middle.
2006-10-20 02:53:13 · answer #6 · answered by Nancy Drew 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
HI; I've been sewing for approx. 25 years. THe best way that I know is the first baste the zipper by hand, then steam press lightly, then sew in the zipper with a zipper foot, just go very slowly, since it's your first one. After you baste in the zipper, hold up the fabric to make sure it isn't puckering.
2006-10-20 06:20:13 · answer #7 · answered by Holly L 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Zipper foots are always supposed to be used when install a zipper. Invisible zippers are great too but they also need to be installed with a zipper foot. A zipper foot allows you to sew closer to the zipper teeth than a normal sewing foot. You'll be happier with the results.
2006-10-20 04:31:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You must use a zipper foot and move the needle position accordingly. Zippers are one of the hardest things to put on a dress. what I suggest is that before you sew the sides of your dress. Baste the zipper to the dress first, so it won't move. Then sew the zipper slowly. Hope this helps. When you take it out please use a seam ripper.
2006-10-20 03:28:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
a zipper foot is a sure way but is this an invisible zipper or not. they work differently also open the zipper when you sew so you don't sew the fabric in the wrong place. sew as close as you can to the metal part but not on it or you will break your needle.
2006-10-19 15:29:42 · answer #10 · answered by sllyjllybn 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋