Can I replace the zipper on a pleather jacket without ripping the material?

Answer 1

I've done things like this. But I don't think it's a job for a sewing machine. It's difficult to get the new machine stitches to line up exactly with the holes from the original stitches.

Use a seam ripper to gently remove the existing stitches, and then sew the new zipper in by hand, carefully putting the needle through the existing holes in the pleather. You can do this two ways, with backstitch or a double running stitch:

BACKSTITCH: Backstitch resembles a row of machine stitching on the right side.
From the reverse side of the jacket, put your needle through the zipper into the SECOND hole in the fabric. On the top side, make a backstitch into the FIRST hole on the top side. (Do this twice to reinforce the first stitch.) Then on the underside, bring the needle forward two holes and up through the THIRD hole. Make a second backward stitch, this time from the THIRD to the SECOND hole on the top side. Bring the needle forward again to the underside FOURTH hole. On top, backstitch from the fourth to the third hole, etc. (You will also want to reinforce your work with two backstitches through the last two pairs of holes.)

DOUBLE RUNNING STITCH: Do a running stitch twice, so it resembles machine stitches on both sides.
Sew once up through the zipper into the first hole, down through the second hole. (Every other set of holes will appear to have a thread linking them.) Then sew a second time, starting in the second hole and down through the third, so that the second thread "fills in" the spaces between the pairs of holes skipped with the first set of running stitches. (With a zipper, it's also a good idea to start and end with a couple backstitches [described above] as reinforcement,)

Both kinds of stitching are strong enough for a zipper.

Use crosswise pieces of tape to affix the zipper to the jacket. Remove the strips of tape as you go, peeking to make sure that as the needle goes through the zipper, it's also lined up with the proper hole on the "wrong side" of the garment.

You will possibly want to use a heavier-weight thread than standard sewing thread--like a "button-hole twist", if that's how your zipper was already sewn. But matching the jacket's color is more important, of course. Also, use the largest sewing needle that fits through the existing holes easily. (It's too easy to pierce pleather with a fine one.) You want to follow the existing holes, and not make any new ones if possible. This takes care and patience, but it works well.

Answer 2

Sure, if you are Very Very careful removing it. If you really like the jacket take it to your favorite dry cleaner and ask if they replace zippers. A good cleaner does for a resonable price. It usually takes about a week...I have had zippers replaced in jeans for around $8.

Answer 3

yeah you need a seem riper it cuts the thread its kinda like a little needle and you can either replace the zipper or you can sew the jacket without a zipper

Answer 4

no