Tuesday tutorial - Hands up who loves zips!!!!!

No I've not gone completely mad, but when I have conversations with my sewing friends one of the things that is sure to elicit a groan from their lips is 'inserting zips'! So I thought we'd do one together. I've used calico (which was probably a bit too thin for demonstration purposes (but you'll get the idea) and a contrasting thread so that it is very obvious to see what I'm doing.

There are lots of different ways that zips can be used, but today I just thought we'd start off with inserting a zip into a cushion cover (unpiped).

The absolute key to inserting zips successfully is to arm yourself with a roll of continuous zip.

Yep, zips on a roll. It makes life so much easier because you don't have to worry about exact fits and measuring. You just trim off what you don't need. I get mine here but Ebay also sell and I tend to stay stocked with a roll of light beige and white which suits most projects. Later addition: You could of course buy a singular zip but make sure it's a longer length than you actually need.

So let's start. Sew about 5cm of stitching at each side of your cushion cover, allowing for approximately a 1.5cm seam allowance on each side. Reinforce the stitching at each end.

Then, hand sew tacking stitches inbetween the two rows of stitching and lightly press the seam open.

Seen from the other side........

Cut off a length of zip from your roll which is slightly longer than you actually need (ie longer than the gap in between the first 2 rows of stitching that you did.)





Now, lay the zip face down on top of the seam that you have created. Make sure you line up the teeth so that they are just below the seam line and pin into position or tack if you prefer.

Take your cover to your sewing machine. Make sure you are using a zipper foot and position the fabric so that you start sewing at the beginning of the zip opening or end of the row of stitching that you did at the start of this project. If you want to, mark this position with a pencil so you know exactly where to start.

Now take a swig of coffee, a deep breath, needle down, foot on the gas and off you go. Keep the stitching quite close to the zipper teeth.

Seen from the other side.......

Now stitch the other side, keeping the stitching in the middle of the zipper (that is not so close to the teeth this time.) You should end up with something that looks like this. (If I was doing this again I think I would sew even further away from the zipper - I was too close this time) 

 Open up the zipper ....... so that it is within the opening you have created.

........ and carefully secure the zipper in place at each end with a few machine stitches.

Nearly there! Carefully unpick the tacking stitches.......

....and cut off the excess zip at each end.

Lightly press and that's it you've inserted a zip!

Well I hope that's helpful I've tried to use pictures rather than words as I think it's easier to follow and whilst I'm not holding myself up as an expert I know what works for me. Like with most things the more you practice the easier it becomes and you'll adapt methods to suit your own style of sewing.

Well whilst doing this I've just sold a couple of things on Ebay so I'm off to make someone happy (I hope!)

Happy Sewing