How To Align A Separating Zipper Evenly On Both Edges
Fully separating exposed zippers or often considered one of the simplest zipper applications to sew. While the zipper tape and garment edges are aligned and stitched similar to a simple conventional seam, one of the challenges you'll come across during the application process is aligning both garment edges evenly on both sides of the zipper teeth. When the zipper is fully closed, the garment's top and bottom horizontal edges should align perfectly.
Here is a simple technique you can use to ensure the most optimal zipper placement at the garment's opening.
Here is a simple technique you can use to ensure the most optimal zipper placement at the garment's opening.
1. Align and stitch the first portion of the zipper to its corresponding garment edge. Close the zipper fully and lay it flat with its right side facing up as pictured above.
Follow these steps to attach the other portion of the garment evenly to the unstitched zipper tape:
Follow these steps to attach the other portion of the garment evenly to the unstitched zipper tape:
2. Place the unstitched garment edge on top of the garment portion housing the zipper with face sides touching such that the garment's top and bottom horizontal edges align perfectly. In this position, the unstitched zipper tape will naturally align in perfect relation to the garment edge.
To secure the zipper and garment layers, insert pins perpendicularly through the garment edge and zipper tape, inserting the pins from the tape side as shown above.
To secure the zipper and garment layers, insert pins perpendicularly through the garment edge and zipper tape, inserting the pins from the tape side as shown above.
3. Pin the entire garment edge and zipper tape, inserting the pins from the zipper tape side.
4. Unzip to fully separate the garment opening edges. The pins are placed on the zipper tape side since this is the side from which the zipper will be topstitched to the garment edge. This placement ensures they are easy to remove while also keeping the garment and zipper tape layers much flatter and smoother during the machine stitching process.
At this point, machine stitch the second zipper tape portion to complete the separating zipper application .
At this point, machine stitch the second zipper tape portion to complete the separating zipper application .