INVISIBLE ZIPPERS THE EASY TO DO ZIPPER, GUIDE BY TIMOTHY KESSLER

WHAT IS AN INVISIBLE ZIPPER? An invisible zipper is common in women’s fashions and home textiles such as pillow covers. They create a rolled seam look when closed thus concealing the zipper itself from view. An example of a back invisible zipper and of throw pillows can be seen below.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED You will need your zipper, scissors, measuring tape, pins, an iron, thread, the invisible zipper foot for your machine, a little patience and a lot of confidence in yourself! You have got this!! You can see below some examples from this list. Relax not everything is going to look the same just make sure you have what I have listed.

STEP ONE: OPENING UP THE ZIPPER Part of what makes these zippers look so great is how close to the coils of the zipper they are stitched. I know this may sound a little scary but on the invisible zipper foot there should be a little point that will guide the needle close to the coils but will keep them away from the needle itself. When you take the zipper out you will notice the coils seem to be rolled on to the zipper tape. Unzip the zipper and place it face down on your ironing board. Using a medium heat setting but preferably a little steam begin to press the coil down so that it is flat and no longer rolled. Just look at the pictures below, see piece of cake!

STEP TWO: ZIPPER PLACEMENT This is the easiest thing so far. You are going to want to place your garment or item right side up on your ironing board. Using your measuring tape place the zipper right side down on your fabric and determine how far from the top edge of the fabric you want your zipper and also how far you want the edge of the zipper tape to be from the inside edge of the fabric. Once you have done this pin the side of the zipper closest to the edge of the fabric in place. You are now ready to stitch!

STEP THREE: STITCHING YOUR ZIPPER I am sure you may be a little nervous by now but don’t be! You are doing great! By now you have pinned your zipper, have put the invisible zipper foot on your machine and you are ready to go. Place the garment under the foot making sure the coil is to the left of the point. In the picture provided there is a groove don’t worry if your foot just has the point all machines are a little different. Now then press slowly on your presser foot and begin to stitch. Be sure that when you get to the zipper pull at the bottom you do a small back-stitch to help keep things in place.

STEP THREE (CONT.): STITCHING YOUR ZIPPER Once you are done with the first side it is time to pin the other. You will always want to pin your item or garment so that the right sides face each other on the fabric and the zipper. Once you have done this flip the fabric so that you can test your zipper. Trust me you will be glad you did just in case something is not right. After you have done this and everything is kosher unzip it, then place the garment or item in the machine this time making sure the coil is to the right of the point on your invisible zipper foot. Stitch as you did the first side.

STEP FOUR: PRESS THE ZIPPER IN THE GARMENT OR ITEM. Now look at what you just did! You put in a zipper! You just have a couple things left and you completely done. Close up the zipper and place you garment on the ironing board. You will want to gently press the seam created when the zipper is closed.

STEP FIVE: STITCHING DOWN THE ZIPPER TAPE Now that you have your zipper in, you will want to pin the remainder of the zipper tape along its edge with the fabric. Now then changing to the standard zipper foot you will want to stitch the remaining tape to your fabric allowance. Slowly work your way from the top to the bottom of the zipper. This gives the zipper some extra support when it is being closed and will help things lay nice and neat once the zipper is closed.

CONGRATULATIONS! You did it! Even Martha Stewart would be envious of how well you just did. Remember anytime you do an invisible zipper just follow the simple steps you just took and you will have a great looking zipper in your garment or item every time and no one will know how easy it was to do just from looking.

PICTURE INDEX 1.Sew_invisible_zippers_like_a_pro-1.jpg Slide XSi-IMG_ jpg Slide toolsneeded-500x333.jpg Slide IMG_ x333.jpg Slide IMG_ x333.jpg Slide measurezipper-500x333.jpg Slide pinfirstside-500x333.jpg Slide 5.

PICTURE INDEX (CONT.) 8. sewingfirstside-500x333.jpg. Slide liningupsewing-500x333.jpg Slide pinnedsecondside-500x333.jpg Slide pinning_opposidezip2-500x333.jpg Slide ironzipper-500x333.jpg Slide zipperfootsewing-500x333.jpg Slide finishedzipper-500x748.jpg Slide 10.