For someone making their first attempt at Sewing, using a zip in your dressmaking project can be a little daunting if you're not sure how to install it in your garment. In today's blog, I'll be walking you through a tutorial on how to sew a zip into your dressmaking project. What you'll need:
  • A regular dress zip measuring your desired length
  • A stitch ripper
  • Pins
  • A zipper foot (this will make your sewing much easier!)
Step One Take your garment, bag or whatever project you are working on and work out where you want your zip to be sewn in. Take the two edges of fabric that you want to zip together, and sew them closed as you would with a regular seam. Turn over to the 'wrong side' of the fabric and press this new seam open flat. Step Two With your Zip closed and face down, place the end of the zip in line with wherever it needs to begin on your dressmaking project. Then, line the zip teeth up with the seam you just sewed in the first step of this tutorial. Pin the zip in place. Step Three Turn your dressmaking project back over to the 'right side' of the fabric. Place a pin over where your zip ends, so that you avoid sewing over the stopper at the end of your zip. Step Four Place your fabric 'right side' up into your machine and sew up both sides of your zip - use your fingers and judgement to feel how wide your zip teeth are. Also make sure to lift up your sewing machine foot and move your zip pull out of the way if need be. Step Five Sew over the bottom end of your zip to secure it in place. Using your stitch ripper, unpick the centre seam that you sewed in the first step of this tutorial, all the way down to the line of stitching that you just sewed over the bottom end of your zip. You have now successfully installed your zip in your dressmaking project! Do you have any tips of your own for sewing zips into your dressmaking projects? Share them with us on Facebook - we love to hear what our customers have to say and what methods they use in their own sewing endeavours, Until next time and happy sewing! Calico Laine