49Practical Stitches - Applications
Zipper
Stitch:
Needle:
Thread:
Feed dog:
Presser foot:
Needle position:
Straight stitch No. 1
size and type suitable for the fabric selected
cotton or polyester
up (sewing position)
Zipper foot No. 4 or
Zipper foot with guide No. 14 (optional accessory)
far right or far left
Preparation
• baste seam closed and clean finish the
seam allowance
• baste or pin zipper in place so that fabric
folded edges meet over the center of the
zipper
Sewing
• open zipper a little
• start sewing from top left
• position the foot so the needle stitches
along the edge of the zipper coils
• stop in front of the pull (needle position
down), raise the presser foot and close
zipper again
• continue to sew to the base of the zipper
(needle position down)
• turn fabric and sew across the seam
(needle position down)
• turn fabric again and sew second side of
the zipper from bottom to top
Variation: Sew both sides of zipper from
bottom to top
• suitable for all fabrics with nap or grain
(e.g. velvet)
•prepare zipper as described above
• start sewing in the seam of the zipper
end and sew first side from bottom to
top
• sew the second side the same way from
bottom to top
Zipper as a decorative element
• sew a visible zipper into the
fabric as a decorative element
To sew around the zipper pull
• close the zipper and sew up to
about 2” (5cm) away from the
pull
• stop with the needle down in
the fabric, raise the presser
foot. Open zipper, pulling the
tab below the needle; lower
presser foot and continue to
sew
Starting to sew
• hold threads firmly when
starting to sew and pull the
fabric gently behind the needle
for a few stitches
Zipper tape or firm fabric
•for even stitch formation use a
90 - 100 needle
