Zipper Mania!

Nothing reminds me of how interconnected we are than fabric, sewing and fashion trends. Isn't it amazing that just as we were starting to put together a blog post about zippers, Threads Magazine came out with a great article on the subject in their June/July issue. I love how accessible sewing is and that sewists now have so many resources for their craft. It really makes me feel that anything is possible with sewing and that anyone can do it. And when it comes to zippers, we can all use a little help.

Stonemountain is crazy about zippers!  Not only do we have the traditional nylon coil and metal zippers to match any garment and fabric, we have a wide array of specialty zippers to make your dress or top unique to your creative touch and personal style.

In the E.S.P dress, we brought out the maroon/purple in this Kaffe Fassett yarn-dyed stripe cotton by using a decorative zipper on the outside of the garment.

We loved that treatment so much, we did it again with a stunning copper zipper on this cotton Ikat dress.

Remember this adorable Very Easy Vogue 8815 top with the flirty peplum?

Adding a specialty zipper can make a garment express your individuality and style!

Working with these decorative zippers is easier than you imagine.  In our latest knit dress by Donna Karan New York ( Vogue 1313), the zipper is placed on the inside front seam, but allows the zipper teeth to show.

The decorative zipper that we chose for this lightweight knit was rather stiff.  Laurel wanted to do a test using the actual fabric, the right sewing machine needle and stitch length, just to make sure that it was going to work.  The zipper was too long for the front opening (she will shorten it later), so she did her test on the portion of the zipper that she will cut off.

After completing the test section, she basted the zipper into the front seam on both sides, then stitched it.  Basting zippers first will save you a whole lot of grief - they tend to "travel" on the fabric. And needless to say, always using your machine's special zipper foot.

When you decide to shorten a zipper after you have sewn it in place, it goes without saying, keep the top stop well away from the end of the zipper - once it accidentally slides off the teeth, you're toast! Place a couple of safety pins at the seam allowance to prevent disaster.

 

Removing the excess teeth was not difficult for this zipper.  You will need a pair of cutting pliers, first cutting one edge of the teeth. They can be gently pulled off the tape once part of the tooth is removed.

 

The DKNY dress is a shorter style and we love the way the zipper adds style to the design.  It calls for a quilting technique to be applied to the upper side panels, so Laurel applied a cotton batting to the back of the small front panels and "quilted" them by just following the printed design on the fabric.

 

And finally, we're adjusting the bodice length somewhat by making the shoulder seams larger, which in turn will raise the armholes to better fit my torso.  I can't wait to have this finished!

Creatively Yours,

SuZan