Do you know that it is easy to spot a brand by looking at the zipper. Most branded luxury houses uses brand name embossed zippers on their clothes and accessories. Just check a Gucci product and you will see “GUCCI” engraved on the back of the zipper pull. Balenciaga products have an imposing B on them. But for the rest of us, the trick is to add zippers in memorable ways on our clothes that will make it unique.
Exposed Metal Zipper on Hems
This is a very common application of zippers as decoration. Insert exposed zipper on hems for a nice look.
This can be done on your existing pants or jeans. This is how you stitch it.
For more details checkout this post on sewing these exposed zippers
Mark the opening for the zipper on your facing fabric.
If you are not opening the side seams, there is a limit to the length you can sew on a tight pant leg. Remember this when you mark.
Sew around this mark as a rectangle.
Cut open the mark – including the forked part.
Push the facing material to the back.
Keep the zipper on the back. Pin in place. Remember to fold the top edge of the zipper at the top.
Top stitch around the zipper.
Contrast colored zippers
This look especially nice as zippered pockets
They look great on bags, jackets, shorts….
Zip off shorts
With this you make convertible clothes by adding zipper on pant legs – Full-length pants become shorts, just like that, by unzipping your zipper. These zippers are usually placed along clean seam lines. It is very useful when you are travelling as it saves space, reduces packing, and adapts quickly when the weather flips. A long skirt becomes a short skirt, a jacket becomes a sleeveless vest – the possibilities are endless.
Zipper Rosettes and appliques
I see this a lot on pinterest boards. You just have to coil a narrow zipper into a flower shape. You can then stitch it on like a patch. It adds 3D texture to your sewing projects, and works beautifully on bags, collars, or denim jackets.
Cut off the edges and then shape it into the shape drawn on fabric to make beautiful applique shapes.
Zipper stripes
Use long continuous zipper chains (without sliders) as stripes running vertically down pants or sleeves
Collar edge
Add zipper edge along a collar for a decorative look. Just loosen the seam of your collar and add it inside.
ADD zipper inside fabric folds
Add a zipper inside folded fabrics and let the teeth peek out when you move.
To sew this with the zipper framed by pretty fabric fold, cut out 2 fabric strips and fold them.
Keep them on top of the zipper, folded part of the two fabric pieces aligned with the zipper teeth. Sew them in place.
First sew one piece.
Then the other.
Sew in place
Trim the extra
Make a mark on the garment.
Cut along the mark
Place the zipper with the fabric strips rightside down on the slit you have made and sew in place.
After you have sewn it on all sides, turn it right side out – the fabric strips will cover the zipper teeth nicely.
applique with zipper edge
Stitch the zipper along the edge of cut outs made on tshirts for an edgy look or along a patch pocket for an even edgier look
Quarter zip neckline style
Here zipper is added along the neckline and it is left unzipped to create a V-neck or fully zipped for a high-neck.
Zipper along Sleeve hems
Zippers is added on the wrists of jackets or blazers that, when unzipped, create an expanded or flared cuff
To sew this, keep the zipper under the sleeve hem, use the zipper foot and sew from the top.
If you’re sewing this onto a T-shirt sleeve hem, remember that the zipper will add some stiffness at the edge. You can reduce that by pressing the inside of the hem with a moderately hot iron to help it relax and lie flatter.
Related posts : Names of zipper types ; How to install zipper on clothes
