Sewing 101: Your 7 Step Program to Inserting a Zipper

Alvin Littlepaw enjoying his new giraffe pillows.  

When making pillow covers the other day, I realized that sewing in a zipper can seem daunting, but not anymore, thanks to a fabulous sewing teacher I just had.  

Step One: Placing the right sides of fabric together, machine baste a 1/2 to 1 inch seam where the zipper is going to be inserted. (If you're using a pattern, go by the pre-determined seam allowance).  You must baste, because you'll be ripping this seam out later on.  


Step 2: Open up the seam and press open. Did you remember to baste the edges with the right sides together? It's ok, sometimes I forget to too! If not... rip it out and do it again. 


Step 3: Ready?  You see that little seam you made? Place the zipper, closed and centered, on top top of that seam, with the front of the zipper facing down.  "But the seam is closed," you exclaim! "Why am I placing a zipper on a closed seam?"  Not to worry, we'll get there...

Step 4: Pin that baby down.  Make sure the pins are facing the zipper head (zipper pull, whatever you want to call it). We're going to sew the zipper next and its VERY IMPORTANT to only sew UP the zipper, not down.  Why? I honestly don't know why, that's just the way I was taught, that's the way my sewing teacher was taught, so I'm not going to mess with that.