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Posted by Kate Dicey on May 2, 2006, 3:16 pm
Phaedrine wrote:
>
>
>>Phaedrine wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Which way do you sew your zippers in---(1) from the top to the bottom or
>>>(2) from the bottom to the top, or do you (3) start at the top, sew
>>>down, across and then back up? I've seen many different directions
>>>asserting all three methods. Which works best for you and why? And
>>>what about invisible zippers?
>>>
>>>I've tried all three methods and I can't say I'm thrilled with starting
>>>at the bottom.
>
>
>>I USUALLY use invisibles, and ALWAYS sew those top down.
>
>
> Do you use a special foot for those?
No - the Lily has a stonking great heavy metal zip foot that easily
holds the curl of the zip out of the way, and the multitude of needle
positions means the stitches go exactly where I want them. :)
>
>
>>With the other type it depends... For cushion covers I start half way
>>down one side and sew round in a rectangles, strengthening the ends with
>>a couple of passes. I do much the same with an under-arm set dress zip.
>> Other applications of ordinary zips usually mean hand picking, and
>>again, I start at the top of each side and go down.
>
>
>>With awkward, piled, or slippery fabrics, or things cut on the cross, I
>>hand baste before sewing.
>
>
> Oh good grief, you mean you don't baste the other ones before you sew
> them in?
Nope - never have, not since I put the first one in when I was seven!
:) Pins are usually enough, and sometimes (on straight firm trouser
weight cottons) I don't bother with the pins...
> I'm not good enough to do that! I either machine or hand
> baste mine in first.
Why bother to machine baste? You might as well sew it in first time! :)
> I had an aunt that used to do that and it always
> amazed me. Sidebar: She and my other aunt (sisters) worked in a
> clothing factory during WWII. After the war they both went to work for
> I.J Fox. Aunt Genevieve loved to sew throughout her life. Aunt
> Veronica said the production work made her hate sewing and she never
> sewed again, though she did crochet and needlework.
It feeds the passion for some, kills it for others.
>
>
>>...I often hand pick on dress items. Top down,
>>again. That way any slight distortion of the fabric as you sew will be
>>more likely to be the same on both sides of the zip, and results in
>>fewer frog-stitching episodes...
>
>
> I confess that I like to just go around but I don't do that with
> stretchy fabrics. With those, I stitch top down on both sides and the
> same for placket zippers (my favorite).
>
> Doesn't it seem like it's about time for some magical new closure
> method? Zippers are starting to feel old...
Magnets, perhapses... or re-if you can't get to a single layer, the
trick is to put the design on B glue strips... Like Post-It notes! ;)
--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!
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