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Sewing a Lapped Zipper
National Sewing Circle EditorsDescription
Jill Case goes through each step with you for sewing a lapped zipper in this National Sewing Circle video. Find out how this great sewing technique can be less intimidating to work with than an invisible zipper. You’ll learn how you only need a zipper foot to perform this sewing technique, and you’ll see how great lapped zippers look on home decor projects.
Sewing lapped zippers can be the trickiest part of any sewing project. Jill explains how this makes sewing lapped zippers easier and quicker.
A lapped zipper is a great technique to learn when installing zippers It's a little less intimidating than an invisible zipper. You only need a zipper foot, you don't need any special other feet. And it looks great on home deck projects as well. And anytime your pattern calls for a centered zipper, you can easily adapt it for a lap zipper. So the first thing you wanna do is, measure your zipper. And we're using a 6" zipper or 7" zipper. And so you just wanna place your mark or your pin there to where, your zipper opening will be. And then we're gonna sew that. And just a 5/8 seam allowance. And of course back stitch. And then back stitch again, to close it. Then take it off your machine. And then what you wanna do next is you want to, press up on your seam allowances. And this is the key to making the lap, is the seam on the right side is gonna be your standard 5/8 seam allowance. And then the seam on the left side, is going to be a 1/2". So one on the right side will be 5/8, and then the other one will be a 1/2". And you wanna press those out really nice and flat. And then you flip your project over to the right side, and put your... Open up your zipper. And I put it down about 1/4" from the top, and you can either hand bast it or, pin basting. Pin basting is a little more secure, and a little quicker. And then put your zipper foot on, and just take it nice and slow. And I kind of start, I don't start right at the top. I start just a little bit back, a little bit forward in the garment, and then, of course backstitch. There all right. And remove the pins as you go. And just keep it really close to the edge of the garment, and get all the way down there. And then back stitch. And then take it off the machine. And then you wanna zip up the zipper. And then you want to with, a washable fabric marker. You wanna mark on your garment, just to 1/2", a guide for when you, zip up this or sew at this side. And of course if you're using material that, can't handle a washable marker then, you can hand bast it. And then... And the important part here is to miss the metal zipper stop. 'Cause you don't want to run over that. 'Cause that will make a, break your needle. So you can just check and make sure it's cleared. And you just wanna stitch over to where you have your mark, and put the needle down, and then twist the... Your garment towards you. And then I like to pin, just that top close so, it doesn't fly open. And then you just stitch following your marking method. And then you're gonna get to the, zipper pull and you can just pull that down past the zipper foot. Get that down. And then you can continue stitching, following your guide and backstitch . And then as you'll see, it's just a nice covering the zipper, not quite the invisible zipper but it covers it and it looks really nice. And then after you press it, and make it all nice and pretty, and your washable marks will disappear over time or they'll wash off. And then you have a nice looking professional lap zipper.
I’ve tried 3 times to watch a video, and it stops. The circle goes on and on. My WiFi is good. It’s your wesite. I think someone there must know that this problem exists.
I can't see the seams. The thread matches the fabric, which is great for a garment, poor choice for a tutorial.... a contrasting color would be very helpful. Why show a close-up of the machine stitching, if you can't even see the stitches?
My thing is, while all the other responders have good points, she is not taking advantage of her machines feature. After all you pay for everything. Mostly I am referring to the machines built in walking foot. While she does recommend the zipper foot, she doesn't give enough info to beginners to help if for some reason that they don't have a zipper foot available. I was appalled at her moving the zipper down. to me its not just the opening, but this adds extra stress to the zipper pull and could cause it to break. Oh and the bubble at the bottom of the zipper. My clients would never accept that. Really, one of the main reasons we sew is to have a better quality garment than off the rack. I originally was hoping not just to see what techniques I could learn, but was hoping that this would be helpful in a 4-H setting. Not really. I can just see somebody crying over this video.
This is one of the worst tutorials I have seen on here. Extremely poor sewing and even worse instruction. I have to agree with Donna that the instructions are too vague for a beginner to follow. And I suspect that if the zipper flap was pulled back and looked at you would see raw edges of the seam allowance between the right side of the garment and the right side of the zipper - the "marks" she made clearly were too wide for the fold (seam allowance). Just a very very poor video and instruction. The response to Rose stating "This tutorial was intended to teach you the basic idea of how to insert a lapped zipper." is too pathetic to believe. "Intended to teach you the basic idea" - really? I feel sorry for anyone who tries to get an idea - basic or otherwise from this terrible video.
What an awful tutorial. The garment was measured and not the zipper. The seam allowance at the top should have been marked and the metal end stops of the zipper placed a small amount below this mark. This ensures alignment at the top and hand basting (the inexperienced do not have the control over machine and fabric required to make a neat job) the zipper in position to stop any movement. Depending on the length of tabs at the top of the zipper, placing the top 1/4" down may result in the slider being too low down the seam leaving an unsightly gap at the top. 1/2" is too big for the lap and could result in the seam allowance not being caught in the stitching or pulling away if too much strain is put on during wear. 3/8" would have looked better. I am a self taught seamstress with almost 60 years experience and whilst I am always eager to learn easier and time saving methods of working, the end result must be equal to or better than going the long way round. Also fully agree with Donna's comments.
That is not how to put in a zipper. While I haven't done one in years, that is not how it is done. You should consult with a zipper company. There is a much more reliable way to do it. Instructions w.here printed on the package.
I am a high school fashion and design teacher and always am looking for better ideas for implementing skills. Looking at this video I don't think a beginning sewer would understand that when you sew the first side of the zipper that the fold should be right next to the zipper teeth. "Keeping it close to the edge of a garment" is not clear enough. Also maybe you should have mentioned why the zipper foot goes to either side of the zipper, to keep the needle close to where you are stitching and not getting in the way of the teeth. Just a fyi from someone who teaches this every year and always have questions from students.
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