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September 18, 2005
A Successful Zipper Installation
The zipper is installed and it's much better than the first attempt. I used the sewing machine for this attempt and followed the directions from ChicKnits exactly (or I think I followed them exactly).
Step 1 - baste the front pieces together:
So, first I pinned the fronts together so things would stay even
Next, I basted with some white cotton yarn:
Step 2 - Pin in the zipper
I pinned the right side of the zipper to the wrong side of the sweater:
The zipper was too long, so I had to cut it to fit. Trav's horse shoe nail cutters worked great for cutting through the plastic with no effort on my part, then I cut the tape with scissors:
Step 3- Baste in the zipper
Then I hand-basted the zipper to the sweater with white thread:
Step 4- Sew in the zipper
It was now time for the machine. I used the zipper foot (see the sewing machine book in the background - I had to read about how to use the zipper foot):
The zipper foot worked great and I was able to sew right next to the teeth:
Then, I sewed another seam on the outside of the zipper tape to hold it flat:
Here's what it looks like with the zipper in:
And, some modelled shots:
And the last one, a close up of the neckline with the zipper:
I'm much happier with this version - the zipper matches better, it's less bulky sewing it in with the machine, and it doesn't buckle. The neckline is still a bit stiff, but I'm not sure that's avoidable in this situation. The pattern requires a 2-way zipper and I could only find a #5 zipper, which I think is too heavy a zipper for this sweater, but what are ya gonna do? So, what do you all think?
Comments
It looks great! I will try this technique when I finally do my ribbi cardi!
Posted by: Carolyn at September 18, 2005 4:51 PM
Looks fantastic!
Posted by: Cindy at September 18, 2005 5:04 PM
I think it is super cute. Zipper fear -- never again, eh?
Posted by: claudia at September 18, 2005 7:18 PM
That looks great on you! Nice nice job. Very good and thorough slide show too!
Posted by: Stephanie at September 18, 2005 8:14 PM
Triumph! I love the feeling of doing something for the 1st time and having it work. Looks great, I love the step-by-step shots.
Posted by: PumpkinMama at September 18, 2005 8:40 PM
YAY!!!! Congrats on your success!
Posted by: caitlyn at September 18, 2005 9:03 PM
Wonderful fix, everything looks great! Success all around, congratulations!
Posted by: grumperina at September 18, 2005 9:15 PM
Wow - looks great! The zipper is the perfect color, and it is sewn in beautifully. Now I know who to go to when I have questions with my first zipper installation. ;-)
Posted by: Cyndi at September 18, 2005 10:10 PM
it looks fantastic! well done!
Posted by: jacqueline at September 19, 2005 5:08 AM
looks perfect!!
Posted by: blossom at September 19, 2005 6:41 AM
That's a perfect-looking sweater all around... fit, zipper, colour, everything. :-)
Posted by: Bea at September 19, 2005 7:05 AM
Wow, it looks great! Super job installing the zipper! Thanks for posting the progress photos.
Posted by: Diana at September 19, 2005 7:05 AM
Lovely results, Stephanie. Thanks for the tutorial too--now to get my hands on some of those horse shoe nail clippers to cut my own zipper! ;)
Posted by: Lolly at September 19, 2005 7:27 AM
Wow! Beautifully done, and with such detail.
Posted by: Ariane at September 19, 2005 8:28 AM
It looks GREAT!! I love the color - and the zipper matches really well.
And thanks for all the pictures and instruction... my ribby cardi has been finished for about 6 months and has stayed incomplete because I got stopped around putting in the zipper. This helps a LOT. Thanks!
Posted by: Kathy at September 19, 2005 9:23 AM
I love it.. the title of the post is great too.. zipper instalation.. ha! I think it matches perfectly and looks dynamite on you :)
Posted by: Dani at September 19, 2005 9:59 AM
Oh it turned out beautifully, and such great illustrative pictures!
Posted by: Rebekah at September 19, 2005 10:22 AM
Oh, the sweater is just wonderful! You did such a fabulous job! And such great pictures. Next time I attempt a zipper, I'm checking this out.
Posted by: Purly Whites at September 19, 2005 1:39 PM
Hooray! Your cardigan looks fantastic on you, what a wonderful job! I've bookmarked this post, the pictorial is great. Thanks so much for doing that. I know I have a zipper foot for my sewing machine somewhere too...
Posted by: Lynette at September 19, 2005 8:56 PM
I think it looks fabulous! So funny that you cut your zipper with horse nail cutters...that takes me back! (did I ever tell you I used to ride...I think I did...)
Posted by: Sarah at September 22, 2005 10:33 AM
