How to Make a Side Zipper? Complete Guide for Beginners
It’s something that we’ve all experienced. As soon as you put on the gorgeous gown from the runway, you realize there’s something wrong with its silhouette when you wear it about the house. Any dresses in your wardrobe that don’t fit properly because they are too small are probably gathering dust in your closet. Not only are you not alone, but you’re not the only one. It’s comforting to know that you don’t have no other choices.
Even if your sewing skills are more on the beginner end of the spectrum over the expert but you’ll be competent enough to master the fundamental techniques needed to transform an unfit dress into an attractive and flattering one. The days of frock-horror may be over if you know when and how to use a side zipper!
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Side Zipper vs Back Zipper
Even if your sewing skills are more beginner than expert, you will be able to acquire the fundamental techniques required to change an unsuited outfit into a beautiful and flattering one. you. If you know when and how to use a side zipper, your days of frock-horror are over.
Because it exploits an existing seam, an aside zipper allows you to adjust the dress’s shape without affecting its basic style, whereas a front or back zipper does so by sewing a new seam inside the garment. With a side zipper, you’ll be able to maintain your dress appearing fashionable even if you don’t want to make any changes.
What Side Does a Zipper Go On a Skirt or Dress?
Choosing which side of the garment to place the open front zipper on is the next step if you’ve decided it’s the best solution to your fit problems. There is no such thing as a right or wrong answer… When it comes to tailoring your own apparel, you have the freedom to create exactly what you envision.
The ladies’ clothing was designed by a separate individual in the days gone by. All the fasteners and buttons were placed to one side so that it would be more convenient for the person doing the dress. When it comes to today, all you should be thinking about is yourself (or at the very least, your own self).
As a general rule, people who are right- or left-handed will find it easier to use a zipper on the opposite side of their dominant hand than a zipper on their dominant hand. Taking off and getting out of the garments can be made considerably easier by this.
Where to Place a Zipper
It looks like we’ve worked out which side of the zipper to put it on now. It’s entirely up to you, and you’ll have to decide for yourself. However, how high should the zipper be placed? In the end, this is the most critical of the two issues.
If you’re going to wear a dress, you’ll want to take some time to figure out the optimum spot for the dress to be placed based on your body’s form and the design of the garment.
First, let’s take a look at the dress’s style. Adding a zipper to an unsleeved dress is a cinch. Simply cut an opening from the armpit all the way down the seam. This becomes more difficult if the dress has no sleeves; you must allow at least an inch below the seam prior to attaching the zipper.
Women with larger breasts can benefit most from an opening that is closest to the seam of the armpit when it comes to adjusting to their body form. An above-the-waistline opening is usually preferable for people with large ribcages. They will be most comfortable for women who have hip-level zippers.
How to Add a Side Zip to a Dress
You don’t need as much sewing ability as you think to add a zipper to the side of a garment, which is easier than you think. With a few pins in the cloth, scissors and a sewing machine at your disposal, you’ll be finished in no time.
If you’re adding a zipper, be sure to take extra care to remove the stitching from the seam. Be mindful not to over-stitch or over-pull the fabric.
In order to ensure that the zipper’s edges are aligned with the fabric’s seams, insert the zipper that isn’t zipped into the opening you’ve just made. It’s best to stitch or pin the zipper in place if the cloth is too slick to sew it in.
Turn the garment over so that the zipper’s top is visible.
Stitch the zipper to your garment using your sewing machine’s zipper foot, working your way up from the bottom.
Complete basting by removing the pins or stitches.
How to Add an Invisible Side Zip to a Dress
The ideal approach to sew an open side zipper has already been researched. Another form of zipper necessitates a procedure that is completely different from what we’re used to. When it comes to poorly fitting formal gowns and other clothing that could be harmed by the presence of visible zippers, invisible zippers are quickly becoming a popular choice among sewers.
A sewing machine with a zipper foot is required for the installation of an invisible zipper. As a result, the procedure will be streamlined.
A List of Necessities
- Tape
- Ruler for Measuring
- Pins or a Fabric Marker (optional)
- A Zipper Foot and a Sewing Machine
The Procedure
The First Step
A narrow tack should be used to sand the edges of the joining seams. In this location, you’ll attach the zipper. The other side should be facing the outside when you place each seam edge. Using a marker on the fabric or a pin, mark the upper margins of both sides with a 3/4-inch measurement. This is where the zipper will be attached.
The second step
Use pins or markers to mark the zip location throughout the fabric’s length, using a 5/8-inch seam allowance.
This is the third step.
Using an unintentional low setting, iron the teeth that have been curled to straighten them out.
4th step
Face the zipper coil and one of the seam allowances downward. Set the coil in place using a basting or pinning technique.
This is the fifth and last step.
Zipper teeth should be positioned under the right grove on the invisible zipper foot, and the zipper should be stitched in the correct location. Begin at the top and work your way to the bottom of the project. Sew the zipper back in place once you’ve reached the other side.
Sixth
The zipper’s opposite end on the pattern piece. Repeat step 5 to verify that the sides are aligned before moving on to the next stage.
Finally, in Step 7,
Removing the zipper tails is as simple as zipping the zipper all the way up. To finish the seam, sew two inches from the zipper and remove the pattern from the machine. Both the beginning and ending of the seam must be reinforced with backstitching. Finish the seam by switching to a regular presser foot and following the sewing line.
How to Change a Zipper From Left to Right
It’s simple to swap to a right-handed zipper if you accidentally used a left-handed one.
- Close the zipper all the way.
- Remove the end stop by using nipper-type pliers.
- Replace the slider and the end stop after removing the slider and flipping the tape. We’ve finished the job!
Can You Resize a Dress With a Side Zip?
The perfect fit will soon be yours if you’ve dropped some weight or are able to resist a significant reduction on your dress that is just small enough and needs a few modifications. Getting into or out of the dress is still possible even with a side zip, however it is a little more challenging.
This will depend on where the adjustments need to be made (front, back, or even sides), as well as the location of any seams (if any). It’s worth your time to spend a few minutes figuring out where the changes need to be made.
In the next section, we’ll look at the two best ways to resize a dress.
How to Make a Side Zipper Dress Bigger
It is possible to loosen a dress if it is too small, either with or without a side zipper. Most dresses can be constructed to accommodate one or two sizes, depending on the seam allowance.
Open up the dress and re-sew it with reduced seam allowance if the front seam or front seam is present. The procedure is significantly different if the dress only has side seams. Open the unzipped side first, like you would normally. It is then necessary to bring the zipped side out by pushing the zipper backwards without removing it completely. Isn’t it a little difficult to understand? But don’t worry about it; everything will fall into place as you move through the instructions below.
The Procedure
The First Step
Pull the zipper stitching all the way to the middle, starting from the top edge.
The second step
About a half-inch in the right direction should be added to the zipper’s new location. Then use a pin to secure it. Stitch the zipper back into place, starting at the neck end and working your way to the left as you go.
This is the third step.
With right sides facing each other, fold the face down and sew the remaining seam allowance together.
How to Make a Side Zipper Dress Smaller
If the dress you are wearing is too large, the simplest solution is to just put them back out using the guide below.
This instruction will show you how to get your sleeves back into your dress if it is too big.
The First Step
You should try the outfit on before choosing how much you can accept it for. Count the pins (if you can, seek the assistance of a willing volunteer to make this process easier).
The second step
Remove the dress and lay it out flat, folded lengthwise, on a workable surface. Make sure that the armholes, neckline, and waistband of the two sections of the dress are all in the same position.
This is the third step.
The number of pins you need to secure the garment should be determined by how much you plan to stuff it.
4th step
Stitch the dress from the neckline to the hem using a straight stitch and pins as a guide.
This is the fifth and last step.
Use a zigzag or serger to close the raw edges of any cloth that is left after trimming.
How to Put on a Dress With a Side Zipper
Zippers appear to be a need on occasion. If a dress’s zipper is located on the side or in a position that makes it difficult to open, there are a few methods and ideas that can help you get the dress on and off.
In the beginning, ask yourself if you actually need the zipper. No harm in leaving the zipper closed or open for the rest of your life if you bought the dress with one already attached and it’s near enough to be pulled on regardless of how the zipper has been closed or open.
Ask yourself whether or not you’ll have to entirely remove the zipper if you’ve installed one to modify the size. Putting the dress on and taking it off may be equally simple, but if the zipper is open at half-mast it may be easier to zip it up.