S is for Sewing ...

and the Saga of the zippers

Photo by Victor Volkov on Unsplash

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I've been sewing this summer. I had high hopes of completing so many projects! Some days it's just too hot. Some days I can't sew because I'm too busy. And summers always bring more migraines -- I conveniently forget that the rest of the year. Naturally, I've not completed nearly as much as I'd hoped.

However, I have completed two projects I'm happy with, both are for weddings. One wedding is August 22, the other August 30, so I can't show you the photos just yet.

The other thing I've nearly completed is the jacket I started this winter. I'm making a jacket for my daughter (it was a birthday gift. Her birthday was January 26). I'm using the same pattern I used for my Chanel-type jacket. But she wanted a hood and a zipper for her jacket.

I had finished cutting out all the pieces, and had put together about 75% of the jacket when life got in the way. When I picked it back up I had pieces I couldn't identify. My daughter helped me figure out it was mostly the hood.

Once I had everything finished except the zipper I was excited. I'd finish it the next day. But the zipper I had ordered was too long. I ordered a new zipper. I put it in, but couldn't get it unzipped, and jammed it so badly I had to unpick the entire zipper.

I ordered a new zipper. I pinned it in, started to sew, and thought I'd better try the zipper. That's when I discovered I had ordered the wrong kind of separating zipper.

What's a separating zipper you might ask. Don't all zippers separate? Well yes, but not all zippers open at the bottom. Like a jacket's zipper must.

I decided to sleep on it. As I was zipping up my housecoat the next morning, I realized this zipper separates okay, but there are not TWO zipper pulls on it. The other two zippers I had ordered had two zipper pulls each.

Hmm. There must be another word for a zipper that opens at the bottom so you can get out of the garment, but doesn't have two zipper pulls.

Yes, there is. It's called an open-end zipper. I ordered one.

By the way, every time I ordered a zipper, I had to buy two. I wanted a zipper with brown tape and antique bronze metal teeth. I settled for black tape. But on the last order I was able to get brown tape and brown teeth, but it is of course plastic. Not what I wanted, but what I was able to get.

Finally, the right zipper! I pinned it in. I checked to make sure it zipped up, and unzipped at the bottom. I started sewing.

Before I even started the zipper project, I ordered a walking foot for my sewing machine. I thought walking feet were only for quilt making, but no. They are great for sewing over bulky things like jackets with zippers. (They're also great for sewing slippery fabrics like satin, silk, velvet and so on.)

The first times I sewed the zippers in (and then had to unpick them -- sad face emoji), there was no problem with sewing. The walking foot made it a breeze.

But now that I had everything I needed, the thread kept breaking. The needle would get jammed. The bobbin would wad up.

Reader, I have not yet solved the problem. But I think the problem is the bobbin. I probably didn't wind it correctly.

My next step is to switch thread color so I can use a prefilled bobbin (factory wound). Hopefully I will have photos of the jacket by the next time I write about sewing!

If you have any advice, hacks, or tips I'd love to hear them! Condolences are also welcome.

Meanwhile, here are photos of jackets I've made in the past -- successfully!

Jackets I've Made