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Member since 10/14/06
Posts: 610
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Posted on: 1/15/10 2:15 AM ET
Can anyone recommend their favourite website, online tutorial or reference book for zippers.
My zippers themselves are fine, but I feel the top seam edge is always the homemade indicator. I don't like using hook and eyes, so I like my zippers to go right up to the top. I have a few recent less than perfect zippers into dresses with back facings and with my new short haircut, I longer have long enough hair to hide them behind!

Thanks in advance for any advice.
Natasha


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Natasha
Sydney, Australia
  
Member since 2/7/04
Posts: 2188
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Posted on: 1/15/10 2:34 AM ET
In reply to Natasha B
Here is a series of tutorials at Fashion-Incubator.com that you might like to peruse. Kathleen instructs how to turn out professionally finished zippers. I hope you like these as much as I do:

Process review: lapped zipper
Lapped zipper template
Lapped zipper construction
Lapped zipper specs
Centered zipper construction
Invisible zipper tutorial pt.1
Invisible zipper tutorial pt.2
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Leah
  
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Member since 7/26/07
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Posted on: 1/15/10 11:01 AM ET
Leora beat me to it. Those are the same tutorials I would recommend.
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Member since 8/31/05
Posts: 945
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Posted on: 1/15/10 11:42 AM ET
I just love that website. I've had problems with zippers not staying up lately in this type of application. Never used to have that problem. It's the darn zippers not staying locked. Is it just me, a bad batch, or has zipper quality gone downhill?
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Betwixt mine eye and heart a league is took…. (Shakespeare)
  
Member since 10/14/06
Posts: 610
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Posted on: 1/16/10 3:32 AM ET
In reply to Leora
Thanks for those links. They are amazing tutorials, although I have to say, a little intimidating! I have never seen better zipper facing treatments except in high end RTW. I guess the best way is to have a go with bits of fabric as she suggests rather than trying on a garment. Wish me luck!
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Natasha
Sydney, Australia
  
Member since 2/7/04
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Posted on: 1/16/10 3:46 AM ET
In reply to Natasha B
She walks us through each application but I had to trust and blindly follow along. I couldn't wrap my head around what she was doing at first. In the end, fabulous results everytime. Like magic.
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Leah
  
Member since 8/24/02
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Posted on: 1/16/10 12:38 PM ET
In reply to Leora
And she uses contrasting fabric so you can see what the heck is actually going on! These are lovely tutorials.
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Elona
  
Member since 1/16/05
Posts: 71
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Posted on: 1/16/10 6:14 PM ET
Hi you all.
Here is a easy step-by-step video tutorial on how to insert an invisible zipper.
insert invisible zipper

Hope you find it help full.

Take care
Patricia
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My passion is sewing and fitting perfect garments. But, I’m also passionate about teaching others to fit and sew perfectly fitted garments. I know how frustrating the fitting proses could be.
If you need any assistance visit my website, (http://perfectsewandfit.com/) I’ll try my utmost best to see how I can help you achieve that perfect fit.

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Patricia Schoeman
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Member since 6/22/04
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Posted on: 1/17/10 11:03 AM ET
In reply to Natasha B
Claire Shaeffer always has great info in her books. Here is a google book online that shows the pages of her zipper chapter in The Complete Book of Sewing Shortcuts. There are different methods shown here. I think it is the "designer" method that I am thinking about. A clean envelope like finish to the whole zipper top area. One still might want a hook and eye but if the zipper is placed to fit with it's stop nicely tucked behind the fabric when closed it is a nice treatment.
-- Edited on 1/17/10 11:04 AM --
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Liz

thefittinglife.blogspot.com
  
Member since 10/14/06
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Posted on: 1/18/10 6:27 PM ET
In reply to Sewliz
Thanks for that reference Liz, I don't know that book but it looks fabulous! What alot of information is available!
Natasha
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Natasha
Sydney, Australia
  
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