• Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Bitchin’ In The Kitchen
  • Shop
  • Cook
  • Sew
  • Make
  • Clean
  • Glam
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Bitchin’ In The Kitchen
  • Shop
  • Cook
  • Sew
  • Make
  • Clean
  • Glam

Sew: How To Add A Tab To A Zipper {And How Shorten It Too}

January 16, 2017

Sew How To Add A Tab To A Zipper {And How Shorten It Too} Intro

When I was learning to sew, a wise sewist told me to always buy zippers on sale and to buy them long because they can always be shortened. I took this to heart and bought a 3kg post bag full of zips for $50 from a store going out of business. It’s great because I have a selection of colours and sizes on hand (nothing worse than having to stop sewing to go buy a zip). But even with my stash, sometimes I don’t have the right length.

Shortening a zip is easy peasy! Since I’m mostly putting a zip into a skirt, it’s nice to add a little tab at the end. It protects your legs and stockings from nasty scratches and I think it looks sweet. I love nice interior details like contrast bias binding and Hong Kong seams and fun linings. So let’s make a zipper tab….

Sew How To Add A Tab To A Zipper {And How Shorten It Too} - Step 1

  • Cut a little scrap of fabric 2″ wide by 4″ long usually works for me
  • Fold it in half right sides together. Now fold each raw edge back a little on each side. Press or finger press or even pin if you fancy.
  • Sew a line of stitches down each side of the tab.

Sew How To Add A Tab To A Zipper {And How Shorten It Too} Step 2

  • Clip the corners and trim down the seam allowances.
  • Turn right side out and poke out the corners. Press or finger press.
  • Mark where you want the zipper to stop. From there work out where you need to cut the zip, a little longer to account for the tab. Use paper scissors (this will ruin good fabric scissors!) to trim down the zip.

Sew How To Add A Tab To A Zipper {And How Shorten It Too} Step 3

  • Tuck the zip into the tab and align the opening with the mark on your zip
  • Stitch along the tab opening (be careful sewing over the zipper teeth) and continue sewing around the tab.
  • Now it’s ready to be sewn in!

Sew How To Add A Tab To A Zipper {And How Shorten It Too} Final

And that’s it! You can now sew it into whatever you’re making. This zip was destined to be sewn into this skirt. Don’t you just love the fabric? As a crazy cat lady, I was thrilled to receive it as an early birthday present from my amazing mum. It reminds me of late 50’s or early 60’s lino cut barkcloth and the colour is perfect! The skirt is my usual half circle skirt but cut in two pieces because of the directional print. Since the fabric was a birthday gift, I sewed this up on my actual birthday (way back in November) and wore it brunch with my mum and sister. I love this skirt so much! Now you know it has a nicely finished zip inside and you could have one in your next project too xx

 

follow
easysewtabzipzipper
Share

Sewing

You might also like

Sew: Me Made May 2019 Wrap Up
June 3, 2019
Recipe: Lemony Spinach Pesto Sauce {Vegan & GF}
March 1, 2019
Sew: Vintage Tiki Two Piece Tutorial {Part Two The Wrap Top}
February 19, 2019

Leave A Reply


Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
  • Categories

    • ASG & Marion Group
    • Beauty & Hair
    • Bitchin' In The Kitchen
    • Blog Stalking
    • Book – The Girls Guide to Survival
    • Breakfast/Brunch
    • Cakes
    • Candies/Slices/Fete Goodies
    • Cleaning
    • Cocktails
    • Cookies
    • Craftiness
    • Cupcakes
    • Dips/Sauces/Dressings
    • DIY Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Free Printables
    • Gluten Free
    • Hints & Tips
    • Hints & Tips
    • Home Decor
    • Indie Love
    • Kitchen Hints & Tips
    • Living Life with Flair
    • Main Meals
    • Markets I've Been To
    • Menus
    • Misc Savory
    • Misc Sweet
    • Mocktails
    • Nibbles & Bits
    • Personal Care
    • Product Reviews
    • Published Elsewhere
    • Recipes
    • Restaurant Ripoffs
    • Salads & Side Dishes
    • Savoury Tarts & Pies
    • Second Look Sundays
    • Sewing
    • Silhouette
    • Slow Cooker
    • Soups
    • Stains
    • Sweet Tarts & Pies
    • Uncategorized
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Videos


  • Footer

    • Legal Info
    • Media
    • Glossary
    • Contact
  • Recent Posts

    • Recipe: Hot Chocolate Popsicle Sticks March 30, 2021
    • Halloween Recipe: Spooky Cherry Pie October 24, 2020
    • Halloween Recipe: Easy Black Cat Sandwich Cookies September 27, 2020
  • Popular Posts

    • Recipe: Whole Mandarin Cake
      September 5, 2011

  • Legal Info
  • Media
  • Glossary
  • Contact