You know when you have a revelation and wonder if everyone else already knows about it?
This morning I had some precious free alone time to sew - I'm making a skirt. I turned to my handy Readers Digest Sewing book for help putting in a lapped zipper as my last one was a bit dodgy. Reading through the instructions, reference was made to sewing along the stitching guideline of the zip tape:
Huh? I'd never heard of this before. I took a closer look at my zip - lo and behold there was indeed a stitching guide woven into the fabric of the zip!
What utter genius! I've been sewing for 4 years but have never heard about this guideline before, despite taking a sewing class, reading books and of course, reading thousands of sewing blog posts. It's such a simple but clever idea that I wondered whether I'd somehow just missed out on hearing about this. When I tweeted about it there were quite a few other seamstresses who were equally amazed to discover this zippy secret so I thought it was worth sharing here.
Did you know about this? If so, how - did you read about it or just work it out yourself? Or is there another similar simple but inspired sewing discovery you've made?
K x
Damn, how have I never seen that before?! Genius indeed
ReplyDeleteNo, that's totally new to me. Thanks for sharing. Will use the advice when I sew my next zipper!
ReplyDeleteNeato! Must remember that next time I insert a zip. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea! But then I usually do an invisible zip, so it wouldn't be relevant but even so, I've never seen or heard any reference to it! Good find!
ReplyDeleteHeh... I did know about this. I read about it when I was following the instructions of a (60's or 70's) zipper installation guide produced by the zipper company. Doesn't everyone have these?! (Just me being sassy and silly...)
ReplyDeleteWow, I'd seen those markings before, but never realised they actually *meant* something! You really do learn something every day...
ReplyDeleteSame here... Never even wondered about them.
DeleteNope! Didn't know this either! Thank you for sharing it. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty nifty tip! I'll remember it!
ReplyDeleteI learnt it from my copy of that exact book!
ReplyDeleteHeh, as you know I'd noticed and used them but just thought it was a happy quirk to the manufacture of zip tape!
ReplyDeleteI've come to the realization that the older I get the less I know. Thanks for that great tip.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that. My inspired zipper technique is sewing a regular zipper in like an invisible zipper. The teeth remain visible, but at least the zipper tape is all hidden.
ReplyDeleteThat's cute, I just thought they were woven that way for fun.
ReplyDeleteI knew that already, although weirdly I am not sure how??? :)
ReplyDeleteAnd how about this one, another no brainer, but in my whole sewing life ( since a child so that's quite a long time to feel stupid !) I hadn't realised that the measurement of the zip tape above the top zipper stop is 5/8" - ie your seam allowance, meaning that you position the zip with the tape at the top of your fabric and it's all set up as the correct placement for the waist seam. Now you clever people might know that already!!
ReplyDeleteI sort of found out by accident last wek when I was hand sewing a bodice lining to a zipper. There was a narrow chanel in the zipper tape that was easier to sew through. Now I know why :-)
ReplyDeleteI have to admit to feeling a bit stupid also as I have seen this marking and even thought that's what it was for but it never occurred to me that I should actually sew on it. Doh!! Aaand, like Scruffybadger I only realized the top of the zip was the size of the seam allowance recently too and I've been sewing about as long as her. It's great having those aha moments isn't it. :)
ReplyDeletethank you!!!!Never have noticed it!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh! Fun! I tend to use concealed zips but I'm still kicking myself I've never noticed this before... :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I'd not heard of this either despite taking sewing lessons and no sewing book I know has referred to this woven in stitch guide. This - will - change - my - life. I've not had much success with lapped zippers so this will change my life.
ReplyDelete*Lightbulb* i.e. that's news to me too!
ReplyDeleteThat's funny. I have the Reader's Digest book and I've spent a lot of the time on the zippers page so this was not a new idea for me. After many years of sewing, zippers can still cause issues for me. Sometimes they just make themselves difficult!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about that either!! wow, how was it possible to miss it??
ReplyDeleteWow, how did I not know this?! Thanks for the tip! I will be using it next time I put in a zipper :)
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