Zip by hand

Hello,
Just wondering if anyone had any tips for inserting a zip by hand into a cushion?
Thanks!

Hi there-

I have a question-have you sewn a zipper in by hand before?

Are you used to sewing things by hand?

I know that there are special needles that will help you do the job more easily. I do have some of those needles someone gave me-I have used them to sew through some pretty heavy material-but never for doing upholstery.

I think the main thing is to position the zipper where you want and then kind of play with the fabric to see how it responds-does it stay in place? If the fabric has a rougher texture it will not require that much patience-and you could pin the fabric and skip the basting.

If your fabric is slippery, I would think you might need to pin AND baste.

The type thread you use will depend on the fabric and also the usage it will get. If it's more of a decorative one, you probably have that on hand. If it's more an upholstery type, when you purchase the fabric, ask the folks who cut your fabric what type thread they like. At the store where I usually buy fabric, the same ladies have worked there forever and know EVERYTHING -I mean EVERYTHING about sewing.

I know this is kind of a generic approach, but I hope it helps! Here is one more suggestion-before you start your project-practice sewing a small version of what you are working on to get the hang of it. If you need to sew a straight line, and are not used to it-I recommend using a tiny sewing ruler. I take a stitch and then will line the ruler up to where the next stitch needs to be. If the fabric will allow you to use a fabric marker, and it will not leave a mark on your fabric-then this is the best way to mark your lines.(You can always test it on a scrap.)

You know, you could do a practice project-you could make a small make-up type bag with about a 7 inch zipper, using your fabric. I know that if you have spent a ton of money on the fabric, this might save you some stress and some money!

Let us know how it goes-we would love to see a picture!


Blessings!
Elaine