How to Sew a Zipper

How to Sew a Zipper

Start with two separate pieces of fabric.


Sew a 1″ seam.

Start with a finer stitch until where the zipper should end.

Back stitch one or two stitch.

Continue with the largest stitch on the sewing machine, so it would be easy to remove later.


Press the seam.


Mark 5⁄8″ and 6⁄8″ from the edge where the larger stitches end.


Open the part of the seam with larger stitches.


Baste the sewn line where the stitches were taken out with a thread of different colours.

Baste the 5⁄8″ and 6⁄8″ markings.


Place the zipper to make sure it is on the right side


Align the top stop of the zipper with the 68” marking.


Mark where the zipper should end.


Press the tip of your fingernail on the fabric, against the zipper teeth underneath.

This is to ensure the zipper to be sewn close and tight so it would not catch any fabric when it opens and closes.


Baste to secure the zipper in place while pressing the fingernail against the zipper teeth.

This is to secure the position of the zipper and it will make it easier to sew the finished stitches later.


Sew the basted part of the zipper.

Back stitches were used here.


Baste the opening of the zipper to close the gap.

This is to ensure the zipper would not be visible when we finish the whole sewing process.


Baste to close the gap between the two sides of the zipper.

Again, this is to ensure the zipper is sewn properly and will not be seen on the garment.


Sew the other side of the zipper to the fabric using pick stitches.

Pick stitch

Remove all basting stitches that were used for marking or securing.