Nina Kay Milenius, Education
Program Manager
Donna Hoeflinger, Husqvarna
Viking Free Lance Educator
As invisible zippers again gain popularity in ready-to-wear garments, the
home sewer is also beginning to once again use them. This revival has brought
along with it a number of questions on how to insert invisible zippers. Generic
invisible zipper feet do not fit today’s sewing machines. A generic foot will
never fit or feed as well as one designed specifically for your Husqvarna Viking
sewing machine. Therefore, we at Husqvarna Viking have developed our own method
of insertion.
To insert the invisible zipper, you will use the "C" foot (yes,
the buttonhole foot!!) It has two grooves underneath just like the invisible
zipper feet of the past. Also have the "E" zipper foot handy to finish
up the process.
Follow these easy steps for a flawless zipper.
- DO NOT stitch any part of
the seam before you put in the zipper.
- Open the zipper. From the
wrong side, iron the zipper coils flat so that the two rows of stitching
show. Use a synthetic setting on your iron. If necessary, use a press cloth
so you do not accidentally melt your zipper.
- With right sides together,
align the left zipper tape approximately ¼" below the cut edge of the
fabric. Place zipper coil on the 5/8" seam line on the right side of
the fabric. For a perfect 5/8" seam, serge finish your fabric first and
then align the edge of the zipper tape against the inner edge of the serged
stitching.
- Place the zipper coil in
the right groove of the "C" foot.
- Adjust the needle position
to the right so the needle will stitch along the teeth. Utilize one the 25
needle positions on your Husqvarna Viking sewing machine to adjust the
needle to the perfect position.
- Start stitching at the top
of the zipper and continue until the foot touches the zipper pull. Back
tack.
- Repeat steps 3 – 6 for
the right side of the zipper. CAUTION: Make sure that you have not
accidentally twisted the zipper. Sew and again backstitch.
- To stitch the remainder of
the seam, close the zipper and select the right needle position. With the
needle to the right, snap on the "E" zipper foot. With right sides
of the fabric together, pull the zipper ends gently toward the right to keep
it free of the seam. Lower the needle by hand slightly above and 1/8"
to the left of the last stitch at the base of the zipper. Back stitch and
continue to finish your seam.
- Tack the free end at the
bottom of each zipper tape to the seam allowance.
- Keep the zipper closed when
washing or dry cleaning.
- Open the zipper all the way
when putting on or removing your garment.
Download
.pdf and .doc Files
