Here is my tip for aligning horizontal seams on either side of a zip…
after sewing in the left side of the zip, zip it up, fold the seam allowance in for the right side and line the seam up exactly with that on the left side. Pin in place on the tape.
Unzip, then sew the right side tape of the invisible zip just for a very short section, maybe only couple of centimetres, just over the seam
Zip the zip up again and do a quick check from the right side to see that the seam still matches up with the other side… if the seam has shifted just a bit out of whack then you only have those few stitches to unpick and re-stitch. Better than having to un-pick the whole length, huh?
When it’s all lined up nice and straight, finish stitching the remainder of the seam above and below….
Bammo! No stress seam alignment!
Thanks for the tip. Invisible zippers are on my to-do list. I don't have a special foot. It looks like you're using a regular foot. Do you have any tips for that?
ooh i'd love to know too! are you just muscling that in with a regular foot? that's like chuck norris sewing.
i always start pinning my zip at the intersection, never thought to secure it that spot with stitching. GENIUS.
thank you! Yes, I've always used a regular foot, I taught myself how to install an invisible zip years before I even knew a special foot for that even existed and so eventually when I found out they did exist I'm just like wha?? ok I don't see the point in buying something you don't even need! 😀 I reckon a regular foot holds the zip tape rolled out perfectly nice and flat and I've never had any problems getting a pretty good finish.
Good idea. Thanks for the insight. I have yet to insert an invisible zipper.
thanks for the tip, good to know. Have a great weekend Cazza! 😀
Thank you Carolyn. Having made this skirt a few times, I have sort of worked this out – especially the bit about sewing a short amount to reduce unpicking! However, I often find that my tops aren't aligned, which I find very annoying. Any clues??
fadanista; Yes, that happens sometimes when the fabric stretches even a minute amount it can put the top raw edge out so they don't align anymore… so you have to treat the top of the zip (NOT the top of the fabric), as your reference point. Pin the waistband to the tape so the waistband exactly aligns with itself when the zip is zipped up, and disregard any small differences in the fabric height at the top of the skirt itself. Hopefully I am making sense there!
such a good tip – why have i never thought of it before?
I couldn't agree more. I baste, use tape, notch but I never get it right in all my project. I love the garment you're making. Thanks for the fabulous tip… If you have more I'd love to hear it 😉
Oh this is good! I always get so frustrated when my waist seam doesn't align because the fabric shifts under the foot. I usually hand stitch a zip in now, but I'll try this. Wish I could do the same for a lapped zipper – but maybe you could with basting stitches that you just unpick afterwards?
Nice tip! I usually hand baste the seam, pin the zip while closed to the SAs, unpick the basting and then sew. It usually works well, but sometimes the zipper shifts a bit. Will try your technique.
Thanks for the great tip! I try to match up the seams when inserting zips but always manage to get some movement. I think those few stitches might just be the answer. I'll definitely try this next time.
Thanks for the tip, I struggled with this with my last dress.
I still really love that fabric!
That's how I line up seams when I do invisible zippers except I sew up the whole right side. That seems so silly and this makes so much more sense. I can't believe I didn't think of this, it's so obvious haha. Thanks for the tip!
Great tip! I never thought of doing that before.
What a great tip! I'll definitely be trying this one.
Thanks for the tip. It is brilliant! Sometimes the fabric shifts and I have damaged the fabric by ripping out the seams. Thanks so much.
This is a great tip. My zippers NEVER align at the waist seam.
Oh, that's a great tip! I have so much trouble getting seams to line up around zippers.
Nice tip. Thanks.
Thanks for the tip. I find invisible zippers to be very sneaky; this will be a good way to stop that.
Nice tutorial, I always find invisible zips tricky at the bottom end to fit. I usually put them in by hand, purely because I enjoy hand stitching and I get it right first time this way.
Good tip, I'll definitely try it with my next invisible zipper!
What a great tip, thanks for sharing!
That is a good idea,thanks!
I needed this tip a couple of hours ago! Will definitely try this next time – thank you 🙂
That is just the way I do it, too. Saves lots of unsewing.
Will be trying this, when I next do an invisible zip. I need every bit of help I can get.
I have always struggled with this and now you make it look so easy. I will try this next time!
Nice tip!
Such a smart tip!
Great tip. I do this with matching intersecting seams too.
thanks for a great tip
great tip! i usually sew one side, then mark the zip on the other side–taking a few stitches is way more accurate!
Wonderful tip! My daughter recently created a little girls dress and not only was lining up the seam a problem but matching the chevron pattern on the dress a pain. Next time we will use your tip and should make things go a lot smoother!
Filed this under zipper tutorials.
Very helpful tip, Carolyn, thank you! Invisible zippers have been one of my bugaboos. This helps a lot with the horizontal alignment. Now I just need a little help with how to do that final finishing of the seam below the zipper without getting a pucker.
It is so nice to know that my tip reached Australia…hahahhaaa. I thought I was being a rule breaker by doing a section at a time!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS!!! I have read a couple of other tutes, but have failed to get it to work. I will be giving this a go the next yoked skirt I make!.
Good tip, thank you!
Great tip, and the tip for stabilising zips in sheer fabrics. Will be trying these out for sure.
Pingback: “Swedish” dress | Handmade by Carolyn