How to Fix a Zipper on Jeans
Replace Zipper in Your Favorite Jeans
To replace a zipper in a pair of jeans looks very challenging. If you take it step by step, though, you will get the hang of it. It will definitely take a little practice. The directions are involved and since the steps are numerous, I have divided them into four separate charts:
- Ripping Out the Old Zipper
- Installing New Zipper Left
- Installing New Zipper Right
- Topstitching Jeans
A Note About Terms I've Used ...
I've made some assumptions in labeling the different parts of the zipper area.
First of all, the flap that is between the zipper tape and the front fabric of the jeans is the fly extension. I assume the pants you are sewing have the fly extension located on the left side, as you're wearing them. We'll call that the top zipper half. It has the buttonhole in it.
The other part will then be called the bottom zipper half. It is on the right side. It has the button sewn at the waistband. One last note. If your zipper size is not available, buy the zipper longer than you need. I'll show you how to make it fit!
Here's What You'll Need ...
Chart One: Rip Out the Broken Zipper
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Rip out about 3"of stitching where the waistband meets the pants. You'll remove all the stitches along that fly extension that holds the zipper in place. | |
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The inside of the jeans should now look like this. The topstitching is gone and the waistband is separated from the pants front | |
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Chart Two: Replace Zipper Right
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Sometimes you can see, on the extension,the ridges left by the previous zipper. Try to line up the teeth of the new zipper with these indentations. | |
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Cut the zipper so that a little bit of it will slip under the waistband opening. Use regular scissors, but be careful to cut between the teeth. | |
Here is a close up of the newly shortened zipper. I've left about 3/4" extra to be hidden in the waistband. | |
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Here is the right side after stitching | |
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Here is the finished right side. Clip the threads close to the seam. |
Chart Three: Replace Zipper Left
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Here is the INSIDE of the left zipper tape. I have straightened it slightly to line up evenly with the extension. | |
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Sew a second row of stitches parallel to the first. | |
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Tuck the excess up under the waistband. You may need to trim it little if it runs into the buttonhole. |
Chart Four: Topstitching
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Here is the outside of the waistband. See how that bigger stitch doesn't really show? | |
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Here is the finished product! The two rows of stitches should be evenly spaced, bartacks are clean and uniform and everything lies flat. | |
And this is the inside of the crotch area. The extensions are also flat. The zipper is quite secure. |
Whew. That is a very involved set of instructions. Steps 19, 20 and 21 are confusing, I'll admit. But I promise once you get the hang of it, replacing a zipper will take you much less time than it did for me to write these directions! Depending on the time it take to rip out the old one, I can usually do this alteration in less than 30 minutes.
So give it a try. You can't really mess it up. The worst you can do is sew the opening shut. Then what? Just rip it out and start over.
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Source: http://www.learning-alterations.com/replace-zipper.html
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