Replacing a Jacket Zipper the Easy Way

Zipper missing a pin...

My other half is extremely hard on zippers.

Doesn't matter what sort of zipper — he eventually succeeds in mangling them in some way.

For zippers that lead into pockets on a jacket or a pair of shorts, I don't generally try to repair them. For the ones on his current "man purse," I've done my best to preserve them in working order for the time being, but then, I made him a whole new sling bag that's still waiting in the wings.

Prior to a camping trip back in May, he showed me an old system jacket and asked if I could do something about the front zipper.

Not only was the pin missing at the end, the zipper tape that it was attached to was frayed beyond repair, meaning that a so-called pin repair kit would likely be a waste of money. (They exist, in case you're wondering; but I would surmise that the zipper would have to be in extremely good condition for that kind of fix to be worthwhile.)

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For my part, I had recently seen some YouTube videos of zipper replacements that were quite reasonable to attempt. Plus — I actually had a suitable zipper in my possession. Eleven years ago, I received a thank you care package from a reader that has continued to give to me on a regular basis. Among the sewing treasures I received were three separating zippers, one of which was the perfect shade of blue to match this jacket.

Imagine having a proper size and colour zipper in your stash!

In the above photo, the new zipper is laid out down the middle of the jacket... doesn't it look like it was meant to be? I mean, really, it's the exact length that was needed!

So how did I carry out this zipper replacement and how can it possibly be easy? Well, it doesn't involve using a seam ripper to remove the existing zipper, so just by eliminating that potentially challenging step – because sometimes the existing zipper tape is trapped between snaps and fasteners that cannot be disturbed – you may find this particular repair technique a good one to keep in your toolbox.

Carefully snip off the zipper...

The work involves simply cutting off the existing zipper tape, trimming as close to the stitching as you can get (you'll end up leaving a sliver of the zipper tape on the garment). There should then be enough zipper facing remaining on the jacket to sew the new zipper directly onto it.

Another view of the cutting process...

This has to be done carefully and slowly, as you don't want to cut into the fabric of the coat accidentally. A sharp pair of detailing scissors is a must.

Old zipper tape cut away from the jacket...

You will, of course, want to keep the zipper pull for reuse, but I'd recommend keeping the rest of it too. Trim back the zipper tape fully and keep just the narrow strip of teeth.

Zipper remnant pull...

Why? Because they can be cut into pieces and converted into zipper pulls, like I did here for my denim whale pencil case.

It's an idea I originally found in a book, where the author showed it on a wine bottle bag. It really is an example of how innovative we can be when we reuse the simplest things... with unexpectedly chic results.

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After the old zipper is cut away, pin the new one into place, making sure it butts up against the old seam under the zipper facing.

Pin (and sew) one side of new zipper...

Once the first side of the zipper has been sewn in, pin the other side to the other half of the jacket in the same way: close against the old seam, under the zipper facing. Separate the zipper and sew to secure.

Pin and sew the other half of the zipper...

Pin and pin well, to use my advice from a few years ago. You don't want the zipper to slip away from you when the strip of fabric that you're sewing onto may be fairly narrow.

This method of zipper replacement will result in more of the zipper tape being exposed than the original, but if your main objective is to get a coat or jacket in wearable condition again, you shouldn't care. In this case, with the colour of the zipper being such a fabulous match, I don't think it matters one iota. (Not to mention that this new zipper is also a two-way zip, offering more versatility for when hubby is sitting around a campfire and doesn't want the bottom edge of his jacket getting all bunched up.)

Ta da!

If you want to see this being done on a video, check out SewVeryEasy's channel on YouTube; enter how to replace a zipper in a jacket in the search field. (I've featured projects from that channel here in the past, like these fabric envelopes and this easy drawstring bag.)

Like I said above, you may want to file this technique away and keep it in mind for future consideration. I never expected to have to – or want to – change out a jacket zipper and yet, here I am. Glad it wasn't a hair-tearing experience!

Oh, and hubby said that this was the only jacket that he wore during his trip.

'Til next... 🇨🇦🍁

Hacking the Drop Style Shupatto Bag

A roomy, self-folding bag anyone can use!

I wish crafters were more upfront about where their inspiration comes from. Sure would make it a lot easier to find things.

I recently had quite a time trying to hunt down a DIY for the "drop" version of the Japanese Shupatto eco bags. The whole search would have been a lot quicker had people described their projects as Shupatto hacks, but nooo.... none of the ones I eventually found used the name in their videos.

It's like they don't want you to know that they got the basic idea from somewhere, as if somehow they came up with it all on their own. I mean, who are they fooling?

Well, not me, mainly because I have been aware of this different take on the Shupatto from way back when. (Over four years ago, around the time I posted about my own project.)

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The Shupatto drop style bag upends the original design and locates the straps at the top, instead of the middle; like so:

A different version of the Shupatto style...

Like the original, this one is very much open to being DIY'd. As soon as you understand the essential parts of the bag and how they work, you can make it in whatever size you want, without a pattern. (I gathered most of my "how to" info from a YouTube channel called tatarapattern2756, from a video that was uploaded October 7, 2020. It's mostly Japanese, but includes pertinent data in English.)

She gives fabric measurements for a large and medium version, but if you're like me and usually work within the confines of what's available in your stash, it's perfectly fine to deviate from them. Generally speaking, a long rectangle of fabric is required, with the bag's finished dimensions being roughly width of fabric x half length of fabric. My fabric was about 55" long x 22" wide.

If you want to know the basics of how to make this bag, read on; I will provide some high level instructions.

Cutting & Prepping Fabric

As I said, you'll need a long rectangular piece of fabric, the thinner the better. Why? It will need to be folded accordion-style and it's easier to sew layers of thin fabric than thick. (I used a polyester microfiber; a rip stop nylon would be great.) Oh, and an important FYI to consider: don't choose a fabric with a directional print or it will be upside down on one side of the bag!

Fold fabric piece in half and find the halfway point along the folded edge. Draw a horizontal line there, about 40% of the length of the folded fabric. (That is, if the fabric was 55" long to begin with, folded in half, its length would be 27.5", and 40% of 27.5" is 11" — so the line drawn should be 11" long.)

At the same time, make marks along the two open edges on both sides; i.e., four marks in total (as shown by the red arrows above) corresponding to the endpoints of that line. With the fabric still folded, cut along the line, thereby creating a "hole" in the middle of the fabric.

Binding the Raw Edge of the Handles

The opening that was just created will be the inside edges of the bag handles. In all of the tutorials that I saw, the crafters used two strips of 1" grosgrain ribbon sewn together to "bind" these raw edges. I sort of did the same, but since my ribbon was 1.25" wide, I just folded it in half and wrapped it around the raw edge of the fabric instead of sewing two ribbons together. Saved me some ribbon and the end result is the same: the raw edges are hidden.

Hide the raw edges of fabric with grosgrain ribbon...

To provide reinforcement and to create a clean looking finish on the outside, two more pieces of ribbon are sewn in at the ends of this opening. (In case you're wondering, the raw edge ends of all ribbon pieces are turned under before sewing.)

Sew Side Seams

Folded with wrong side out, use a wide seam allowance (between 1/2" and 3/4") to sew up the side seams from the bottom to the marks.

Sew side seams...

Press (or finger press) the seams open. 

Because the bag is unlined, the next step is to eliminate the raw edges by seaming again. (This is why the original seam allowance was relatively large.) I don't know what this particular technique is called, but you can see it here and it's just each side of the seam being folded under and then sewn in place.

Hide raw seams and extend up along outside of handles...

Note that this "folding and sewing" will extend all the way up into that area that was previously left open, creating a seam for the outside of the bag handles.

Create the Accordion Folds

This step may or may not be difficult. Some people – like me – will happily take this and run with it (without measuring) while others will insist on having some guidelines to proceed. You do you. If you need to measure out intervals to make the folds, by all means.

Create accordion folds and press...

The thing is, there is no hard and fast rule as to how many accordion folds you need to have. (I ended up making three; in my opinion that's enough, although actual Shupattos feature more and narrower pleats.) The objective is to have the same number on both sides and both halves and for them to be more or less even. Perfection, however, is not required! In the end, it will function even if the folds are not exactly the same.

Once you're done folding, a trip to the ironing board is recommended, to give the pleats a good press to set them. (Be careful with the iron if the fabric is prone to scorching — now is not the time to ruin your project!)

Secure Bottom of Bag and Top of Handles

Once the bottom has been sewn together and trimmed, another piece of ribbon is attached – along with an elastic – to finish off the bag. The layers at the very top of each handle are also sewn together for ease of use, particularly to effect that famous Shupatto snap.

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For the original Shupatto, you'd yank on the two bound ends to snap the bag back into its accordion folds. For this one, you pull on the bottom and the top handles to do the same. Then you just fold a few times along its length until you can wrap the elastic around the whole thing.

Folds into a 4" x 4" square...

This is a fun and functional bag. And really, I know we all have those hefty totes that we take to the grocery store, but having something light like this that can fold away and be handy for "emergency" shopping — you can't beat it.

For something that folds down easily into a small square, it holds a lot!

In the size that I made, it can hold a lot; there are a couple of folded bath towels inside the bag in the photos here. (Depending on what you make it out of, it can also be quite strong.) I will say that loading the bag is not the same as the original Shupatto, which had the advantage of being able to be spread out absolutely flat. Not like it's hard to put things in this, but the switched up orientation of the bag means that the opening is narrower.

But hey, it's got a style and purpose (it was developed to hold vertical items more securely) of its own and is a noteworthy companion for the original. It's also a wonderful rainy day project – which it was for me and explains the questionable lighting in some of the photos – and any you make would be great stocking stuffers.

By the way, I rarely offer up external links these days, but the actual Shupatto site is quite an entertaining destination; check it out. 

'Til next... 🇨🇦🍁

More Eclectic Elements For My Junk Journal

What do you think this is?

When I took a little break from blogging at the beginning of 2024, it was a paper based project that brought me back.

From March through to the end of June, I blogged about a jumbo junk journal that I had started compiling during the Christmas holidays of 2023.

The project was inspired by two things: a YouTube channel featuring beautiful works of art in the name of junk journaling, and my own need for a jazzier solution for my daily handwriting exercise.

It's this ongoing latter requirement that's the focus of today's post. Representing the twenty-second "thing that I made with my Eclectic Elements fat quarters" (I should update that list — the junk journal itself already has an Eclectic Elements fabric cover as well as a vinyl pocket), it's a two piece notebook cover.

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When I incorporated a standard notebook into the back of my junk journal for daily use, I thought that I would simply adorn the front and back covers with magazine images in standard "junk journal fashion" every time I started using a new book. I did this for my first two, but by the time the third one arrived, I had lost interest in glamming it up. Since it is not a permanent part of the journal, I didn't and don't feel the same motivation to make it look special.

What else but Tim Holtz's Eclectic Elements fabric for a junk journal?

Instead, I began to ponder the possibility of making a reusable cover for that notebook, and of course, ended up examining my final few Tim Holtz Eclectic Elements fat quarters. This one is called Documentation.

Addressing my constant need to "save" fabric before I ever cut into a new piece, I just sat and looked at it for several minutes, trying to decide how to hack the project so as to preserve as large a usable remnant as possible. As you can see below, folded in half along the 18" height of a standard fat quarter, the fabric does not have sufficient height to cover the book. (To add to my difficulties, this is also one of Mr. Holtz's directional selections. There's an absolute "right side up" to the print, so I couldn't use it sideways.)

Not quite enough...

Having to think about it outside of the proverbial box, however, I soon recognized that this cover simply needs to be different from a traditional cover. The notebook is tethered to a volume that has gotten enormously jumbo, so a custom fitted wrap-around book cover would result in even more bulk. Also, if I made it a custom fit, what if I couldn't find this exact notebook (coil bound, 250 pages) in future? At 6" x 9", something of its size will likely always be available, but maybe not with the same number of pages or with the same size coil.

I decided that what I needed was a sleeve for each cover. And being merely a sleeve, it would have to be snug fitting to stay put. Half of the fat quarter – at 9" – is the same height as the notebook, but if I added a tiny strip to the top and bottom and sewed it with a small seam allowance, it could work.

Selvages came to my rescue to add just the right height...

As my eye caught sight of the selvage along the edge of the fat quarter, an idea popped into my head. A strip of that could be sewn to the top and bottom of a 9" panel, potentially making it big enough to accommodate the covers of this notebook.

I dove into my collection of selvages and found a strip that was perfect for what I wanted: it was just selvage (i.e., no tiny strip of actual fabric showing alongside), and mostly plain (i.e, not a lot of identifying information on it). It wouldn't be a very decorative choice for use in any so-called selvage projects, so sacrificing it here was fine.

With selvages added to the top and bottom, a sleeve was formed by holding in half...

After attaching the selvages to the fabric panels and pressing them inwards, I opted to zigzag stitch the raw edges of the fabric to keep them from fraying. (No, I never considered seaming them; a rustic look here is preferable.)

To finish, I folded the panel in half, sewed the exposed edges of the selvage together at both ends and then turned the whole thing right side out. After pressing, I had the sleeves that you see in the top photo of this post.

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As I had hoped, the fit was properly snug without being difficult to put on/remove. (The original fabric was cut to an 11.5" width that resulted in the zigzagged raw edges stopping just shy of the coil.) I like how both the inner and outer sides of both front and back covers are now adorned; I had previously never bothered to put magazine images onto the interiors of the covers.

Front cover installed on notebook...

Most importantly, this kind of covering adds no noticeable bulk to the notebook. The fabric is not even interfaced, so it's light. There is no obstruction where the coil is, meaning that the cover won't shift in any way when the book is opened.

Interior of front cover...

May I say again how much I love these Eclectic Elements fabrics? They are still widely available, despite having been released some time ago, and of course, Mr. Holtz is regularly adding to the mix. Every time I see a new collection, a little yearning comes over me, but I know that at this stage of my sewing game, I am not going to buy fabric that I don't have a specific use for.

Interior of back cover...

In the above photo, you can see the only bit of evidence that the strip of fabric at top and bottom is a piece of selvage. This one came from Craftsy's Boundless DECOdent collection, which I purchased at the same time as my Eclectic Elements bundle, in March of 2018.

Exterior of back cover...

These book cover sleeves took me no more than an hour and a half to make, including all of the "thinking" about how to make it work with fabric that was the same height as the item I was attempting to cover.

And in the end, I even managed to save a very serviceable remnant that's 18" x 9.5" wide. Out of my original twenty-five Eclectic Elements fat quarters, I am now down to three (plus scraps).

'Til next... 🇨🇦🍁

What Do You Think of Puffer Bags?

AI generated image of a hobo puffer bag...

I'm not one to stay apprised of what's "in" in terms of bag and purse designs, but I recently came upon this style, and it made me wonder about the thought processes that determine what is or isn't on trend.

Was it a natural progression from a fascination with puffer jackets and coats to puffer bags? Up front, I have to say that I would not carry a bag or purse made out of this material, but then, that's me. (I also think those long puffer coats make people look like they're wearing bedspreads.) 

However, in my earnest desire to inspire and put ideas forward, I thought that perhaps some of you might appreciate me sussing out free options to make such a bag.

Not to mention that maybe you have a puffer jacket or coat that no longer appeals to you that you could sacrifice to the cause. (Because I'm all about recycling wearables where possible.)

[AI note: a Google Lens search of the above image came back with the info that it resembled a Quartz Co. Molly 2.0 bag; however, when I looked it up, it differed by quite a bit.]

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While catching up with my subscribed sewing channels on YouTube in early April, I came across a puffer tote bag pattern by Miko Craft (he of my Eggsy backpack and sling bag projects). At first I thought it was a novel item, but seeing it reminded me of something I had glimpsed in a store window at the "Big Mall." (There is a section of WEM devoted to high end brand names and while I cannot recall specifically which designer label the shop belonged to, I am positive it was in that area.)

image courtesy of Miko Craft on YouTube...

As far as seeing a tutorial on YouTube for such a bag, however, it was a first for me, leading to the conclusion that this must be in response to some trendy thing. A quick check online – are quilted puffer bags in style right now – confirmed it. Adjectives like fashionable, practical, soft, cozy, playful, light and spacious are applied to them. Pair that with the exposure given by high end designers and online influencers and apparently that's the winning formula for ensuring that something is "in style."

Personally – as with almost all trends initiated by high end designers and online influencers – I find most of them butt ugly and the rest just tolerable. (Oops — I guess I'm not exactly being kind, am I??)

Miko's version (DIY - Puffy Tote Bag, uploaded on March 23, 2026) uses pre-made quilted fabric. His projects are always generously provided with full pattern templates, so I highly recommend his videos if you're looking for any sort of bag project.

On another sewing channel that I hadn't checked in on in quite some time – AePooiM – a second puffer bag jumped out at me, this time from a video (My First Puffer Tote Bag!) that was uploaded March 2, 2026.

image courtesy of AePooiM on YouTube...

Her bag uses a separate layer of polyfil under the main fabric, which is then quilted before being cut and assembled into various components. If you're up for the challenge, it seems quite doable and again, I can vouch for the quality of her videos and instructions, having made one of her early projects.

Of the two bags, Miko's is the more advanced pattern, incorporating three zippers (one to fully close the top opening and two others on pockets above and below the band that's on one side of the bag). Both bags have exterior side gusset pockets as well as interior pockets (divided one on AePooiM's and a full width one on Miko's).

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Sort of intrigued, I then did a search for a basic DIY puffer bag and came upon one on a new (to me) channel called cheche_stitches. It's actually one of several puffer bag tutorials she has posted.

This particular video (how to make a stylish puffer tote bag) was uploaded February 3, 2026 and features a design that is the simplest to make, of the three that I've highlighted today. (By the way, while I will not be providing hyperlinks to any of the projects described, there are enough details here that you should have no trouble finding them on YouTube yourself.)

image courtesy of cheche_stitches on YouTube...

I really liked the carefree way in which the creator demonstrated how to make this bag, in just under eleven and a half minutes. It is just a basic tote without pockets – although it does have a zippered top opening – but the addition of the creatively quilted polyfil layer (from free-hand drawn wavy lines) seemed to elevate the whole bag. I was impressed.

Was it possible that by the time I saw a third version of this "trend" that I was coming around to liking the idea?? Nah. I still don't feel any affinity towards puffer bags. It's occurred to me that I am reminded of winter whenever I see fabric like this. (And as a resident of a northern city where winters are often interminably long, who needs that?) In the case of this last bag, maybe it was just the elegant stitching on a simple black background that grabbed my attention.

What about you? Do puffer bags turn your crank at all? 

'Til next... 🇨🇦🍁