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Saturday 28 May 2022

Shortening & Changing Out a Metal Zipper

Shortening a zipper
Doable but not fun...
Let me preface today's post by saying that shortening and changing out a metal zipper on a pair of jeans is not a project for the faint of heart. While technically doable, you really have to ask yourself whether it's worth the pain and suffering. I took it on as a challenge, with the proviso that if it didn't work out — at any point in the process — I could just toss it aside.

What brought this about?

The zipper on a pair of hubby's jeans lost a tooth, with the result that the zipper pull came off one side.

replacing a jeans zipper
A zipper that's lost one of its teeth...

I managed to put it back on, but the reality of this kind of problem is that it will keep happening. Because I look for different things to amuse (and abuse?) myself with on the sewing front these days, I said I'd try removing and replacing the zipper.




I have a few metal zippers in my possession, but they were all longer than the one that was attached to this pair of jeans.

Shortening a zipper involves two main tasks: removal of the metal stopper and as many teeth as required, and then cutting off excess tape and reinstalling the stopper. The most difficult part in all of this is removing the stopper. (By the way, you can shorten a zipper from the top or the bottom; I chose to go with the top method after seeking some online help.)

Shortening a zipper
Just like pulling teeth!

One would suppose that metal zippers on jeans are typically meant to last, so I don't know exactly what happened here with hubby's pair. In fact, if you think of metal zippers in general, you'd likely conclude that the zipper teeth are held in place very tightly... which they are. So your next assumption might be that the removal of these things is not accomplished easily.

My pair of pliers managed to pull the zipper teeth fairly well — at least for this zipper; see bottom of post for more on this story — but it wasn't the right tool to remove the stopper.

Shortening a zipper
Removing the stopper is going to be the hardest part...

Whatever tool you end up using, what's likely to happen is that the zipper tape around the stopper will be damaged in the process. (This, however, is not an issue because the excess tape will be cut off anyway.) This little piece of metal — which is just a miniature clamp — needs to be pried apart with tweezers or small flat head screwdrivers.

Shortening a zipper
Using one (of three) small flat head screwdrivers to spread open the stopper...

It's essential to be careful during this whole process because the last thing you want to have happen is for the little stopper to go flying off into the air to who knows where.

Shortening a zipper
Replacing the stopper...

After shortening the zipper, you can put the little stopper clamp back onto the zipper tape.


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Before doing anything with a new zipper, my first step was to remove the damaged zipper, in order to ascertain how long the replacement needed to be.

replacing a jeans zipper
Starting the process of zipper removal...

What surprised me is that different jeans manufacturers sew in the zipper fly differently. This pair seemed quite a lot less complicated than a pair of Levis which I dismantled a few days later.

replacing a jeans zipper
One side done...

For that reason, I would suggest that if you want to do this that you take photos as you go, and also that you leave the last few stitches in place so that the old zipper is not totally removed until you're ready.

replacing a jeans zipper
Hanging on by just a few stitches!

Once you have the new zipper prepped to your specs, you can fully remove the old one while pinning the new one in place.

replacing a jeans zipper
Basting is a good plan...

In the end, I was surprised by how relatively easy it was to sew the zipper back in using a sewing machine. (Again, it was for this particular pair of jeans... YMMV.) It was only at the very bottom along one side where I couldn't quite manoeuvre close enough to tack the zipper tape in place. After trying the jeans on, the other half stated that it didn't matter; the zipper was otherwise firmly attached.


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By the way, I could not easily find any short metal zippers to buy. But the both of us had a face palm moment when we noticed the bag of old jeans that we had brought back from our vacation home and thought, why the heck didn't we think to remove one of those zippers??

Shortening a zipper
Had to switch tools and use a cutter to remove the teeth from this zipper...

For those eagle eyed observers among you, here is the post script explanation for why there are clearly two different (replacement) zippers featured in my photos. Shortly after switching out the zipper, the new one began to have issues: it kept snagging at one particular spot. Deciding that my metal zippers weren't quite heavy duty enough for this application, I harvested a zipper from an old pair of jeans and repeated the whole process.

Yep. Lotsa fun.


I don't often get the opportunity to share Spoonflower sales announcements on the day that I post since new sales usually start on Monday, but there is a sale going on now through the end of the month on all fat quarters, tea towels and wall hangings. Plus free shipping! Believe me, that's a big deal, so if you've been intrigued by Spoonflower's fabrics (mine or otherwise), here is your chance to get a huge bargain.

I'm going to be busy this weekend tweaking a couple of new designs, because this is a promo that I can't pass up either!

'Til next...

2 comments:

  1. I have a pair of 1980's Calvin Kleins sitting on my sewing table as we "speak"... waiting for a bit of love... (They've been there a while, but they are on the top ;) )

    Wrestling metal zippers looks like work, so I have to ask: What is the reason for not just cutting off the bottom of the zipper instead? You do your research, so I'm thinking that there is a reason.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We've all been told that we cannot simply sew over a metal zipper like we do a nylon or plastic one. In some circumstances, if you have free and clear access to the area being sewn, it's possible to hand crank your way over metal zipper teeth, but that's not the case here. My thought was that while I could cut off some of the length, I'd still need some bare zipper tape to sew across, so pulling some teeth was unavoidable.

      Good luck with your jeans no matter what method you end up trying!

      Delete

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