Sewing over Zippers
 

I have been trying to make small purses (very simple ones) from some videos on Youtube and I understand the instructions but in the videos they show sewing over the zipper ends like it is nothing. When I do that (very slowly) my machine either makes a weird clunking sound and / or the needle falls out. This is frustrating me because I am enjoying making them. I have done a few but I don't think it was good for my machine. Yet, in the videos they only say don't run over the metal part of the zipper which I would never do. The zippers are all nylon.

Anyone have this problem? I was hoping to advance at some point to trying a laptop cover or even a bag but the thickness of straps would I am sure be a problem. I was even wondering if I need to get a machine that can handle heavy duty things like this.

Thank you!

I was just doing this the other day and had no issues. I have a Husqvarna Viking - computerized machine. If your needle is falling out, sounds like it may be in backwards or not seated all the way. The clunking sound....perhaps make your stitch length longer??? What type of machine do you have?

I never sew over the teeth, even if they are plastic. certainly not metal ones. I tend to skip over them and if necessary later i hand stitch over them to secure that area better.

http://www.craftpassion.com/2011/06/...-zipper.html/2 Found this and adding to my favorites.

I would not sew over the zipper teeth. It can't be good for the machine. Lift the presser foot when you get to the teeth & skip over them.

I keep used zippers if they are still in good shape. I like to hit the thrift stores for anything that would have unique zippers. great for activity quilts.

When you get to the zipper take the last stitch right at the zipper then arrange it so the next stitch goes in the center of the zipper and the next just outside and right next to the zipper and keep going with your regular sewing.

I may be the odd ball here but I make small coin purses all the time with nylon zippers. The cool idea about nylon zippers is that you can customize it to the size of purse you are making by sewing over the nylon teeth.

So, if I am making a 6" coin purse and only have 9" zippers I just customize it to fit by sewing 'over' the teeth at the appropriate place and cut off the rest of it. If your needle is clunking, as someone else pointed out, it isn't seated correctly, tightened down and/or your needle is dull. I have sewn many little coin purses one right after another with the same needle. The needle isn't dulled by sewing over the teeth nor is my machine lagging because of it. I have watched many, many videos on zippered pouches and just as they do I sew over the teeth.

I agree with nativetexan. I never sew thru the teeth.

I sew slowly over the plastic teeth on my Bernina and have not had any problems. Occasionally the first couple of stitches after the zipper are a bit wonky since the foot is only half supported but I usually just stitch again over the zipper from the opposite direction. I could get out that little plastic denim foot bridge but it's way across the sewing room.:D

you are only suppossed to sew over them if they are nylon teeth and then its at the end or when. normally by default the needle will push the plastic part of the zipper to the side so it doesn't go into the teeth. I too have a viking high end machine and have no problem even with the in the hoop projects that does it all; that's how I make my zipper coin purses. Make sure your needle it all the way up, turned the right way, flat side of needle goes a certain way in all machines and make sure its tight.

that seems so hard to do. I have always shortened from the bottom. I have sewn around the ending where I want it to be, by hand, a lot of times around, and then cut it off. Once it is sewn in it has never come apart at the bottom. I'm talking about a metal zipper. Nylon ones are easier.

I agree that, for metal zippers, adjusting the length from the bottom is the way I was taught many moons ago. For nylon, though, just sewing over it seems to be working out just peachy.

I just use the bar tack stitch and set it for the length for the needle to hit on either side of the zipper slide. It never hits the zipper portion. You can use your regular stitch until you get to the zipper then set it for bar tack.

I don't have that problem with my machine, but would suggest that you do a hand tack over the zipper if it bothers you, and if you are putting that little tab on it, just sew to the tacked part and skip over the zipper

I sew up to the teeth, then hand "walk" the needle past the teeth. Needles are too expensive to waste. I am also using coil zippers instead of the ones with actual teeth. My coun purses are easy. Just two pieces of fabric 5 x 7" sew a zipper in between, (open zipper!) put the fabrics face to face, then sew around the three sides. Easy peasy, and you can run with the idea from there!