Wave, Goodbye! Achieving Smooth, Straight Zippers - An OKSew Quick Fix

This video is part of a series I am doing where I will go over fixes for common sewing issues that arise in bag making. In this installment I will be demonstrating how I achieve smooth, straight zippers and identifying common reasons wavy zippers may occur. These techniques are demonstrated on a top zipper on a simple pouch but can be applied to many methods of zipper installation on various bag patterns.
Be sure to let me know if you have any suggestions for future quick fixes for me to include in the series!
OKSew Quick Fixes
• OKSew Quick Fixes

[@leilalitchfield480]

Adapted these tips to insert a zipper for a pocket on front of a bag. Best zipper I ever inserted! Thanks for such a great tutorial.

[@OKSew474]

I’m so glad you hear that! My primary goal is to give tips that can carry over to other parts of your sewing!

[@jillymills1]

Thank you for the tip about which side to put the zipper head on, I have struggled with that at times ❤

[@OKSew474]

So happy to help!

[@angelamay6205]

I have become a real fan of you quick fix videos - may I suggest another topic - How to create a new pattern piece to adjust the lining in a bag, from the original pattern piece which is the same size as the exterior? For a boxed bag, but maybe also for a gusseted one as well?

[@OKSew474]

I do have baggy linings on my list! Thank you for the suggestion!

[@aliceburley3881]

I just found you and love your quick tutorials. Doing catch up and look forward to many more.

[@jayneevanderheym352]

Never thought about using the tape. Will give it a go. Thank you for the video.

[@lesleyhutchason6277]

Thank you, i caught that video about 5 mins after asking.

[@lflines]

What caught my eye was your fabric as I have quite a bit of it in my stash. New subscriber, happy to find your channel!

[@OKSew474]

It is such a pretty print! Thank you for being here! ☺️

[@sutela2060]

Super great video 😊 thank you so much ❤

[@OKSew474]

You are so welcome!

[@sewnita8608]

Thanks, I really appreciate the way that you teach, so clear and detailed, it will help me make a better bad.Please keep the tutorials coming

[@michellem.131]

Thanks! Always the best tips!🙌🙌

[@77jjenn]

Excellent tips! Easy to follow! Thanks so much.

[@OKSew474]

You are most welcome!

[@jaytopham8514]

As always a very easy to follow video. From point of view I always now revisit your tips on the zips before starting projects. It's a reminder to check things while construction is in progress as well. Thanks again

[@OKSew474]

Thank you so much! I always appreciate your comments and feedback. :)

[@Katbird88]

Me too!

[@baharkanbas]

Thanks for nice tutorial 💕🌴

[@OKSew474]

You are very welcome!

[@marinad164]

Again, thanks a lot!

[@michellecobb3530]

Thank you. I have been having so much trouble getting these right. I see you are not including the lining when you top stitch, as I had been instructed to do. I'm going to give this a go.❤

[@OKSew474]

You are very welcome Michelle! You may find this video helpful if you do prefer to have your lining topstitched, kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3nNdX2Nja6hacksi=rsImQL_0bho356dm, and if you haven’t seen my Perfect Corners, Perfect Curves video a lot of people have found that to be useful also. Good luck and let me know if there is anything else I can help with!

[@phh1789]

Your videos are very informative and I am learning much, and enjoy them. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by locating which set of teeth are "further out." Could you give me a bit more information about that. Further out from where?

[@OKSew474]

The outermost tooth, the teeth alternate left, right, left, right; whichever side the first tooth is at the end of the zipper. If you check out this video there is a lot more detailed explanation you may find helpful: Get Your Pulls On! - Mastering zipper by the yard (without any aids!) kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5vPmmN4fNJnrNE

[@csbollard2698]

Double thumbs up

[@terriparthum5860]

Very concise explanation of how to install the zipper. I didn't catch why you sew a few stitches up the side before you top stitch. Could you explain. Thank you for such a good video!

[@OKSew474]

Thank you Terri! I do the topstitching in the side seam to keep the backstitching entirely within the seam allowance. I started doing it this way a few months ago and I really like it; it is personal preference but I find I can get a good 3/8” of backstitching to secure my topstitching at either end so there is very little chance of it unraveling, whereas when I backstitch at the end of the topstitching seam in the same line I only do a stitch or two so that it can’t be seen past the side seam, which in my experience is not as secure. I hope that helps!!

[@jonesjones1020]

So funny. I have that exact fabric. It must have been in your stash for a very long time. I made a quilt with it and still have more left. Has to be ten years or more since I bought it. Love the print.

[@OKSew474]

I think I bought it in 2020 so it has been a while but yours beats it! Certainly not my oldest fabric though. 😉 I bet it made a gorgeous quilt!

[@jennsoper5772]

Where can I find that fabric? My daughter just saw the video over my shoulder and fell in love with the fabric. Lol. Great tutorial. TY!

[@jonesjones1020]

Probably will not find it now. Once a fabric is gone they almost never bring it back again. However I wish they would as there are many retired beautiful fabrics that would sell again easily. Alot of what is coming out now just does not do much for my taste at all. Plus the price of fabric is also insane nowadays.

[@jonesjones1020]

It was very hard for me to cut it up it was so pretty so I did not. I used it as a solid piece then bordered it with a faux suede that was a dusty rose color. Which I also used for the backing then did 1" cross hatch quilting. I bound it with the print fabric. It was very soft and lovely. I never used it because it was so nice. I ended up selling it last year, almost wish I had not. 😊

[@OKSew474]

@@jennsoper5772 it is this one, you may have luck with a google shopping search! www.michaelmillerfabrics.com/filigree-flutter.html

[@jenpatterson8309]

Great tutorial I don't use a zipper jig always have put on by hand

[@OKSew474]

It is certainly faster once you master it!! I have never successfully used a tool to get a zipper pull on 🤣

[@jenpatterson8309]

@@OKSew474 me either by the time I figured out how the zipper went on I could of been sewing lol

[@susandorris]

Very good. Your videos and always very detailed and you explain every step. I always have a hard time when I use a rotary cutter to keep the ruler in place and things from slipping. Any tips or tricks you have would be wonderful.

[@OKSew474]

Thank you Susan! There are a couple of things that may help, bear with me and I will see what I can come up with for you.

[@OKSew474]

Hope this helps! Reduce Slipping When Using A Grid Ruler & Rotary Cutter - Unlikely Sewing Tools kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHmoap2Do9OsjNE

[@maggiesyd6195]

Great video, when our top stitch are you including the lining? I believe in previous videos you do not.

[@OKSew474]

Thanks! I am not top stitching the lining, thank you for pointing out that it is a bit tricky to tell! When I topstitch I move the lining to beneath the side I am not working on so that I am just topstitching the exterior and the layers in the seam allowance below. In “More Tips for Top Zips” I demonstrate topstitching that does include the lining, starting and stopping the topstitching at the tabs, if you prefer that look.

[@lesleyhutchason6277]

What size doubled sided tape do you use please? Loving your vlogs.

[@OKSew474]

Thank you! I use 1/8”.

[@S.Kay.Steffy]

How wide are the zipper tabs at each end? Great video!

[@OKSew474]

Thank you! They are 2” to start then double folded, with the raw edges toward the center then again in half to finish at 1/2”. Then anywhere from 1.25-2” in the other dimension to go across the end of the zipper.

[@karen-leeandrew7865]

I have a question for you. When you use your zipper foot, you have the right edge of foot running along the side of your fabric. Is the needle then situated to the far left? I always have my needle in the very middle but perhaps that is not a wide enough seam allowance.

[@OKSew474]

Yes my needle is all the way to the left; I am using a narrow zipper foot that is just a little wider than 1/4”, and the needle has to go to the right or left of center because of how the foot is designed but if you are using a different style of presser foot for your zippers you can still move your needle to the left to get a wider seam allowance. I do find a zipper foot to be helpful but it is not necessary, I find being consistent with the seam allowance and using some part of the zipper foot as a guide to be key to getting that seam nice and straight and even. I hope that helps!

[@zormier2002]

Hi! 😊 do you have a link for that double sided tape you are using??

[@OKSew474]

Hi! I actually just posted a quick video about it today since it gets asked often, the brand is Kesote, I get it from Amazon (a.co/d/eQJlGXy). More detail here if you need it: Double Sided Tape - OKSew Favourite Things kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqvHe5Svm8-ZkKM.

[@PCOH051610]

Can you explain why the stitching on my tabs always looks crooked and stitches get skipped? I know it’s user error but I can’t seem to get them looking neat.

[@OKSew474]

It’s hard to identify what might be going wrong without being about to see but if you send a pic through my Facebook page I’ll do my best to troubleshoot with you!

[@Katbird88]

Tutorial on zips. Curved/turned method….on one end?

[@OKSew474]

I think you were able to find what you were looking for but in case you didn’t or others see this, I cover this in detail in More Tips for Top Zips and also in Perfect Corners, Perfect Curves. Thanks for watching! 😊

[@georgiaarmstrong6606]

From where do you get your fabric? It seems stronger, stiffer than regular quilting cotton. Is it cotton canvas or similar?

[@georgiaarmstrong6606]

Oops Sorry to bother, found in comments. Thank you for all your tutorials/explanations. So helpful to this beginner.

[@OKSew474]

Never a bother! Glad you found the info you needed and glad to be able to help!

[@janetrobertshaw6487]

Hi where can i buy your patterns? 😊

[@OKSew474]

Hi Janet! Any of my own patterns are available as free downloads, if you click the video description of the particular video tutorial (Logi, Betty, Pythagorean pouch etc) there is a google drive link that will take you directly to the downloadable template.

[@MarieBell-ns4lb]

How do I get the patterns?

[@OKSew474]

Any of my full tutorials that need a pattern template rather than using measurements will have a download link in the video description. Let me know if you need further help, I linked a playlist with all my patterns in a reply to another of your comments. 💕