How to shorten the zipper?

In the sewing work, have you found that there is no zipper of the right length? If the zipper roll is too short, you must buy a new clear zipper pouch for yourself. However, if you use it too long, you can easily shorten it to suit your needs! Below we will share how to shorten the zipper.

How to shorten ordinary zipper

Step 1: On the ordinary zipper with plastic teeth, the excess length will be removed from the bottom of the zipper tape, and you will sew a new bottom plug by hand or machine. Measure down to the desired length from top to bottom. The position you want to mark is where the new bottom plug will be made.

Step 2: Mark the zipper tape with the position of the new bottom stopper. Note: The length of the zipper is measured from the top of the tab to the length of the plug, not by measuring the length of the zipper tape itself. Therefore, if your project requires a 14-inch zipper, keep this in mind, the distance is only the distance from pull to stop.

Step 3: Use a conventional sewing machine to sew straight needles on the teeth. The stitches should also extend one or two stitches on either side of the tooth. Before sewing this step, please be extra careful to make sure that the zipper has no metal teeth. Go back and forth several times to form a strong plug. To sew by hand, you only need to insert and withdraw the needle several times on both sides of the tooth, and you can put a tack on the zipper tooth.

Step 4: Since most zippers are protruding parts inserted into clothes or inside, and the fabric is actually a factor that prevents the zipper from pulling, the plug will not be seen.

Step 5: Make sure there is no metal near the scissors, and trim the excess zipper tape about an inch under the newly sewn stopper. Now, follow the instructions to sew the newly shortened zipper into the project!

Invisible zipper shortening method

Step 1: Just like a normal zipper, the excess zipper length is also removed from the bottom of the invisible zipper. Measure down from the top until you want the location of the new plug. Just like a regular zipper, the length of the invisible zipper is measured from the top of the pull to the stopper at the bottom, so when determining the required length, be sure to measure instead of the zipper tape.

Step 2: Mark directly on the zipper tape and teeth. Note: For invisible zipper, the teeth are on the back of the tape.

Step 3: Insert the zipper into the sewing machine. Sew a row of straight stitches on the tape. Start a few stitches before the tooth, and then extend the same number of stitches on the other side of the tooth. Go back and forth several times to form a strong stopper. To sew this step by hand, you only need to insert and withdraw the needle several times on both sides of the teeth to form positioning pins on the zipper teeth.

Step 4: Cut off the excess zipper tape and leave an inch under the new plug. As always, before cutting the zipper, make sure that there is no metal near the scissors.

Step 5: Now, you can put the beautiful invisible zipper into your project with the correct length.

How to shorten the size of the metal zipper? How to use zipper slider and puller, rubber zipper puller and nylon zipper slider, follow our next article to tell you the answer.