Sigh...
Monday, January 18, 2010 at 1:44PM I will never be a garment sewer, I’m afraid. I love to make quilts and home decor items… pattern instructions will forever elude me.
;)
My little sew along dress really turned out so nicely, (I love that bow!) I was so pleased with it right up until I had to install the zipper. Try as I might, I couldn’t match the pattern instructions to the garment in front of me. And sewing zippers is not a problem, I do them all the time in pillows.
So I winged it. And look what happened! It’s lopsided! And I don’t know how to fix;)
it. I removed it once and ended up with the same result. So… should I bother adding the hook and eye and hemming it?
Will some little girl somewhere be desperate enough to wear it?
Should I make another and see if I can figure out my mistake? Or just stick to quilts? LOL
Reader Comments (22)
I think it turned out great!!! I would have never noticed the zipper area being a little lopsided if you had not said anything. :)
It's beautiful. I think once you add the hook and eye it will be far less noticeable (not that it is that noticeable now) and I think any little girl would love it
It's not that bad CJ. Diane is right about the hook and eye. Non-sewers ever notice the little flaws that a sewer would. We are out own worst critics, you know. I think some little girl would love to wear your dress. Kathy
oops! sorry for the typos. that would be never and our own.
On the back at the top of the zipper, I would make a little fabric bow and snap it to each side of the dress back by the zipper. Then it would be cuter and no one would see it.
Anne
some little girl will LOVE it and never know the zipper is a tad off.
I think it's fine just the way it is. Go look at ready to wear and you'll be surprised at how wonderful your dress it! And if you are still bothered by it, I was thinking a snap on bow, too, as Anne wrote about. You can tack it down on one side and have it snap across on the other. The dress is darling and any little girl will love it! Adorable.
I doubt anyone else will even notice. BUT when I put in a zipper I baste it by hand first, then sew.
It's wonderful and any little girl would love it. That's part of being home-made and made with love.
I have been a garment sewer for over 35 years and I agree with the others. It looks fine and a lot of people would never know. If it bothers you, I agree with the others--snap a bow on it. Little girls love bows.
Well thank you everyone, and the bow is a great idea! I'll go ahead and finish it then and find a home for it. I appreciate the feedback!
If you are not comfortable with it unpick the zip and adjust by unsewing the waist seamline so the top edges meet. When placing the zipper ensure the waist seamline is aligned. I am sure you did do this but things slip, don't ask me how I know this. LOL. I prefer to baste zippers as well. I always seem to have a problem fitting zippers on stretchy fabric and things like crushed velvet which does not seem to be such a popular fabric these days, thank goodness!
That is only if you can take all that extra work. Otherwise the other suggestions concerning bows is fine. I would put a bow at the waist seam and one at the top of the zipper as a feature.
I love the dress I am sure many a little girl would love it as it is.
The bow idea is the best idea.
And, yes, we are our own worst critics.
CJ
The dress is adorable and will make some little girl happy! I agree with you - it looks large for a little girl's size 4.
Are you totally opposed to removing the zipper and trying one more time? On the 3rd try, I would baste the zipper in, basting it from the top -down on each side so it can't shift. I would machine it also going in one direction only - from the top down. If you have the patience to do this, it might leave you with a better feeling about garment sewing.
Just my thoughts. Carol
I have two granddaughters - one almost 4 and the other almost 1. They would adore this dress! Believe me, kids are fussy especially little girls who just want (1) a skirt that "twirls" and (2) sparkles, if possible. Like Anne's idea of a back bow - you could then claim that as part of the original design!
Oops - meant that kids aren't fussy - sorry.
I have the same problem virtually every time to the point that I haven't sewn a garment requiring a zipper in years. In fact the last garment was a dress for my daughter for a Homecoming dance. The front had a horizontal pleated neckline scarf-type piece that I ended up duplicating and attaching to the back at the shoulders to cover the lopsided zipper at the neckline. It was a lucky save as I'm sure the bow suggestions will be as well!
I am a garment seamstress and now want to learn to quilt. I love the things you make. Have you thought about using double stick tape on the outside edges of the zipper to baste it in place? Make sure the tape is on the edges so it is not sewn through and can be easily pulled off. This method is now recommended in most of the new sewing books. Baste your seam closed, stick zipper in place, and sew. Things usually line up easily this way. If you want you can sew each zipper side in the same direction. Sometimes that helps. Your little dress is really cute.
Thank you so much everyone. I will remove the zipper and try it once more. I did however, baste it in place (I used water soluble glue) and I had basted the seam together as described by Joyce. I will however, try sewing from the top down on each side, as I went from the top, around the bottom, and back up the other side.
Have you seen these instructions from Threads magazine?
http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/3728/sewing-in-a-zipper
Thanks Anne!
CJ - I can teach you a sure fire method for putting zippers in - and it's quick. Let me know and we will get together.