Q for sewists: how to fix this stuck zipper?

I have this skirt with a zipper that always gets stuck at the waistband seam. At this point it's unwearable because I can't pull the zipper past the seam (in the first photo, that's as far as it will go). There's nothing wrong with the zipper itself as far as I can tell; all the teeth are present and straight. Putting soap or wax on the zipper did not help. I can't zip it either on my body or lying flat, so it's not my big hips pushing it out!

It looks to me like the zipper is installed in some sort of warped way, or else those big blobs of thread/fabric right where it gets stuck are warping the zipper.

Anyway, is there a trick for getting this to close, or would i have to remove and reinstall the zipper? Or would those lumps always prevent a zipper from closing right? I was thinking I could just add 2-3 hook and eye closures to the upper part that won't zip as a stopgap measure, but it would of course be easier if I could just fix the zipper!

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12 years ago

Anonymous

Hi Diana. It looks like one of those concealed type zips and to me it looks as though it has been put in incorrectly. There shouldn't be a bump in it like that and I imagine it is the cause of it not working. I would suggest having a complete new zip sewn in as that one may be distorted now.

Diana

Veteran

Thanks, Diane. That's what I suspected, no easy way to fix it. Oh well. It actually used to close (with difficulty) but I guess all the tugging I did to make it close warped the zipper even more.

Beth Ann

Diana is more expert than I, but it also appears that this zipper wasn't heavy duty enough for the way it was used, in addition to not being sewn in well. When I sew, I rarely do the centered zip, preferring the "lapped" version. They seem to be easier to do well and less likely to break down.

Good point, Beth Ann. I think a heavier zipper would be better too (and I don't even mind an exposed zipper in any case).

So if I did this myself, I'd have to do it by hand (no sewing machine) but if I use a heavier zipper (and leave it a bit exposed) it should have enough structure to stay straight even with my not-so-even hand sewing, right?

Too right Beth Ann, the ordinary ones are so much easier to put in and harder wearing.

Vildy

Zippers put in with a very small hand backstitch are practically impossible to rip out, the application is so strong! Much stronger than machine sewing.

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