How To Fix A Zipper
Imagine what would happen if your favorite dress or pants didn’t have a zipper. You’d be struggling, literally tugging and jerking at the fabric so it would fit your body. Chances are you’ll never be successful. If you do manage to wear it, it’ll be ripped and torn in various places. Zippers are indeed helpful, but there are instances when they cause you trouble: when they break. Since it’s embarrassing to be caught with an open, broken zipper, here’s how to properly repair a zipper.
Materials Needed
Pliers (a small needlenose pair is your best option)
Scissors
Needle
Strong thread (the thicker kind used for sewing on buttons, is better)
Procedure
Using the pliers, carefully pry off the metal stop of the zipper. This is the small band found at its bottom, which works by stopping the slider when you try and open the zipper. You might find this a bit hard, but if you put muscle into it, you’ll do it well. If you can’t find pliers, a blunt kitchen knife or a screwdriver might do the trick. Just be careful, though!
Once the metal stop is removed, move the slider downwards, towards the bottom of the zipper, just below the teeth on the bottom-most portion. Don’t pull it off completely.
You now have to realign the teeth of the zipper, making them mesh smoothly. Use your fingers and arrange the teeth so that one of the sides isn’t all bunched up. Straighten the teeth out properly.
Start zipping the zipper upwards, just about halfway, with careful attention to whether the teeth are locking appropriately together. Do this procedure carefully, until you’re sure that the zipper is running straight again.
Get the needle and strong thread. Using these, sew around the area where the old metal stop was located. Your aim is to replace the stop with only the thread. Keep sewing and looping the zipper bottom firmly. At least six to seven stitches will do. If you need to, add more extra stitches. When you’re sure that it’s secure, tie off a knot on the back part of the zipper, and cut off the excess thread.
Pull the zipper upwards, all the way until it reaches the top. If you properly do it, the zipper won’t catch anymore.
If the zipper becomes misaligned again, you can simply remove the stitching using a seam ripper, and repeat the whole process.
A broken zipper can ruin a perfectly good outfit. Solve this unpleasant dilemma immediately through this simple procedure. This can work on any kind of zipper, whether on clothes, bags, and even on furniture covers. Doing this is far better than having to completely replace the whole zipper.