I am trying to put in an invisible zipper into this $($%*%)W( skirt I am making, and it is looking absolutely revolting! I know I can put in a normal inv zip, but this is just killing me! Everytime I put it in, the fabric gets all stretched out and wavy, and the zipper turns into this roller coaster track on my hip....BAD!

I am doing it with a bias cut satin, and I know that is a big reason this is doing this, but I don't know how to fix it. I have reapplyed it a couple of times, trying not to stretch it, and it still keeps messing up. I have interfacing under it to keep it from stretching, and it STILL is stretching! AARGH!!


Any tips would be HUGELY appreciated!!

TIA!

Murali

would spray starch help at all? i have no clue...

not sure... but could you 505 spray the zipper to the fabric and then stitch? or maybe use a disovable stabilizer inbetween zipper and fabric?

How about some stitch witchery? Do you have any of that on hand? An invisible zipper foot might be the only sure-fire fix for that type of fabric :(

?? http://www.sew-whats-new.com/culshaw/stabilizingseams.shtml

I am using an invis zip foot already, and isn't the stabilizing what I am doing when I have the interfacing fused to the stitch line? I have it cut lengthwise, so there is no give, and stitch over that, not on the fabric, and it is still going completely wavy. I am going insane here!!

Murali

Are you using a regular zipper foot or an invisible zipper foot? The stitch witchery will basically serve as temporary glue while you sew, it's different than regular interfacing. Also, have you adjusted the tension? If your tension is too tight, it could be contributing to your problem. Very puzzling!

hmmm... could it be a tension issue?? sorry I'm not much help, but I understand the frustration so I'm trying to throw ideas out there.

Okay, tension...haven't tried that one...will try it...as soon as I rip out the last batch of stitching, for the billionth time...


Thanks!

Murali

It is still stretching. What about serging on something completely unstretchy like the selvedge of polyester lining fabric and setting the differential to gather a little?

Unfortunately for me, I have no serger...and I have no clue if anything like differential feed exists on MIL's ancient machine I am using! I can zigzag a strip on, I would think, though...will try it...tomorrow...cause I think I would hack the thing up into a bloody mess with my seam ripper if I went near it again tonight/this morning (1 am here). I am determined to finish this thing if it kills me. I am NOT going to beaten by a little piece of plastic!!!


Thanks,

Murali

If worse comes to worse, how about hand stitching it in? That way you dont have to worry about stretching it out by machine.....

If worse comes to worse, how about hand stitching it in? That way you dont have to worry about stretching it out by machine.....

You can see my handstitched attempt here

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1595692#post1595692

I was sooo careful not to stretch it, and it looks great, til I put it on. I am so ready to just kill this thing, except for that I refuse to be beaten by an invisible zipper!


Murali