Have you ever wondered how to sew your skirt lining to your zipper by sewing machine instead of by hand?
Every ready-to-wear skirt I have ever purchased has the skirt lining sewn to the zipper by sewing machine. But when you purchase commercial patterns, the instructions tell you to sew the skirt lining to your zipper by hand.
Now, I don’t have a problem with hand stitching-I still hem my skirts by hand, even though I have a blind hemmer (that’s another story). But I like hand stitching only when it’s necessary or when I can’t get the same quality by machine stitching.
I was taught in my sewing class in college that the inside of your garment
should look just as good as the outside of your garment.
I like to copy ready-to-wear techniques because they look good on the outside/inside of the garment and I know they do things in the most efficient way possible. Their time is money, after all. I also know if it doesn’t require a special sewing machine, it can be duplicated.
So if the manufacturer can do it, why can’t you or I?
Sewing your skirt lining to your zipper by sewing machine is really not complicated. You may or may not have to use your zipper foot depending on your sewing machine. With my machine I’m able to use my all purpose foot.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below.
Have you ever attached your lining to your zipper this way? Which way do you prefer?
Any Mouse says
May 14, 2018 at 11:58 amThank you! Especially the tip about going an inch BELOW the zipper end!
Katrina says
May 14, 2018 at 7:09 pmYou’re so welcome, Any Mouse.
Myra says
December 26, 2016 at 2:21 pmThank you Katrina. Excellent tutorial and very easy to understand. So glad I subscribed to your site. Question: can you use this same zipper technique with a regular zipper. Thank you.
Katrina says
December 26, 2016 at 11:50 pmHi Myra, I’m glad you found this tutorial easy to understand. In answer to your question, yes you can sew the lining to the zipper using a regular zipper, but your seam allowance wouldn’t be as free because of the topstitching, like for a centered zipper insertion.
I found a tutorial to show you what a I mean here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwXuI-uv5UU. It can be done, just a little more challenging but certainly not impossible.
Quick tip: try topstitching 1/4″ from the zipper instead of the standard 3/8″ for a centered zipper. This will give you an extra 1/8″ of an inch to work with when applying the lining, which might make it a little easier to catch the zipper tape with your stitching.
Sandy Kiser says
October 16, 2016 at 4:47 pmThis is an awesome video. Your instructions are so clear!
Katrina says
October 18, 2016 at 10:32 amThank you, Sandy. I’m glad it was easy to undertand. Thanks for watching.
Jeanna says
March 26, 2016 at 9:36 amExcellent, Thank you!!
Katrina says
March 31, 2016 at 1:24 amYou’re welcome, Jeanna. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
C. Diane Johnson says
December 29, 2013 at 8:57 amgreat video
Katrina says
December 30, 2013 at 3:14 pmThank you.
Cathy says
November 28, 2013 at 10:50 amShouldn’t the lining seam allowances be bigger so you don’t end up with too much fabric in the back of the skirt lining?
Katrina says
November 28, 2013 at 6:06 pmThe lining seam allowances are smaller because they’re sewn about 1/4″ away from the zipper teeth. This makes them line up with the edge of the zipper tape. This doesn’t affect the fabric of the skirt because the zipper is sewn to the skirt first, then the lining is sewn.
I hope I’ve answered your question, Cathy. If not, please let me know.
Anne says
September 24, 2013 at 12:33 pmThank you for sharing this!! I avoid hand sewing whenever possible, 🙂 I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for later this evening that links to your tutorial:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/video-tutorial-stitch-a-zipper-to-your-skirt-lining-by-machine/2013/09/24/
–Anne
Katrina says
September 24, 2013 at 8:29 pmAvoiding hand stitching-yes that’s me too. You’re welcome Anne and thank YOU!