Well, summer came and went. And so did autumn. And when winter hit, husby's plaintive question "have you put the zipper in my cardi yet?" got to me and I decided it was time to put on my protective gear, get out the ropes and crampons (all that is scaling mountain talk, right?) and tackle that peak.
I had husby take Connor out for the day, because I knew it was going to be an all day task. At the very least. And I needed some space to spread things out, and some time to percolate the various tutorials I'd read about putting zippers into garments. And make sure I could find the cardi, and the zip and the thread (both the zip and thread I'd purchased some time ago. Maybe during that summer of thinking...)
I started by pinning the zip into the opening. I put the pins in wrong, I know. I realised that about half way through. But my back was already sore from the kneeling and bending, so I figured it'd be ok.
And then I started sewing - by hand! I was maybe 1/3 of the way done on the first side when I realised I was doing my backstitch wrong. There was no way I was going to unpull what I'd already done (sewing in zippers is slow going!!) so I just did it the right way after that. And you know what, you can't tell anyway! (But I did feel better doing it correctly, I must say!!)
It took AGES! AGES I tell you. At least 4 hours I think. Possibly more, I think I have blocked it out of my head. I was a bit worried it would bubble when the zipper was done up on the body. But I was most pleased when husby put it on and (a) the zipper worked and (b) it didn't bubble!
If I were to do it again, I'd put the edge of the garment over the zipper closure (it is knit with an edging for this purpose). I was worried I'd get the edging caught in the zipper and wouldn't do it evenly, so I just lined it up with the outside edge of the zip.
26 comments:
My oh my what a wonderful zip!! By hand too, I sew mine in with the machine, I am lazy.
Sooo worth the effort, it looks great on him. And I do believe that's a cute little baby matchy cardi I see there! Such lovely work, and I'm sure its keeping them nice and warm in this weather.
timely.
i am up to that very mountain on a jumper with zipper top opening, that has been, um, marinating in its own juices, for a little while now. and it isn't even a full length zipper. :-(
tomorrow. definitely tomorrow.
I take my hat off to you! I have yet to even approach the foothills of Mt Zip...
Lovely cardi - I'm sure it feels worth it now.
i'm with Probably Jane - it's a frontier I'm yet to approach too. I admire you for going there instead of buttons. Well done!
Yeah, I know. When my then-3yo said he wanted a zipper on his Tomten, I figured out how to do a zipper. I sewed it by hand, too. But I always come away from these things feeling like, Well, look what I did! And like I could tackle it again if need be. Even though I have a machine now I don't think I'd sew a zipper onto a handknit with it. I'd be too worried about clogging my machine with lint.
grrr.. zippers ! I always make sure anything I knit does not contain a zipper, I did it once and once only..ahhaha
Looking at your lovely zipper though you did a mighty fine job of it and no bubbling and it zips -gotta love that ! :D
You have done a most awesome job! I'm lovin' it sick!! ;)
Good for you for sticking it out. I skip any pattern that calls for a zipper!
Zippers are tricky. I've put many in when I'm sewing but never on a knit. I think I'd do it by hand to control the tension of the stitches better. I'd be afraid of the machine snagging on something and ruining all my work.
I have a cardigan that has been sitting in a bag for, oh, at LEAST five years, awaiting a zipper. Shall I send it to you?
Yayyy! (pops the champagne. Tosses confetti. Blats the vuvuzela!) Yeeha! Go Rose. You DID it! Woooooot!!
Rose, you were very, very brave. I oncemade a beautiful sweater that was going to have a zipper, that is until I freaked out and put in hook and eye closures,
I know I am a baby.
Meredith
zippers are both a curse and a blessing - they look so good but are so damn hard to put it.
the wedding sweater has a zip - which I sewed in 4 times at least - urg!!
Congrats for getting up that mountain - your gear and preparation time served you well. It's all in the planning - no matter how long the planning takes
Who can you pay to put them in? This possibility is music to my ears!
I tried to find someone to do finishing in Hong Kong, and they actually laughed at me in the yarn shop, and said "no, we hate doing that too!"
Congratulations on scaling the peak!
Don't ever decide to make EZ's Tomten for Connor!
I have put zippers in several Tomtens. It's slow going but not too difficult.
ooh - well done you - have a red spotted jersey to wear (with no trip via barbed wire on the way!)
looks good. is connor wearing a matching cardi?
It's perfect! Love the mismatched socks!!
I am terrified of zippers, so good for you! The result is worth it!
It looks very nice...really worth finishing in the end.
Well done - looks extremely professional. This really does deserve a spotted jersey for a spell.
You did an amazing zipper job. I have never sewn on a zipper on a kniitted garment & I don't think I can.
Nice work on the zipper :-)
I pretty much avoid anything with them in or convert it to buttons, I like the idea but not the reality of the zip!
I think I'm more in awe that you knit a man sized jumper!! Is the zip thing really that bad? I have half a design in my head using zips...dumb idea?
Oh, very nice! I've only ever sewn a zip into a dog bedcover, so color me impressed!
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