About Sarah Expertise Pattern making, fitting, fabric choices, garment construction, design choices - all aspects of making a garment! I'm a professional in the fashion industry. I'm responsible for fitting garments on live models, making garment construction choices that make sense for the fabrics, approving wash care instructions, patternmaking and draping on the form. I work with wovens and knits. My garments have won numerous awards (both design and construction) throughout my college career.
Experience Graduated BFA in fashion design; Currently work as a technical designer/pattern make/fitter for a large contemporary fashion company for 2+ years.
Organizations Philadelphia Sewing Collective - www.phillysewing.org
Education/Credentials BFA in Fashion Design from Moore College of Art & Design; Summa Cum Laude
Question I inserted a zipper in a handbag I am sewing. I added the handle and when I went to close the zipper, even tho I had done this before, the zipper separated and now splits from end up. How can this be fixed without buying a new zipper and reinserting it? Thanks!
Answer Hi Kathy,
The zipper is salvageable, but it will take a little ripping at the base of the zipper, to get the slider back on its tracks. I'm going to quote an article I found on howstuffworks.com when the same thing happened to me a little while ago!
"If the slider is off the track on a metal zipper, carefully rip out the stitching around the lower ends of the zipper tapes. Pry off the metal stop at the bottom of the zipper, being careful not to tear the tapes. Remove the zipper foot entirely.
Guide the track tapes into the grooves of the slider, inserting them into the top and pushing them through the slider to the bottom; use a pin if necessary to work the track tapes through. Pull the tapes carefully so that the slider is evenly seated on the tracks.
When both tapes have been threaded through the slider, carefully pull the slider up until the locked track teeth appear at the bottom. Make sure the slider is evenly seated on the tracks, or the zipper won't close evenly at the top. Sew a new stop at the bottom of the tracks with needle and thread, and repair the stitching that holds the zipper in the garment."
