hump at bottom of invisible zipper

The last time I used an invisible zipper it came out with a fabric "hump" at the bottom. It was a (poly) wool, lightweight, bias cut skirt with lining (bias cut too). I thought I did everything right, but no matter how many times I tried it didn't work out just right. The only thing I didn't do was hand baste the zipper in while the skirt was on my body, because I can't and don't trust my mother or husband.

Could it be because of the curve of my waist to hips, which is pretty curvy, or could it be something that I did wrong? Every other time I used an invisible zip was down the side of the bodice or the back, never the side hip.

The skirt is gorgeous otherwise, I just wore a fancy belt slung over my hips to hid the hump. I made the skirt for my company christmas party.

I can put it on and take a pic if you don't understand what the problem is.

TIA!

Michelle Giordano

Reply to
Doug&Michelle
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Michelle, Did you sew the seam below the zipper before you started putting it in? I used to do mine that way, until I read Beverly's page where she shows how she does them. See if you can pull up Beverly's page, or wait a bit and she will post it for you because she is wonderful.

What she does is leave the seam open until after the invisible zipper is in. Then handsews the seam a little below the zipper then sews the rest of the seam. I was AMAZED the first time I did that. No hump. And I know just what hump you are talking about. No amount of fiddling or cussing will get rid of it. And you can't really predict when it will crop up either. Danged thing. Look at Beverly's page and even though it may mean ripping out that seam, give her way a try.

Sharon

---oozing with empathy!! I've seen that hump way too many times in the past!

Reply to
Sharon Hays

Aaawwww, Sharon, you make me blush! ;-)

Here's where I show my technique:

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on "photos" or just go straight to page 5:
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click on the thumb-nail for a better view.HTH,

Reply to
BEI Design

Yep, I always do it that way, since I never tried until after I saw her page! I think if I really want to salvage it I could shorten the zipper, I just realized that maybe its too long, its about 7". Hopefully that will work.......in two years or so when I finally do it I will post the results!

Thanks Sharon!

Michelle Giordano

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Reply to
Doug&Michelle

Michelle, I just re-read your original post. It sounds like you're getting some distortion caused by the bias, and maybe also the curve. Since bias fabric "shortens up" when under tension (up cane test that by sewing a bias seam a defined length, then pulling gently on both sides and see how much shorter it gets), it's possible you needed to lengthen the zipper *opening* or shorten the zipper or both. Just be sure you can still get the skirt on over your hips, though, if you decide to shorten the zipper. My first inclination would be to make the zipper opening longer...

HTH,

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Aaack, I haven't been drinking, honest! That should have been "...(you can test....) Danged spell checker, can't read my mind! Grumble....

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

I was just about to google up cane test.......whew, I thought my readers digest had failed me!

Michelle Giordano

Reply to
Doug&Michelle

Embarrassed VBG...

Reply to
BEI Design

LOL! I thought it was some wierd US slang that hasn't permeated over the pond yet!

Sally

Reply to
Sally Holmes

Nah, just fumbling fingers on the keyboard. I'm a terrible typist at the best of times, which that obviously wasn't...

Reply to
BEI Design

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