Invisible zipper in corded pillow?

I recently used a regular foot for an invisible zip. I first unzipped, used a cool iron setting to open the coils, then installed it. I had to sew close to the coils, but not too close or it wouldn't zip up. Also, don't close it before its all in, because closing it folds up the coils. If you are not going to be unzipping it daily it should be ok. As for cording, I am not sure how to do that near any kind of zipper, I never tried it.

I honestly think I am going to get the proper foot because I love making clothes and like invisible zippers, it was sort of a pain, but there were none in my city and I didn't have time to wait for one. if you don't plan on using alot of them you could try the regular foot and see if its ok, you can always take it out.

HTH

Michelle Giordano

>

I just use the zip foot on these zips - works better than the special foot! I should just go for it! If you can't get the piped side of the zip as close to the teeth as you'd want for a posh frock, don't worry - no-one will see it anyway!

Michelle,

Thanks for confirming that a regular foot can work. I don't mind taking stuff out -- do it all the time : ) -- but the problem this time is there's only enough fabric to cut the backing one time. So whatever I decide, I'm stuck with doing a decent job that way.

A zipper with cording isn't hard. Just sew the first side next to the cording, right sides together, and make the lap on the backing. Here's a picture of one I did recently:

in Alabama

Bless you, Kate, I will go for it!

Doreen in Alabama

Michelle, I use my regular zipper foot all the time for inserting invisible zippers. I have two invisible zipper feet (?sp) and I find I can get closer to the teeth with my regular foot. Of course, I can move my needle over with my new sewing machine, which is something I couldn't do with the old one. Also, I don't iron the zipper first. I just unroll the coil with my fingers just in front of the foot. Works like a charm and goes in quickly.

Linda

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Replying to my own post with an update:

Thanks to all who offered suggestions. It may be that I was working under a deadline (well, don't we always, almost?!) but the invisible zipper just didn't go into the corded seam as neatly as I wanted. I ended up cobbling together three small scraps of the backing fabric to make a narrow strip so I could take the 'easy way' mentioned above, and that was better:

really was an easy solution. I would have been happier if the plaid matched in all directions, but honest to Pete, there was just barely enough fabric to do it at all. Oh, here's the pillow front in case anyone's curious (forgot to stuff some fiberfill in the corners before taking the photo): in Alabama

Doreen, the pillow front is really beautiful, so who is going to turn it over to examine the back. Honestly. Emily

Thank you, Emily.

Doreen

The back looks fine, and the front is beautiful, so who's gonna *look* at the back anyway? (Except yer mom! Mom's always look at the back... ) ;)

Thanks, Kate!

Not only did mine look, she made me take stuff out and do it over (and over) again. I'm grateful for that...I think. : )

It's always made me wonder. What is responsible for our attitudes and habits in sewing? Is it the person(s) who taught us, or our basic personality that makes us either a stitcher who embraces the 'galloping horse' theory or a one who obsesses over details?

I am not one to credit/blame my mother for everything, but being much more of a perfectionist about sewing than I am about other things, like, for instance housework, I think in my case at least it must be the former.

Doreen in Alabama

From my mother I get my impatience, but I have rebelled against her tidiness! I'm grateful for her engineering genes: through them I see the hows and the whys of a project. From my dad I get the artistic stuff and the perfectionist elements, and the vision to see the finished work. My opportunities were different from theirs, so my strengths in each area are different. Some of my best sewing habits are the organizational skills acquired as a teacher.