SERIES ON JANOME FEET PART 9: CONCEALED ZIPPER FOOT

Today’s bite of sewing goodness comes in the form of a little lesson on what some of us consider the scary side of sewing life… Zipper insertion! No running and hiding.  Give it a go.  You just might earn an apple for your efforts.

Using the Concealed Zipper foot

by Liz Thompson

Zippers can be like free motion quilting….they seem to strike fear into us! But like everything else……when you know how and have mastered the skill, you will wonder what was so scary about the thought of inserting an invisible zipper.

Invisible or concealed zippers are just that…..you can barely see where they are in a garment so they truly do conceal closures in skirts, dresses etc.

I made this skirt in a linen fabric with an ethnic/African print. I also made  a lovely mustard coloured knit top to wear with it…but that is for another day. I obviously wanted the zipper to blend in and not be seen.  See below.

The JANOME CONCEALED OR INVISIBLE ZIPPER FOOT Z makes the task of inserting the zipper SO much easier.

Tip#1: carefully press the coils on the invisible zipper open a little to make the sewing close to the coils much easier. Do take care as the zipper is nylon and could melt if the iron is too hot. You need to be careful you don’t burn your fingers either! Those silicone finger sheaths are a big help.

The concealed zipper foot has 2 grooves underneath. The coil is held open by the foot to make the sewing easy.

Here is a Janome video of how to use the concealed zipper foot.

1. Concealed zipper foot Z for 9mm machine models – Part# 859815002
2. Concealed zipper foot Z for 7mm machine models – Part #
3. There is also one for front loading Janome models – Part#941800000  
4. And one for the 1600P straight stitch machine – part #767410016     
   

   the first side of the zipper is attached, right side down, wrong side up.

   

   the concealed zipper foot in action sewing the second side of the zipper.

    

   

   The seam below the zipper is sewed closed AFTER the 2 sides of the zipper have been inserted. So side or center seams would need to be left open until then. It does help to hold the tails/ends of the zipper away from the seam allowance when you do this. It is also advisable to use a zipper at least 2-3 inches longer than the zipper opening as this makes the task very much easier. The excess amount of zipper may be cut away afterwards or just left inside the lining of the skirt or dress.
   A regular zipper foot is used for closing the rest of the seam so that the needle position can get as close to the previous stitching against the zipper coils so that the straight stitching is “seamless”.

   

   This invisible zipper is on a patch pocket