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This page offers a tutorial for a small travel size bag and
the installation of a zipper using glue.
For those who fear zippers. This is about as pain free as you
can get.
the installation of a zipper using glue.
For those who fear zippers. This is about as pain free as you
can get.
This is the FQ I selected for the
project.
project.
After some trimming, I ended up with
two matching pieces.
two matching pieces.
I folded each section upon itself,
carefully matching the ends, and cut
each section in half. This will give me
two bags approximately 10.5" by 7.5".
carefully matching the ends, and cut
each section in half. This will give me
two bags approximately 10.5" by 7.5".
I will be using a metal zipper (on the
top) and a polyester zipper (on the
bottom), The polyester zipper is
much easier to adjust or trim. For
metal zippers, you sometimes have to
use pliers to break the teeth apart.
top) and a polyester zipper (on the
bottom), The polyester zipper is
much easier to adjust or trim. For
metal zippers, you sometimes have to
use pliers to break the teeth apart.
Cut a piece of waxed paper slightly
larger that the fabric. Place it face
down in about the center of the
waxed paper.
larger that the fabric. Place it face
down in about the center of the
waxed paper.
First fold and press about ,5" hem in
your fabric. Then apply some ordinary
white washable glue to the wrong side
of the hem. It is best if you stay
away from the edge where you will be
sewing. You may find that your glue
does not remain in a nice straight line
and will sometimes almost shrink up
and form little balls as the extreme
right of the picture. That does not
matter and you are not doing anything
wrong. Just do whatever you have to
do to get a fairly continuous string of
glue from one end to the other.
your fabric. Then apply some ordinary
white washable glue to the wrong side
of the hem. It is best if you stay
away from the edge where you will be
sewing. You may find that your glue
does not remain in a nice straight line
and will sometimes almost shrink up
and form little balls as the extreme
right of the picture. That does not
matter and you are not doing anything
wrong. Just do whatever you have to
do to get a fairly continuous string of
glue from one end to the other.
Gently pick up the glued fabric and
place it on the zipper. NOTE that the
fabric should extend almost .5"
beyond the zipper stop. You can see
the zipper stop on the left side. The
stop should just barely show when the
side seams are sewn.
Position the fabric in a straight line
along the zipper exposing as much as
you'd like. Just make sure your
stitches will fall on the zipper. You
will be sewing very close to the edge.
Do the other side.
place it on the zipper. NOTE that the
fabric should extend almost .5"
beyond the zipper stop. You can see
the zipper stop on the left side. The
stop should just barely show when the
side seams are sewn.
Position the fabric in a straight line
along the zipper exposing as much as
you'd like. Just make sure your
stitches will fall on the zipper. You
will be sewing very close to the edge.
Do the other side.
Here you can see that I have done
both sides of both bags. The only
tricky part is to try not to move the
zipper while you are placing the
second fabric piece.
Now you just leave them alone and let
the glue dry.
both sides of both bags. The only
tricky part is to try not to move the
zipper while you are placing the
second fabric piece.
Now you just leave them alone and let
the glue dry.
After the glue is dry, I find it easier
to peel the waxed paper off the
fabric and zipper by turning it so the
waxed paper is on top. Be gentle.
to peel the waxed paper off the
fabric and zipper by turning it so the
waxed paper is on top. Be gentle.
Stitch very close to the edge of the
fabric.
fabric.
Stitch both sides of the zipper.
Trim both ends of the zipper even
with your fabric.
CAUTION - It is rather important to
slide the zipper tab well back
BEFORE making that cut.
If you have a pink edge blade for your
rotary cutter, it will help to prevent
raveling.
with your fabric.
CAUTION - It is rather important to
slide the zipper tab well back
BEFORE making that cut.
If you have a pink edge blade for your
rotary cutter, it will help to prevent
raveling.
With right sides together, stitch
about .5" seam allowance.
about .5" seam allowance.
I used a pressing stick to place in
between the top and bottom fabric to
press the seam open. You could also
finger press. You do not want to
press a crease in the edge and you do
not want to press onto the zipper.
Depending on the type of glue you
used, this could set the glue and you
will not be able to wash it out.
between the top and bottom fabric to
press the seam open. You could also
finger press. You do not want to
press a crease in the edge and you do
not want to press onto the zipper.
Depending on the type of glue you
used, this could set the glue and you
will not be able to wash it out.
Match the center of the zipper with
the seam and pin along that edge. Do
this on both sides.
Make sure that you did open the
zipper BEFORE you sew those side
seams.
the seam and pin along that edge. Do
this on both sides.
Make sure that you did open the
zipper BEFORE you sew those side
seams.
Now you've got both side seams sewn.
Press a hard crease into both top and
bottom folds of your fabric.
Press a hard crease into both top and
bottom folds of your fabric.
At a corner of the bag, line up the
crease with the side seam.
crease with the side seam.
Once you get things fairly close, you
can get it in perfect position by
making the final adjustment with your
fingers by feeling where the crease
and seam are meeting.
can get it in perfect position by
making the final adjustment with your
fingers by feeling where the crease
and seam are meeting.
Once you have lined up your crease
with your seam and formed a nice
corner, place a couple pins well back
from where you will be trimming and
sewing.
with your seam and formed a nice
corner, place a couple pins well back
from where you will be trimming and
sewing.
I find it easier to make a template
and tape it to the back side of a ruler
for doing repetitive cuts that you'd
like to be equal. I used a small ruler
with a diagonal line.
How much you cut off is entirely up to
you, You can pinch two corners of
your bag until you find the right
amount. As you can see, mine is about
2.5" across the cut area.
and tape it to the back side of a ruler
for doing repetitive cuts that you'd
like to be equal. I used a small ruler
with a diagonal line.
How much you cut off is entirely up to
you, You can pinch two corners of
your bag until you find the right
amount. As you can see, mine is about
2.5" across the cut area.
Place your ruler on a corner of your
bag lining up both edges and make
your cut along the edge of the ruler.
bag lining up both edges and make
your cut along the edge of the ruler.
One corner of the bag that has been
cut.
cut.
This is the unfolded corner that you
just cut off. If it is even on both
sides, you got it perfect. To be a tiny
bit off will not matter. If you are
very much off, your bag will not
square up right.
just cut off. If it is even on both
sides, you got it perfect. To be a tiny
bit off will not matter. If you are
very much off, your bag will not
square up right.
Now all four corners are sewn and you
can see how the metal zipper was cut
off. Turn the bag right sides out.
can see how the metal zipper was cut
off. Turn the bag right sides out.
Here are the two completed bags.
You can put tiny ribbons in the zipper
tabs to make cute pulls.
You can put tiny ribbons in the zipper
tabs to make cute pulls.
The bag is folded and DONE!!!
Top of the bag.
Here is a link to a pdf version of this tutorial.
PDF Version
PDF Version