I'm such a junker at heart. I think it must have been imparted to me when I was growing up. I dreaded driving anywhere with my dad in the summer because those trips that should have taken 20 minutes, always ended up taking 2 hours with all the detours to follow garage sale signs around town.
Now, I'm often just.like.him.
One thing I usually see in abundance while junking/thrifting are zippers. And I snatch them up. You can't beat the price at 5 or 10 cents each, and most of the time they are new, still in the package.
And yes, they're usually odd lengths like this 22 incher. And that's perfectly fine with me since I can always cut it down to the size I need.
Here's how.
I have a project that needs an 8 inch zipper.
Zippers are measured from the top of the zipper pull when the zipper is closed, down to the little metal stopper at the end when the zipper is open.
I measured from the top of the zipper pull, down to eight inches, marked the zipper, and then used the bartack stitch on my sewing machine (see the blue, highlighted stitch #25?)
to tack the zipper on my marking. Then using a pair of craft scissors (not your good sewing scissors), cut the zipper about 1 inch below your new zipper stop. Don't be timid, this will work even if the zipper teeth are metal.
There it is, the perfect zipper color and size for my project.
Happy Wednesday to you!
~Penny
I still have zipper phobia. I need my zipper expert friend to come hold my hand one day and walk me through it. I have a cookie jar full of metal zippers in different colors and sizes that my mom gave me last summer. :o) They're just pretty to look at.
Posted by: Stephanie | 26 May 2010 at 05:06 AM
I have to agree with Stephanie here...zippers scare me!!!!
Posted by: jessica | 26 May 2010 at 05:53 AM
I just pulled out an orange zipper yesterday! What are you making with yours.
Posted by: amylouwho | 26 May 2010 at 06:31 AM
I am the same way! I have a huge jar of thrifted zippers and will be using this tutorial, thanks!
Posted by: erica | 26 May 2010 at 07:08 AM
That's a great tip - I do that all the time. It was awesome once I realized how easy it was to make the zipper any size I needed. Then I can just buy by color - a little long - and cut down for the perfect project.
Posted by: Angela | 26 May 2010 at 07:26 AM
Looking for the bar tacker on my machine. I'm sure it must be there! Thanks so much for this informatin!
Posted by: Live a Colorful Life | 26 May 2010 at 10:23 AM
What a good tip to pass along. My mom used to do this all the time and I forget not everyone knows how to do this stuff. Good for you to share it. Isn't it great to be like our parents!
Posted by: Nanette | 26 May 2010 at 10:51 AM
I have snagged a few zippers at the thrift store too. You can't beat the price!
Posted by: Mary | 26 May 2010 at 06:45 PM
Great idea! I ALWAYS buy zippers at garage sales, flea markets, the Goodwill etc. Now I just have to use them!
Any word if Flea Market Fancy is going to be printed again???
Hope you have a fabulous day!
Posted by: savvy stitch | 27 May 2010 at 06:49 AM
Just when I was getting the courage to pitch a bunch of zippers, I read your post. Maybe I should just organize them. Or maybe I should just mail them to you. :-)
Posted by: Suzanne | 27 May 2010 at 09:45 AM
Hmmmmmm. I really missed the boat when I moved. I never thought to hand over my old zippers. I'm not even sure what I did with them. It's so nice to see someone adventurous and using color to compliment projects instead of matching. I love that. It adds so much eye candy to things.
Posted by: Arlene | 27 May 2010 at 11:10 AM
I do that too - I love collecting zippers from garage sales and thrift shops! And yes, you can make them any length you need!
Posted by: Allie | 27 May 2010 at 09:00 PM
thanks for the tip!!
Posted by: jaybird | 29 May 2010 at 08:54 PM
I just used this! Thank you, Penny!
Posted by: Dayna | 02 June 2010 at 10:14 AM
I recently bought one of those bags of "assorted goodies" at a thrift store for $2.99 because I saw it was all zippers. Turned out to be 33 of them - all sizes and colours. Bonussssss!!!
Posted by: Nan Thomson | 03 June 2010 at 02:26 PM
Hi,
I love your blog. I too am a backpacker/hiker/ camper/kayaker/crafter. I have been spending a lot of money on zippers lately.. where else do you find zippers other than yard sales? thanks!!
~Crissy
Posted by: [email protected] | 25 October 2010 at 09:24 PM
how do I swe piping on a pillow?
Posted by: Amy | 26 August 2011 at 08:08 AM
This is also super easy to do by hand. I circle the zipper with my thread (double thread) like four or five times to be sure it will hold. Knot and you are done! I love making my zippers the size I need for the project and not the project to the zipper.
Posted by: Lyn | 19 September 2011 at 10:07 AM
I bought a beautiful denim skirt at a thrift store, but i didnt like the way the skirt flared out. It was a-line. I sewed 4 small seams, like darts,
evenly spaced around the bottom of the skirt. Then I took gold metal 7" zippers and sewed them in. When the zippers were closed the little gold pull tabs just hung down a litte below the hem line for a touch of glitz. I can not tell you how many compliments I have had on my skirt. To be a little bit of flirty, you can up zip them a bit too! Have fun!
Posted by: Waynne Carr | 09 June 2012 at 09:49 PM