Zipper installation... hem or not?

[cjtinkle]

I'm getting ready to install the quick zip zippers on my leaders, top and takeup rollers, still waiting on a replacement leader for the backing fabric from APQS.

Do most of you hem your leaders prior to installing the zippers? Why or why not?

[DoryJM]

I hemmed mine so that I would have a straight line for installation. I have a doc that explains what I do...if I can find it, I'll post it here.

[Quilting Heidi]

I didn't the first time I did them but later did. My reason was because my leaders weren't quite square so I pinned the leaders together and ran a line of stitching on each leader. I folded the leader back on that line and stitched. Now my leaders were square. Then I attached my zippers.

[cjtinkle]

I've got Darlene Epp's doc in front of me if that's the one you're referring to, that is what made me post the question, as the directions with the quick zip don't do that.

She also pins the zippers completely on prior to stitching, did you all find this necessary?

Oh...another question. In the future, should I have to square up my leaders again (Thanks Heidi, I'm going to do this now) would I have to remove the zippers and start all over again?

[Quilting Heidi]

CJ,

Leaders can get wonky but once you do it the first time it should last for a long time. Periodically I zip my leaders together, roll back and forth to stretch them back out and that has worked for me so far.

[cjtinkle]

Thanks for the tips! I'm off to square them up before I start putting the zippers on

[kennan100]

Heidi, when you zip them together do you spray them damp with water first, before you roll them back and forth? I think someone has mentioned doing this, Sheri Butler, Joann Hoffman, uuuuhhh, maybe Karon our Ouiltaholic? Whoever it was zips them together, sprays them damp, tightens them up and rolls back and forth. Then they leave them zipped while they dry.

[cjtinkle]

No no no no no don't get them wet! That is why I am replacing mine! You would not BELIEVE how much they shrink! I spritzed mine with spray starch, and it made them totally wonky!

Then I thought I could wash them and at least they'd shrink evenly... They shrunk up nearly 18 inches!!!!!

[meg]

WOW! i guess i will have to be MOST CAREFUL not to get my leaders wet. 18 inches! i had read that you can spritz them to square them up too. i would have tried it! thanks for sharing that one, cj.

[cjtinkle]

Well Sharon Schambers recommends it on one of her videos, I figured it was safe to do... maybe if you've already washed your leaders and are working with preshrunk canvas!

[Nadia Wilson]

I believe it was TinaCollins (username) who posted excellent instructions for squaring up leaders on this forum long ago....I cannot remember if she gave instructions for installing zippers. Try searching her name for info too.

When I installed my zippers, I did not pin, but I did hem them.

[Zora]

Where do you get the directions for installing these Quick Zip zipper systems. A friend has a set, no instructions, and no internet access. Is there somewhere you can go to print out a set of instructions? I told her I'd look.

[cjtinkle]

Instructions came with mine, and I don't remember where I downloaded Darlene's additional instructions, but I'd be happy to email them to you Zora.

[marycontrary]

It took me a long time to actually get around to attaching my zippers. I read everything I could find and still was a little confused. Eventually I kinda came up with my own solution after seeing Pam Clarke's zippers in her "Pin Basting for the Longarm" DVD.

First, I hemmed the machine leaders to square them up and provide a better edge -- mine seemed a little stretchy and wonky even though I was working with a selvage edge. Then I made six separate small leaders (about 6 inches wide and the length of the zippers) out of a decorator weight fabric in a ticking pattern with the stripes running the full length. Fabric was inexpensive from Walmart, about 3 1/2 to 4 yards. These striped leaders are the same length as the zippers and were centered and marked. Sewed one of these small leaders to each of the 6 zipper halves (3 for the machine set and 3 for the quilt set), using my domestic machine. Then, instead of sewing three small zip leaders to the three machine leaders, I used 2" safety pins and pinned them permanently onto the 3 hemmed machine leader edges. I could have sewed them on with the longarm, but just didn't want to fiddle with it. Sew or pin, I feel like the small leaders made it easier to attach than trying to sew or pin the zipper itself to the machine leaders. I also used a sharpie to carefully mark the three small quilt set leaders as to which one went where and even marked off inch marks across each one, which makes it easier to center up the quilt.

Now, instead of pinning directly to the quilt set of zippers, I have this extra 6 inches or so of fabric with straight horizontal lines to pin to. I've only had them on for a couple weeks, have done a couple quilts and so far it's working great.

[cjtinkle]

That sounds like an excellent idea Mary!

I did get mine installed yesterday, my final replacement leader arrived in the mail yesterday so I was able to do all three of them. I have felt so deprived for the last couple of weeks with no longarm!

[MarieBrewer]

I also did exactly as Mary did for the installation of my zippers. When I attach my zippers to the top and backing I have an old Singer chain stitch machine that I attach them with. Pins and I do not get along. I am a bloody mess and am hurting by the time I get a quilt pinned to the leaders. I have a new set of leaders for the rollers but I have yet to get them on. It's only been a year. Fabric needs to age appropriately ya know.