zipper repair

[xela]

I have a winter parka that last fit me six years ago, and now fits again. In the intervening years, I forgot that the other reason I quit wearing it was that the zipper is broken. I've already asked elsewhere for recommendations on a place to have it repaired; for my friends I have a different question:

How hard would this be to do myself? I haven't sewed in years, but I recently bought a cheap basic sewing machine, again, and might as well use it. But I seem to recall that zippers are much harder to get right than they look. And do me they look dead simple: cut out the old one just back of the teeth, sew the new one onto the remaining fabric of the old one with a couple runs of zig-zag, and you're set. I bet I'm wrong, and would rather not find out how wrong by experience....

Comments

Zipper

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

Opinion follows.
You can use that technique to get a functional zipper that will fasten your jacket. It will not look like original equipment, it may look like it was installed by a homeless person :) The trick with zippers is that they have to align exactly, and they are supposed to be set into the seams. Examine your parka closely: there is likely a seam into which the material is set on each side. This gives it a sort of flush-mount appearance, probably concealing the zipper under a flap on one side. If you are meaning to use the parka for runs to the basement to fix the boiler (seeing previous message) it won't matter; if you mean to wear it to employment interviews you probably want to spring for professional repair or replacement. Which may cost almost as much as a new jacket, depending. Or you might want to take the time to open the seam and completely uninstall the broken zipper, and replace it.
(/opinion)

Re: Zipper

[yakshaver.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm going to be outsourcing this job....