[Madnesscraves]

A friend of mine made this stunning skirt for DD, unfortunately, because my little DD has some fat thighs, they don't slide over well. But once I have it on her, it fits fine on the waist.

So I wanted to add a zipper. I've googled, but they all show me how to do a zipper before making the skirt. I want a blog/site that shows how to add a zipper to a skirt already made up.

Can anyone direct me to a good blog/site on this?

Thanks muchly!

MC

[YodaTheWrinkledO...]

A friend of mine made this stunning skirt for DD, unfortunately, because my little DD has some fat thighs, they don't slide over well. But once I have it on her, it fits fine on the waist.

So I wanted to add a zipper. I've googled, but they all show me how to do a zipper before making the skirt. I want a blog/site that shows how to add a zipper to a skirt already made up.

Can anyone direct me to a good blog/site on this?

Thanks muchly!

MC

Does the skirt have a waist band? Or just facing at the top?

I can't imagine it's too difficult to add a zipper if the skirt just has facing at the top and the seam (side or back) has been the last thing done. If that's the case, unpick seam to desired zipper length and add the zipper as per usual.

If a waist band has been added, you would need to take this off before adding the zipper.

[Madnesscraves]

THanks Yoda! (love the name)

its got a waist band in the front half and steams on the side of the skirt. I was hoping to put zipper on the back, but it probably makes sense to do it on the sides. It would likely be more discreet there.

[SarahM72]

What sort of waist band is on the skirt? Then perhaps someone can give you some more information.

But generally speaking a skirt without a zipper I would think would most probably be elasticised or with a draw string. This will be harder to put a zipper in. You would have to take out the elastic and gather the skirt to a waist band, put the zipper in then add a button or other fastener to the waist band. The waist band you would have to make. You could cut off the casing where the elastic was and use that.

But I can't imagine a skirt like the PP suggested, where it has facing at the top and no zipper. That would be strange. But if it was like that, then yes it would be reasonably easy to just add a zipper. Or just open up one seam a bit, then tack down both sides and add some sort of fastening to the top eg a hook and loop. That would give you enough leeway to get over the thighs without having to add a zip.

Or alternatively put the skirt on from over the head?

[SarahM72]

Just saw your next post OP. What sort of waist band? Surely it must be elasticised? Otherwise how is it staying up?

[Madnesscraves]

its got a tie/strap? attached to it to hold it up and the elastic band on the front half only. i tried going over the head but its too tight. it's a wool/tweed pleated skirt.

I'd add a pic, but I don't want her knowing I am making alternations to it. because it is truly lovely and it does fit, just not over my DD's upper thighs

This post has been edited by Madnesscraves: 25/02/2013, 02:51 PM

[SarahM72]

Well, you can't really put the zipper in at the back, unless there is already a seam in the back. Otherwise you will have to cut all the way down to the bottom and then sew it up again (adding another seam) to the point you want the zip to be put in. Otherwise the zip can't be sewn in. Then you will have to adjust the facing - cut in down the middle, turn under the edges and tack it to the zipper on the inside, so as it won't get caught in it.

As for putting it in the side, this may be tricky also, due to the elastic which is only going around the front. This will have to be re-sewn in far enough from the side in the front casing so that you have enough space to add the zipper. It may be better to put the zipper in so that it finishes at the point where the casing starts, then add two hooks and eyes.

This post has been edited by SarahM72: 25/02/2013, 03:48 PM

[SarahM72]

Also I just thought I would add that generally speaking when I make a skirt with a half band elastic casing and the other half with the panel all the way to the top (ie one half with no band, just with facing - which from your description sounds like what this skirt is, although I'm not sure), I intend for the half band elastic casing to be at the back, with the panel with facing to be at the front.

So just be sure before you start doing alterations that you have which is the front and which is the back clear. It would be dreadful if you did decide to cut down centre of what you thought was the back and put the zip in, and your friend then saw it and informed you it was the front! These things have been known to happen, lol.

This post has been edited by SarahM72: 25/02/2013, 03:37 PM

[YodaTheWrinkledO...]

its got a tie/strap? attached to it to hold it up and the elastic band on the front half only. i tried going over the head but its too tight. it's a wool/tweed pleated skirt.

I'd add a pic, but I don't want her knowing I am making alternations to it. because it is truly lovely and it does fit, just not over my DD's upper thighs

Normally the elasticised part of a waist band goes at the back (to essentially hide it from view when worn). Sounds like the other half of the 'waistband' is actually the front and uses ties to bring it in??

A pic would be really helpful

Agree that adding a zip in an existing side seam seems to be the best option but it really depends on how the waistband is done.