Menu
MN2209 Harper / Sewalongs

Harper Sewalong // How to sew the zipper and center seams

How to sew the zipper of the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Hey everyone! The zipper is up next in our Harper shorts and skort construction. This pattern calls for an invisible zipper, but if you would like to use a different zipper installation (in the center back seam), you can. I think an exposed metal jeans zipper would be pretty cool, too!

And while we are at it, we will also finish the rest of the center back seam. And the center front seam, as well! Ok, let’s go…

Zipper + Center Back

How to sew the zipper of the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen Patterns Here’s a tip for installing an invisible zipper – before you get started, sew a line of basting stitches 5/8″ from the edge of the center back. On both back fabric pieces.

How to sew the zipper of the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen Patterns Open your invisible zipper and lay down upside down. Iron out each side so the coils are laying flat and not curled up. Make sure to turn your iron’s heat setting down so you don’t melt your plastic zipper. 

How to sew the zipper of the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen PatternsHow to sew the zipper of the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen Patterns Place one of your back fabric pieces down in front of your with right side up. Place your zipper down, face down, so that the zipper teeth are facing away from the raw edge and are lined up on top of your basting stitch line.

The top of the zipper teeth should be about 3/4″ down from the waistline.

Pin in place.

How to sew the zipper of the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen Patterns How to sew the zipper of the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen Patterns Using either an invisible zipper foot or regular zipper foot (you can use either, really!), sewalong the zipper tape close to the coil. Stop when your machine foot hits the zipper slider at the bottom.

How to sew the zipper of the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen Patterns Repeat for the other side. Lay the other back fabric piece right side up. Place the zipper down, face down, onto the right side of the fabric, lining up the coils on the basting stitches. Again, the top of the zipper teeth should be 3/4″ from the waistline. Pin.

How to sew the zipper of the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen Patterns Sew in place with your zipper foot, just like with the first side. Stopping at the slider at the bottom.

How to sew the zipper of the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen PatternsClose the zipper. With right sides of the fabric together, line up the rest of the center back/crotch seam.

How to sew the zipper of the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen Patterns Stitch the rest of the seam in place 5/8″ from the raw edge.

Note – your crotch seam stitching may not line up with the zipper stitching. There may even be a small gap. That’s totally ok! 

How to sew the zipper of the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen Patterns Clip into the curve of the seam, being careful not to cut through the stitches. Press the seam open.

How to sew the zipper of the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen Patterns Now your center back is done!

Center Front

How to sew the center front seam of the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen Patterns Now move on to the center front. With right sides together, match up the center front edges of your two front fabric pieces and pin in place.

How to sew the center front seam of the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen Patterns Stitch in place 5/8″ from the raw edge.

How to sew the center front seam of the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen Patterns Clip into the seam at the curve, being careful not to cut through the stitches.

How to sew the center front seam of the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen PatternsPress the seam open or to the side.

Because this pattern is lined, it isn’t necessary to finish the raw edge of the seam, because it will be hidden by the lining. But if you’d like to finish the edge, you can do it now.

Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen Patterns

// LOOKING FOR MORE HARPER POSTS? //

Here’s the full list of Harper posts and tutorials:

order the Harper shorts and skort by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Don’t have the Harper sewing pattern yet?! Order Harper today! We absolutely love seeing what you make, so don’t forget to tag your creations with #MNharper and @megannielsenpatterns when sharing on social media, and check out what everyone else is up to!

About Author

Holly writes part time for the Megan Nielsen blog– sewing like crazy, creating tutorials and sewalongs. She has been sewing since she was a little girl, and has her degree in apparel design. Now she’s a stay at home mama, and spends all her free nap times at her sewing machine.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments