Shortening Separating Zippers

From: Kay Lancaster

wrote:> Just wondering if anyone can tell me if you can shorten separating zippers? What happens if you simply lop them off or fold the excess into the seam allowance? Obviously the bottom has to stay the bottom, because that's where the business bits are...but can't you just use the top where you need it? *ponder*

Yes, you can shorten separating zippers, and yes, from the top. Are they tooth or coil zippers? If they're coil zippers, you can just fold the top over and catch it into the seam, but for the plastic or metal tooth zippers you're going to want to remove the extra teeth. Diagonal cutters work for the plastic teeth, and are the "approved" way, or you can cheat like I do and use toenail clippers. Metal teeth come off if you hang onto the zipper tape at the base of the tooth with a pair of needlenose pliers, while simultaneously pulling on the tip of the tooth with another pair of needlenoses. You'll also want to create top stops... either a big bartack, a commercial top stop, or a drop of 5 minute epoxy.