Neat and Tidy: How to Cover the Zipper End

By Julia Garza

Covering the ends of a zipper is a super quick way to instantly make your zipper look a bit more polished. I’m demonstrating the technique on a simple zippered pouch, but it’s easily adaptable to many situations, such as when you design your own handbag, clutch or even pockets. You can also only cover the bottom end of the zipper on garments, like a half-zip pullover. Basically, any time you don’t need the zipper to separate completely at the bottom, just add the tab at the bottom of the zipper before sewing it in place. It’s a straightforward process, but I always like to test out new techniques on something basic before going to town on something I really don’t want to mess up. Floral Clutch: Zipper with covered ends

Covered zipper end tutorial

To make the zippered pouch, you’ll need:

  • Two pieces of exterior fabric, 8 1/2″ by 6 1/2″
  • One piece of fabric to make the zipper tabs, 2” x 4” (I used the same fabric as I did for the exterior)
  • Two pieces of lining fabric, 8 1/2″ by 6 1/2″
  • One 7” zipper
  • Optional: interfacing (depending on the weight of your outer fabric, you might want to apply interfacing to give your pouch more structure; mine was pretty sturdy, so I skipped this step)

Directions:

Zipper on Gridded Surface

Step 1:

Trim the ends of the zipper tape back to the metal stoppers on either end. Two Floral Pattered Zipper Tabs

Step 2:

Fold the 2” by 4” piece of fabric in half lengthwise and press. Open it up and fold in one side to the center crease and press. Repeat for the other side. Fold again along the original center crease and press. Folded up, the piece should now measure 1/2” by 4”. Cut this in half so you have two tabs measuring 1/2” by 2”. Adding Zipper Tabs to Zipper: Covering Ends

Step 3:

Open up one of the tabs and tuck the end of the zipper inside. Topstitch close to the zipper edge. For the zipper pull end, you’ll need to slightly unzip the zipper. Make sure the two sides of the zipper are as close together as possible when topstitching the tab on. Trim away any excess fabric on the raw edges of the zipper tab so that the tab is flush with the side of the zipper tape. Pinned fabric on Gridded Surface

Step 4:

With one of your lining pieces right side up, center the zipper (also right side up) along the top edge. Place one piece of outer fabric right side down on top of the lining, with the zipper sandwiched in between.

Step 5:

With your zipper foot attachment, sew along the top edge with a 1/4” seam allowance. Installing Zipper into Fabric

Step 6:

Press the lining and the outer fabric away from the zipper. Topstitch the lining and the outer fabric together by sewing along the edge of the zipper with a 1/8” seam allowance.

Step 7:

Repeat Steps 4-6 with the other piece of lining and exterior fabric. Installing Zipper into Fabric: Top View of Fabric

Step 8:

Unzip the zipper about 1 ½”. Pin the lining pieces, right sides together. Pin the outer pieces, right sides together. Starting with the lining side, sew with a 1/2” seam allowance. Don’t forget to leave around a 2” gap for turning in the lining. When you reach the zipper tabs, sew as close as you can next to them without sewing through them. If you pull back the seam allowances of the lining, you should be able to see where the zipper tabs are.

Step 9:

Clip corners to reduce bulk and turn the pouch right side out through the gap left in the lining. Whip stitch the gap closed. Press. Finished Clutch: Zipper with covered ends It might go without saying, but the zipper tabs don’t need to match the exterior fabric of your garment or handbag. Use the covered zipper ends as an opportunity to add a bit of an accent. Scraps of leather or suede, or fabric in a contrasting color would work nicely, too. Love zipper pouches? Check out Giftable Projects: Zippered Bags & Purse Organizer with Svetlana Sotak.

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One Response to “Neat and Tidy: How to Cover the Zipper End”

  1. Catherine White

    This is a great idea. I will be using this in the future.