Learn to install a sturdy, low-profile zipper with the help of a blind-hem stitch.

Although invisible zippers are hidden closures that keep garments looking neat, clean, and unfussy, they’re not strong enough to work in all instances. A standard zipper with a centered or lapped installation is stronger and preferable for heavy garments, those with bulky layers, or those that have a snug fit.

Luckily, there is a way to install a standard zipper in a centered opening with barely visible stitching lines, so you can maintain the invisible-zipper effect with the benefit of a sturdy closure. The key is to use a blind-hem stitch, and here’s how to do it.

The PDF article (click below) is from Threads #184 (April/May 2016).