Replies

1. 
   Phoebe3 | Jul 08, 2008 02:56pm | #1

   Sandra Betzina's "Power Sewing" has instructions for putting a side pocket zipper in slacks.

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   lindalouise | Jul 08, 2008 05:11pm | #2

   Thank you so much! I have that book but I can not find the pocket zipper. My book was published in 1985. Could you check, perhaps you are referring to a newer edition.

   Edited 7/8/2008 10:35 am ET by LindaLouise

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   woggy | Jul 09, 2008 03:58am | #3

   My edition is 2000 but I will tell you how to do it. It is a very simple application. This application is obviously for pants that have slash pockets:1. Cut 2 pieces of your fabric , each 6 inches by 14 inches. Put right sides together and machine baste the length of your zipper. Switch to the regular length at the end of the machine basting for the remainder of the fabric.2. Press the seams open. Place zipper over the open seam with the teeth of the zipper on the seam line. Stitch zipper to both sides of the seams and across the bottom.3. Per Sandra, the zipper pocket is to be placed on the left side of the pants. To do this, the zipper panel you just made must be faced down on your table with the zipper side facing you. Take your pattern piece, make sure the printing on the pattern is facing you, place this pattern over the zipper panel. The pattern needs to be placed so that the zipper is 1 inch away from the inside pocket edge of the side front. The pattern is placed in this position so as not to have the zipper show in your finished garment.4. Cut the zipper panel out.5. When I made pants with slash pockets, I applied the pocket facing first to the pants. I trimmed the seam, then folded the facing to the inside, gently pressed the seam (this seam is on a bias so you need to gently press so as to not stretch this area). Next I top stitched this seam about 1/4 inch from the seam. The zipper panel is now applied to the facing.***Make sure when you pin the zipper panel to the pocket facing that the zipper is facing the outside. Line it up with the side and the bottom. Don't worry if the pieces aren't identical in size. Sew down the side and bottom, trim if necessary. Stitch across the top of the zipper panel at the waist. 6. Sandra recommends you cut a long waistband - your waist measurement plus 6 inches. One edge lines up flush with the top of the left pocket (outside of the pants) and the other end of the waistband lines up with the inner edge of the pocket. Cut off excess.Take a look at fly front pants - one edge of the waistband lines up with the edge of the pants. The opposite end of the waistband ends up underneath this piece. The waistband that you see from the front has the button hole and the piece underneath has the button. Same principal for a zipper in pants pocket.A very clever idea was written by Karen Howland in an old Threads. She recommends that if you have a small waist and large hips to put a zipper in each pocket - this will open up the waist area enough to slide the pants over large hips.If you need to see this demo by Sandra, get her newer edition of "Power Sewing" from the library and it is on page 67 under the pants section.Good luck.

1. 
   sewslow67 | Jul 09, 2008 04:11am | #4

   I was writing a response too, but after reading yours I deleted mine.  Great directions; she won't have any problem following yours.  ;-)

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   woggy | Jul 09, 2008 02:47pm | #5

   Thank you. I know this has been discussed on this board, but sometimes I find it very frustrating when someone responds to a question and it doesn't make sense! I really thought about these directions last night and took my time writing them. I have a processing disorder so I can't write a sentence without reviewing it a few times - words don't come out of my fingertips correctly - my eyes/brain sees what I think I want to write but a different word appears! Very frustrating at times but I have survived so far.

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   lindalouise | Jul 09, 2008 06:47pm | #6

   Thank you so much for your kindness & detailed explanation, I very much appreciate it. I will print them as well as your suggestion to look at the new book.The pair of slacks I have this application in were purchased in the higher end department of Nordstroms.

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   DONNAKAYE | Jul 13, 2008 04:48pm | #7

   Believe it or not, Coats & Clarks zippers in the little white package have excellent instructions for both center and side application zippers.  If you can't find one that has the instructions enclosed, I will photocopy one from my class materials and forward it to you.....