This is one of my all-time favorite DIYs. Because I should have titled this post "A DIY for short girls who like to wear skinny jeans." These heels (which I love) made a rare appearance for photos because I am normally in one of my 57 pairs of flats. And I hate when my jeans bunch up at the ankles. If your are 5'3" or under, I know you know what I'm talking about. Yes, you could get them tailored but isn't a zipper way more fun?
How to Add a Zipper to Your Jeans and Avoid Sewing
What you'll need:
- A pair of jeans (these are the ones I used)
- 2 5-inch zippers
- Fabric fuse tape
- Seam ripper
First lay out the zipper on the outside seam of the pants. The end of the zipper should be at the very bottom of the jeans. Then make a mark at the top end of the zipper so you know how far to rip the seam.
Then rip away! But don't get too carried away - as you get close to the mark check the fit of the zipper.
Apply the tape to both sides of the top of the zipper. One thing I learned is that you want to cut off the extra tape width if its wider than the zipper. So trim any overhang before you peel off the top white part.
Carefully attach the zipper with the tape to both pant legs.
If you accidentally rip the seams too high (like I did on one side) stick a bit more of the tape at the top of the zipper to hold it together.
I haven't washed my jeans because I'm one of those lazy people who washes jeans every other month or so. It's gross, I know. But I've worn them at least a dozen times and they've held up great.
Edit: It's now June and the zippers are still going strong. I've washed the jeans several times (regular washing & drying cycles), and the tape is holding up perfectly!
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