Thread: inserting zippers on caftans?

has anyone successfully inserted a zipper down the front of their caftan (doesn't have to be down the whole front)? I have a red one that is very near and dear to me but I don't wear it because it's a pull-on, therefore it would mess with my hair and makeup before performances. But I'm scared to cut anything and mess anything up.

sketches/pictures would be much appreciated for someone like me who has very limited sewing skills :)

I put one in the back of a galabeya so I wouldn't have to worry about messing up the decoration on the front. I cut a slit in the back a little shorter than my zipper. Then, I basted the back closed. I pressed the seam open, and I pinned the zipper in place and sewed it.

I know a dancer that avoids zippers due to the teeth snagging fringe and fluffy skirts. I have not had that problem but she prefers using the satin frogs to secure her caftans. Both decorative and practical. Securing them requires no more talent that sewing a button.

As soon as I entered my post I saw this link at the bottom of the page. Might be helpful.

http://www.bhuz.com/showthread.php/1...rting-A-Zipper

Not a zipper, because that's beyond my sewing abilities, but I did cut a coverup open down the front and sewed on three golden "frog" closures, like these: http://www.jkmribbon.com/Store/produ...4x3,844,82.htm Sorry, I don't have a pic handy, but I think it worked rather well, and it wasn't too difficult.

Originally Posted by ZanaRaqs

has anyone successfully inserted a zipper down the front of their caftan (doesn't have to be down the whole front)? I have a red one that is very near and dear to me but I don't wear it because it's a pull-on, therefore it would mess with my hair and makeup before performances. But I'm scared to cut anything and mess anything up.

sketches/pictures would be much appreciated for someone like me who has very limited sewing skills :)

If there is decorations which you want to keep intact, I would suggest a zipper down the back. If you are okay with losing some of the decoration, then put a slit down the front, stitch it back together to create a seam, and as said above, press seam open, sew in zipper and the open the seam back up. If you want, you can also put in a facing behind the zipper to keep it from catching on your costumes.

{{{HUGS}}}

fantastic suggestions everyone! thanks :)

I agree with the idea of opening it down the front, but I would caution you about using a zipper. Zippers can catch on the fabric of your costume, and the last thing you'd want before performing would be the stress of dealing with a stuck zipper that has a bit of your costume fabric clenched in its jaws.

I recommend either hook & eye, frog closures, tie closures, or buttons. I'd probably go with about 6 frog closures evenly spaced from top to bottom. They're easy to maneuver even when your fingers are slippery with perspiration.

frogs- or buttons

I try to avoid zippers- when they go bad- they are such a PITA to replace... just way easier to do buttons/zippers- or even lace up.

I put snaps down the back of mine. 4 big ones all where I can reach them myself to do and undo.

I actually cut it and hemmed it using iron hem tape (my mom calls it witchy stitchy) and then sewed in the snaps. It left the gorgeous front intact and doesn't mess up my hair or make-up.

I use anorak snaps. Easy to do, un-intrusive and very functional. Depending on the design, I use a color that is close to the cover-up, and then attach them "inside out", i.e. the big metal face that is usually seen on the outside where a button would be is put on the inside, and the thinner metal ring that would usually face the body is put on the outside. One can also easily spray-paint that ring before attaching it.

Originally Posted by ScarletDancer

using iron hem tape (my mom calls it witchy stitchy) and then sewed in the snaps. It left the gorgeous front intact and doesn't mess up my hair or make-up.

I have used iron-on hem tape and Stitch Witchery in lieu of some sewing projects. Great stuff, handy for applying bias tape along the cut lines on caftans. I have found when working in close areas that tweezers can be helpful in order touching the steam iron.

If the center front of your cover-up is decorative you can cut the front from neckline toward shoulder then straight down, much like many Asian garments.

Another option--I have a caftan with lots of beading and sequins on the front, too much to cut through. The caftan has very short sleeves, barely sleeves at all. So I cut open one shoulder seam and put in a couple of frogs along the opening. I do have to put it on over my head, but since the neck opening is now huge with the frogs undone, it doesn't touch my hair or face. To get out of it, I just undo the frogs and push the caftan down to step out of it. That's not particularly graceful or becoming, of course, but for situations where I know I'll be hanging out in my coverup for a while and want something fancy, it's nice to have this caftan as an option.

If you want a zipper, then you need a place to put it.
The easiest way to insert a zipper is on a seam. If you can run a seam down the center front of your caftan, that would probably be easiest and fastest ... as long as you finish the seams in some fashion so they don't ravel.

If you cannot run a center seam, then you'll need to do an 'exposed' insert by creating a slit in the front and putting the seam behind the opening. If it were me, I'd make a faced opening but you might want something simpler... take a look at this, scroll down to 'exposed application.' Then scroll down a bit more for instructions on how to decorate the opening.

Be sure to buy highest quality zipper.