# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
I'll be the first to admit that invisible zippers have been the bane of my life for a long while now. Having taught myself to sew, I was never showed how to insert a zipper, invisible or otherwise, so my first attempts were blind stabs in the dark. Hell, I didn't even have an invisible zipper foot! Needless to say, I ruined many a zipper and many a garment; and my sewing machine barely walked away with its life.

Now that I have tamed the snake and realised how straighforward this technique can be, I thought I'd put together the definitive tutorial on invisible zipper insertion - for your sewing pleasure, and my point of reference if I ever feel daunted again!
You will need:

an invisible zipper

garment needing zipper (completely open at seam where you will be inserting the zip)

pins

an invisible zipper foot

a regular foot/standard zipper foot

matching thread

a sewing machine

Step 1
Open your zipper as far as it will go. You'll want to gently press the zipper teeth away from the tape to make it easier to stitch. Make sure you set your iron on a low heat, or else you'll end up melting the plastic zipper teeth (been there, done that, bought the t-shirt!).
Step 2
With the right side facing down, place the righthand side of the tape down the lefthand open edge of your fabric (right side facing you) and pin into place.
Step 3
Attach the invisible zipper foot to your sewing machine. Starting from the top, position the raised zipper teeth in the lefthand tunnel of the foot, so that you are stitching to the right of the teeth. Remember to backstitch at the beginning and end of every line you sew!
Step 4
Stitch until the foot meets the zipper pull which should still be all the way down. Backstitch.
Step 5
Gently press the fabric back to reveal the side you have just stitched. Halfway there!
Step 6
Take the lefthand side of fabric and flip it over so it is lying face down on the righthand side of fabric. Now just as you did before, position and pin the loose zipper tape in place down the righthand egde.
Step 7
Now position the teeth in the righthand tunnel of your zipper foot and stitch down the length of the zip as you did before, stopping when you can't go any further.
Step 8
Press.
Step 9
Your invisible zipper is done! Zip it up to the top and admire your work. Now all that's left to do is close the seam. With right sides together (and the zipper closed), pin your seam as usual. Starting about half a centimetre back from where the line of zipper stitching ends (which will be a bit fiddly as the bulk of the zipper gets in the way - if you have a regular zipper foot like the one shown in the photo, use that), sew your seam down to the bottom of the garment. Press open.

All done! Now tell me that wasn't a breeze...!

x Elisalex

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Inserting an invisible zipper: the definitive tutorial

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I'll be the first to admit that invisible zippers have been the bane of my life for a long while now. Having taught myself to sew, I was never showed how to insert a zipper, invisible or otherwise, so my first attempts were blind stabs in the dark.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If you're looking to get into digital printing on fabric, then you've found the right fabric printing company. We print your order on demand. Browse our extensive range of fabrics including cotton, Lycra, jersey, real silk, polys, and plenty more. Whether you're sewing a new dress or upholstering a chair, you can find the right fabric for your project.

Need some textiles for your business? Start fabric printing for wholesale now. Our range includes standard options such as jerseys to upscale silks and leathers. We also offer specialist options such as organic fabric, OEKO-TEX certified fabrics, and vegan leather. Every material is printed using eco-friendly inks that won't harm you or the planet.

A Fabric for Every Project

Natural and Organic Fabrics

You can be mindful in your fabric choices with our range of natural and organic fabrics. These natural fibres are derived from the planet rather than synthetic manufactured, so you can create with a clean conscience. Many of our natural and organic fabrics are also biodegradable, so they won't create unnecessary waste. These field-to-loom fabrics are available with a downloadable certificate that signifies their organic origins. Keep your eye out for a green stamp to help you identify these fabrics.

Luxury Fabrics

Among our fabric selection, you'll find premium silks and high-end cottons for your most extravagant projects.

Our fine silks are available in different weights with various properties and blends so that you can find the ideal silky fabric. Silk is renowned for its skin-loving properties, as it is non-irritating and non-abrasive, and leaves the skin full of moisture. Use our silks for sleepwear, bedding, lingerie, and other close-to-skin garments.

Cotton is a go-to fabric with an endless list of uses, from bandanas to jeans and even waterproof tablecloths. Whether you need a stiff cotton that holds its shape or a cotton that helps you dry off after a bath, you can find it for digital fabric printing right here.

Athleisure Fabrics

With so many lifestyle or athletic activities, you need a full range of fabrics that can accommodate an active wear. We have an abundance of Lycra fabrics that are all designed to stretch and move with you. These body-hugging fabrics come in a variety of weights and textures, because the feel is just as important as the look. For when you need a fabric that cools you down, our airflow and net custom printed fabrics will carry you through those heated activities.

Versatile Jersey Fabrics

For everyday use and apparel, jersey fabric is unbeatable - that's why we have so many jersey options. It's soft, stretchy, and wears like a dream. We use jersey fabric for all our t-shirts and so many more Contrado specialty garments, and with the ability to print your own custom fabric, you can too.

How it Works

Design your own fabric in just a few minutes. Once you've found the perfect fabric, this is your chance to customise it with photos, patterns, art, and more.

Your designs are in safe hands as our technicians have lots of experience with custom fabric printing, ensuring every piece is top quality. We use industry-leading sublimation, pigment, and reactive printing methods to bond the inks to the fibres of the fabric. This always retains the original handle and feel of the fabric, and the resulting print is brilliant in full colour.

Our fabric printers print all week long, so you're able to print your own custom fabric in just 1 to 2 days, with no minimum order amount. Specify the exact dimensions you need for your fabric and order as much or as little as you need.

Accessories and Discounts

With 113 fabrics to choose from, it might be difficult to decide which materials are right for you. See and feel every fabric with our swatch packs, which have a sample of each material featuring the same design so that you can compare the difference before you make your final order. Or, if you think you have the right fabric picked out but just want to make sure, order a digital fabric printing sample of your design to see how it will look on the fabric. These test prints will help you make sure you're fully confident in your order before you commit. With our swatch packs and sample prints, you'll get a £10 voucher for your fabric order.

Create swing tags, fabric labels, and sublimation transfer paper to give your DIY projects an extra-special touch or wow your customers. There's no limit to what you can personalise and create!

For larger orders, we offer quantity discounts and wholesale discounts so that you can get the best deal on wholesale fabric printing. Students can sign up with a student account to get 40% off all our fabric printing services.

Let us do the hard work so that you can focus purely on design. We are here to make everything as smooth as possible so that getting your hands on bespoke custom printed fabric is easy.

Our Earthly Promise

We want our digital fabric printing service to be as planet friendly as possible. We only create exactly what you order, which limits our waste and minimises environmental impact so that we can produce every order sustainably. To help reduce landfill waste, offcuts are collected and donated to local DIYers for them to reuse.

Since we work out of one regulated facility, this cuts unnecessary transportation and allows us to work with the water board to ensure ink waste is properly disposed of. As we add new fabrics to our collection, we're keeping this promise in mind and sourcing more fabrics made from post-consumer poly and natural fibres.

Fabric Designed by Artists

Maybe you need a funky fabric but can't exactly decide on the perfect pattern. That's where our Contrado Creatives come in. These artists have designed their favourite fabrics with their favourite designs so that you can shop for a ready-to-print fabric that catches your eye. These purchases also support independent artists so that they can continue to do what they love, just like you!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Fabric Printing UK. Design Your Own Custom Printed Fabric

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Digital fabric printing. Range of 130+ textiles to print on. Design your own fabric, no minimum. 100% Cotton, Silk, Jersey, Lycra, more. 24 - 48hr UK made.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Printing T-Shirts with a Manhole Cover - Berlin

# data[].attributes.body
Other methods of printing fabric:
Block Printing
Screen Printing
Digital Printing

Review Our Progress
Critique and advice

The Design Cycle
Planning - Plan your next 2 sessions
We are currently on week 7 - the majority of work on your project should be completed by the end of week 8 so we can use week 9 to fine tune and review.''

Inserting an invisible
Demonstration

# data[].attributes.body
Free Soft Furnishings patterns

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Amazon.co.uk: soft furnishing pattern: Books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Online shopping from a great selection at Books Store.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Let our inspiring choice of sewing patterns set you on your way to creating your perfect craft or home project plus we've Dog Clothes patterns, Christmas...

# data[].attributes.body
William Morris said "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

# data[].attributes.body
This week we will look at:
Planning our project
The design process
Patterns

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
22/01/08 This is my Design Cycle. I used Microsoft word 2007 to make it as well as Smart Art. It was very easy to make it. Ms. Dietrich hel...

# data[].attributes.body
Have a comprehensive plan and pattern for your project

To have started cutting out

# data[].attributes.body
Start with actual measurements

Think of a plan

Add 1.5cm seam allowance where you join pieces

Add more if needed.

# data[].attributes.body
This week we will look at:
Recap of skills
Planning our project
Inserting a zip into a cushion
Pattern Cutting and seam allowance
Fabric printing opportunity

Recap our skills

Lino Cutting and printing – we will print fabric today

Applique – use of bondaweb

Freemotion embroidery using the darning foot

Soft furnishing sewing – including zips

By the end of the session it would be great if we all had a pattern (if needed) and had started the making process.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Make Cushion Covers With Zip Video

# data[].attributes.body
It's time to start thinking about your main project...
This should combine at least 2 of the skills we are working on in class.

Block printing

Free motion embroidery

Applique

Sewing

Start by considering the product you would like to make:Cushion cover, box cushion, bean bag. Tote bag, messenger bag, shopper, beach bag. Then consider how you are going to embellish it.
Take photos, grab images, sketch ideas.

We will have a tutorial next week to discuss your ideas and plan your patterns.

# data[].attributes.body
I found this blog by doing a google image search for "inserting a zip" :

# data[].attributes.body
House of Jo writes a great blog - use the search to find zips

# data[].attributes.body
This week we will look at:
Inserting a zip - there are loads of ways of inserting zips and different types of zips.
Have a go at making a pencil case
Try fabric printing repeat patterns
Begin our assessment portfolios

Google image search and blogs-
a great starting point to lead you into other WWW content. If you get chance this session use the tablets to have a go.

# data[].attributes.body
You can find lots of great images for inspiration on Google. Try going to google, type "free motion embroidery" in the search. Then click the images tab to limit the results to images.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Free motion embroidery, a simple project for a beginner.

# data[].attributes.body
This week we will look at:
Free motion embroidery - you will need a darning foot on your machine. Set the stitch length to the smallest size and get drawing with thread.
Applique - I use bondaweb to stick my layers of fabric together. It's a sheet of heat activated glue and you can buy it from Boyes by the meter.

Mobile phone photography - you always have your phone on you so why not use it to collect inspiration for your work. Don't forget to get a screen grab on your phone press the start and home buttons at the same time.

# data[].attributes.headline
Rebecca's Pinterest board for lino print

# data[].attributes.subject
Rebecca's Pinterest board for lino print

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Explore Rebecca Riley's board "P R I N T" on Pinterest. | See more ideas about Printmaking, Linocut prints and Woodblock print.

# data[].attributes.body
This week we will look at:
Drawing - try getting a book and doing one small sketch a day - you'll soon improve and it's great fun.
Lino cutting techniques - check out the video clips below to see 3 different techniques.

Pinterest - It's an on-line scrap booking tool. It's addictive! but a great resource for inspiration and techniques. There's a link to the right. Make an account (it's free) and get pinning.

# data[].attributes.body
Create an account here

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover recipes, home ideas, style inspiration and other ideas to try.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
BLOCK PRINTING - LINOCUT FLORALS | TIPS AND TRICKS

# data[].attributes.body
Double click to enlarge