How to Replace a Handbag Zipper

A broken zipper need not make a handbag useless. The old zipper can usually be removed and a new one sewn in with basic sewing skills.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Stitch unpicker
• A new zipper
• Sewing machine with zipper foot attached
• Thread
• Pins

Replacing a Handbag Zipper

1. Turn your handbag inside out, exposing the back of the broken zipper. Examine the zipper's position and the seaming, as you will want to replicate it with the new zipper.

2. Unpick the stitches holding the old zipper in place, remove the old zipper and the threads. If possible without damaging the bag, press or steam the seams, retaining the folds in the fabric.

3. Turn the handbag the right way out again, and from the outside, pin each side of the new zipper under the folded seams that you just unpicked. You will have to open the zipper at some point to reach inside the handbag, but keep it zipped up for as long as you can.

4. With the zipper open, take the handbag to your sewing machine. Depending on the handbag's design and flexibility, you may have to manipulate it into position to be able to machine-sew the zipper in. You will be sewing from the outside of the bag with the zipper inside.

5. Starting at the bottom end of one side of the zipper, top-stitch close to the edges of the bag, following the line of the unpicked stitches if you can still see them. Back-stitch at the beginning and end of the seams

6. Repeat this for the other side of the zipper.

Tips & Warnings

• Some fabrics and styles of handbag will be impossible to machine-stitch successfully. You will either have to have the zipper replaced professionally or hand- sew it in. If pins distort the fabric too much, hand baste the zipper in place before machine- sewing. A zipper that is too long can be shortened by sewing across the coil where you want the zipper stop to be and trimming the excess.