How to Make Things With Zippers

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Things You'll Need

  • 36 inch zipper or longer

  • Scissors

  • Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

  • Felt scraps

  • Brooch or hair clip fastener (optional)

  • Wide, plastic headband (optional)

  • Needle and thread

  • Measuring tape

  • Velcro

  • Fabric rosette (optional)

Turn a pile of zippers into flowers, hair accessories, necklaces or a decorative brooch.

Anyone with a plain, ordinary zipper in their sewing basket can create fun, funky crafts. In addition to being a closing mechanism for clothes, zippers make interesting flowers, headbands and even choker-style necklaces. Zipper crafts require few tools, as the zipper is the main attraction. According to the craft experts at MarthaStewart.com, a 36-inch zipper works best and will make two zipper flowers. With some creativity, hot glue and an open mind, turn old zippers into fresh, creative hair accessories and jewelry. These simple zipper accessories make an excellent mother-daughter craft projects and gift ideas.

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Making a Zipper Flower

Step 1

Cut the zipper stop and plastic reinforcements from the ends of the zipper. Open the zipper to divide it in half. Place a small amount of hot glue on the end and fold the open end in toward the teeth to secure the end from fraying.

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Step 2

Roll the end of the zipper up to form a tight coil which serves as the center of the flower. Use about a quarter of the zipper's length to make the coiled center. Finish the coil by putting hot glue on the back to keep it tight.

Step 3

Loop the zipper in a perpendicular motion to the coiled center. Secure this petal to the coil with hot glue. Form the remaining petals by twisting the zipper in a figure eight motion and fastening the petals with hot glue. Repeat this process with the second half of the zipper to create a second zipper flower.

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Step 4

Make a zipper flower brooch or hair clip by sewing a small, heart-shaped piece of felt to the brooch or hair clip fastener. Glue the back of the zipper flower to the piece of felt with hot glue and allow the zipper craft to dry before wearing.

Step 5

Attach a zipper flower to a wide, plastic headband to create a cute hair accessory, recommends the Craftster website.

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Making a Zipper Choker Necklace

Step 1

Measure the circumference of your neck using a flexible measuring tape. Add 2 inches to this measurement and purchase a zipper of that length. Purchase several zippers that add up to the appropriate length if necessary.

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Step 2

Sew the cut pieces of zipper together to form a length equal to your neck measurement plus 2 inches.

Step 3

Sew a 2 inch strip of Velcro to one end of the zipper. Sew the opposite side of the Velcro to the opposite end of the zipper, to make the chocker's closing mechanism.

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Step 4

Test the zipper choker to make sure it fits and closes properly. Make any necessary adjustments.

Step 5

Attach a fabric rosette to the choker using hot glue, to create a gothic style choker. Of course, this step is completely optional and you may choose to leave your choker plain or adorn it with other items. Allow the hot glue to dry completely before trying the zipper choker on for size.

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