February 16, 2020

How to Shorten a Zipper

Shorten a zipper to the exact length you need for your sewing project with this easy tutorial.

Sometimes a sewing project requires a zipper length that you may not have on hand. I recently made a zipper pouch and I wanted to use a 10 inch zipper but all I had in my zipper stash was 12 inches so I needed to shorten the zipper in order for it to fit my sewing project. Shortening a zipper is a super quick and easy sewing project.

You can apply this method to any size zipper once you know how to do it.

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Here are the instructions on how to shorten a zipper:

Supplies needed:

Zipper – my favorite zipper shop – Zipit Zippers
Clear ruler or cutting mat (something to measure length of your zipper)
Marking pencil
Sewing scissors
Sewing needle
Matching thread
Sewing machine (optional)

Measure your zipper

To find out how long your zipper is, use your clear ruler or lay the zipper on your cutting mat. Measure from metal to metal, the top of the zipper stop to the bottom of the zipper stop, and that is the length of your zipper. See above picture.

Draw a line

Decide how long your zipper needs to be and use your marking pencil to draw a line on the zipper tape as shown in above picture. (My pencil is blue which makes the marks a little hard to see) I needed my zipper to be two inches shorter.

You are going to create a new thread stop to replace the bottom metal stop.

Sew with needle and thread

Thread your hand sewing needle with matching thread.

Starting with underneath the zipper, insert the sewing needle on one side of the zipper teeth where you made the mark. Be as close to the zipper teeth as possible.

Insert the needle on the other side of the zipper teeth and pull through. Go back and forth several times. You can also use your sewing machine to sew across the teeth, going back and forth a couple times.