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How to sew a fly front zipper

by Pauline Alice

Today, let’s learn how to sew a fly front zipper on your Port trousers. Sewing the zippers on trousers is often one of the most feared step but it really shouldn’t. With this step-by-step photo tutorial, you’ll see it’s actually quite easy!

 

1. These are the pieces you’ll need to install the zipper:
-Fronts x 2 in main fabric
-Fly facings x 1 in main fabric and interfacing (some patterns have the fly facing included in the front piece, like the Sorell trousers for example, and this tutorial is going to be easier to apply in this case).
-Fly shield x 1 in main fabric and interfacing
-Zipper 15 cm (6″) long (it can be longer as in this tutorial)

 

2. Finish the center front seam of the front pieces with serger or zigzag stitch. Repport your marks on the front pieces.

 

3. With right sides together, pin the front pieces together at the center front seam.
4. Stitch from the inseam to the dot mark with a 1,5 cm (5/8″) seam allowance.

 

5. Interface the fly facing piece.
6. Finish the curved seam.

 

7. Pin the fly facing to the left side front piece (when you wear the trousers) with right sides together.
8. Stitch together from the top edge to the dot mark with a 1,5 cm (5/8″) seam allowance.

 

9. Open the fly facing. Trim and press the seam allowances toward the front.
Place the zipper face down (with the teeth toward the fabric) over the zipper facing, with the zipper ribbon touching the front seam. The zipper end should arrive just above the dot mark.
10. Stitch the left side of the zipper ribbon to the fly facing. Turn the facing in and press lightly.

 

11. Interface the fly shield piece.
12. Fold it in half lengthwise and stitch the bottom edge with a 1,5 cm (5/8″) seam allowance.
13. Turn the fly shield inside out, press and finish the edge with a serger or zigzag stitch.

 

14. Press the right side front piece (when you wear the trousers) 0,5 cm (1/4″) toward the inside.
15. Baste or pin the zipper to the folded edge.
16. Baste or pin the fly shield to the zipper.
17. Stitch very close to the folded edge throught all layers (front, zipper and fly shield) from the top edge to the dot mark.

18. Pin the fly shield out of the way so that it won’t get caught when we sew the fly topstitch.

 

19. Close the zipper (but don’t cut it yet). Place the trousers front correctly and draw the topstitching line (you can use the front pattern piece or the fly facing as guide).
20. Stitch the fly topstitching throught both layers (front and fly facing).

 

21. Unpin the fly shield and place it over the zipper. Pin in place again.
22. Make bar tacks to reinforce the fly: one at the bottom of the topstitching line and one at the curve. This time make sure you stitch through the fly shield as well.

 

23. There you go, an easy way to insert a fly front zipper!
Tip: wait until you attach the waistband to cut the zipper!

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25 comments

Anonymous 8 February, 2018 - 7:16 pm

Thank you! This was really helpful

Reply
Anonymous 8 February, 2018 - 7:17 pm

Thank you! This was really helpful.

Reply
Alex Lucy 20 August, 2018 - 2:24 pm

This is pretty cool
Thanks a lot

Reply
Anonymous 3 July, 2019 - 5:18 am

Very helpful. Thanks!

Reply
Pauline Alice 10 July, 2019 - 10:19 am

Thank you!

Reply
Deborah Corbett 27 July, 2019 - 2:59 am

Thank you so much for this share. Just did my first ever. I was so lost before following these instructions. Thank you thank you.

Reply
Pauline Alice 30 July, 2019 - 10:26 am

🙂

Reply
Anonymous 18 August, 2019 - 4:19 am

This is the best tutorial on the Internet for this. I think I’ve seen every one. THANK YOU,!,

Reply
Pauline Alice 20 August, 2019 - 11:49 am

Thank you! 🙂

Reply
Grace 13 January, 2020 - 7:06 am

Oh thanks, that was helpful

Reply
Amanda 1 March, 2020 - 10:36 pm

Your tutorial was very clear and helpful! Having the pictures step by step made it all very easy. Much more clear than watching a YouTube video. Thank you!

Reply
Chetana 2 July, 2020 - 5:35 pm

Thank you so much!! Helped me a lot…missed a class in college but you got me covered! Thanks again♥️

Reply
Adeola 6 August, 2020 - 11:35 pm

Very detailed and helpful. Thanks alice

Reply
Anonymous 21 August, 2020 - 12:06 am

Thank you, I heard a better understanding

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Anonymous 27 October, 2020 - 6:05 pm

Thankyou thankyou I’d nearly given up!

Reply
Olamide 15 December, 2020 - 7:44 am

Thanks ,this was helpful

Reply
Anonymous 18 January, 2021 - 12:01 pm

Perfect

Reply
Williams destiny 1 May, 2021 - 10:53 am

awesome?

Reply
Anonymous 15 June, 2021 - 4:24 am

Thanks

Reply
Yemmie 20 September, 2021 - 10:36 pm

Very helpful. Thanks

Reply
Onojighofia Thomas 30 September, 2021 - 11:43 pm

Gratitude, it was awesome ND on point.
Good one.

Reply
Shulamite 28 October, 2021 - 5:43 pm

Tnx so much it really helped me alot to get out of the struggle of putting a zipper. Nigeria

Reply
Mercy Manda 1 November, 2021 - 9:45 am

Thank you. Its really very helpful

Reply
Frances 25 November, 2021 - 1:51 pm

Excellent instructions. I ignored the rather unclear information on my pattern and used these instead. Thank you!

Reply
Jeremiah 10 October, 2022 - 7:57 am

Thanks so much it really helped me alot to get out of the struggle
of putting a zipper. Nigeria

Reply

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