Add a Zipper Closure to Daryl’s Drive

My wonderful proof reader and pattern tester extraordinaire Norma of Norma’s Bag Boutique, added a zipper closure to her Daryl’s Drive. I thought that was so COOL and I know many of you just LOVE zipper closures above all else so I twisted her arm to get her to write a tutorial for you…..

OK….so I didn’t really twist her arm…..But nevertheless Norma has written a tutorial on how she did it so I am going to share that with you here! Thank you so much Norma! 🙂

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You are going to need a #5 zipper that’s 16″ (41cm) or longer. Don’t cut the excess until after installing the zipper. You can use a metal zipper end or prepare an end tab with fabric since the end of the zipper will remain unsewn with an overhang so that the bag will open wide.

After Finishing the Lining on page 26 c keep the lining right side in. Place the lining how you want it to be to open left to right. Make a mark on the top raw edge 1/4″ (6mm) from the Left Gusset seam on both front and back Body Lining Pieces. These will be the starting marks (S). Make two more marks on the edge 1″ (2.5cm) from the Right Gusset seam. These will be the end marks (E).
See Fig. 1

Now take your zipper and fold the open ends back and away from the beginning of the zipper teeth. Take a couple of stitches by hand to hold it in place.
See Fig. 2

Open the zipper completely. Place the wrong side of the zipper tape towards the right side of the lining and the zipper tape along the raw edge of the lining. Start pinning one open end to the Body Lining Piece on the left S point until you get to the E point.

Do the same to the other side of the zipper and Body Lining Piece. Be sure zipper is not twisted. Pull the zipper closed end down and away from the edge since it won’t be sewn to the lining. You can pin it temporarily out of the way a couple inches down from the top edge. Baste the two sides with a 1/8″ (3mm) seam allowance.
See pictures.

Follow the rest of the instructions on page 26 and on. Be sure that the zipper closed end remains out of the way of the top seams.

On page 27 g) stitch with a 1/4″ (6mm) seam allowance instead of full.

On page 29m also sew with a 1/4″ (6mm) seam allowance.

Continue with instructions always being careful and taking zipper end out of the way. When you finish the bag cut your zipper with at least 5-3/4″ of overhang if using a longer than 16″ zipper. Attach a metal zipper end or prepare a fabric tab for the zipper end.

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AWESOME & easy! Thank you Norma! 🙂

*Note: You will need your own copy of Daryl’s Drive for the instructions on how to make the rest of the bag! You can get that HERE!

Happy sewing!