Bag-Making Zippers 101: How to Use Calico Zippers by Lori Holt
Zippers are the closure that turns flat pieces of fabric into a working bag — and a flimsy or wrong-sized zipper can undo an afternoon of careful stitching. Calico Zippers, designed by Lori Holt of Bee in my Bonnet, are made for sewists who want zippers that are both pretty and practical. Each pack contains 8 zippers in a rainbow of Lori's signature fun colors. Every zipper measures 16 inches long with a 1-inch-wide tape, and each one comes fitted with two zipper pulls.
Why two pulls matter
Most garment zippers have a single slider that opens from one end only. These Calico Zippers are double-slider zippers: two pulls share one set of teeth, so you can open the zipper from either end or meet the pulls in the middle. For bag making, that is a genuine advantage:
- Top closures: pulls that meet in the center look tidy and stay tucked out of the way when you sling the bag over your shoulder.
- Pouches and pencil cases: open from either end when you only need a corner of the opening.
- Extra length is forgiving: at 16 inches, these zippers are long enough for most zippered pouches, project bags, and tote-bag top closures. If your opening is shorter, you can shorten a zipper (see below) — you can't stretch a short one.
Best projects for these zippers
The 1-inch tape and 16-inch length make these a natural fit for:
- Zippered pouches and cosmetic bags (12"–14" openings)
- Project bags for knitting or cross-stitch
- Tote and purse top closures
- Pillow covers with a hidden zipper
- Garment closures where a visible, colorful zipper becomes a design detail
How to install a zipper cleanly
A smooth zipper installation comes down to preparation, not speed:
- Choose your length first. Buy (or start from) a zipper longer than the opening, then position it so the tape extends past both ends. Extra tape disappears into the seam allowances and guarantees the pull clears the ends.
- Shorten it if needed. If 16 inches is longer than your opening, sew a bar tack (a short, dense zigzag) across the teeth where you want the zipper to stop, then trim the excess above the tack. Do this with the pulls already on the section you plan to keep — reinstalling a pull on closed teeth is frustrating.
- Baste the tape in place. Pins distort zipper tape; use a strip of washaway or double-sided basting tape along the seam line so the zipper sits exactly where you want it before you sew.
- Use a zipper foot. Sew close to the teeth (about 1/8 inch) with a zipper foot, stitching slowly. When the pull gets in the way, stop with the needle down, lift the presser foot, and slide the pull behind the foot before continuing.
- Press the tape, not the teeth. A cool iron on the tape edges keeps things crisp; heat and steam on nylon coil teeth can warp them.
Color pairing ideas
Because the pack spans Lori Holt's fun, cheerful palette, you have real design choices to make rather than defaulting to an invisible navy or black:
- Match the fabric: pick a zipper in a color pulled straight from your print for a cohesive, polished look — ideal for gifts.
- Contrast on purpose: a bright red zipper in a neutral linen tote reads as a deliberate design detail.
- Coordinate the pulls: with two pulls per zipper, the color shows at the closure — treat it like hardware and coordinate with your fabric's accent color.
Care
These zippers are fully washable as installed in your project. Close the zipper before laundering so the teeth don't snag other items, and skip the dryer on high heat — heat can distort coil teeth over time. If a zipper ever sticks, a swipe of dry bar soap or a graphite pencil along the teeth works better than forcing it.
Shop the Calico Zippers 2 In 8 Assorted Colors at Linda's Electric Quilters.
