Is it easy to replace a zip on a pair of jeans?

mumoftwo

The zip broke on my favourite pair of cropped jeans and I desperately want to keep it, I had a good look at how the zip was stitched in but looks very complicated to get it back in the same if I unpick it, through several layers of denim fabric.

I have no idea of where to start, So my question is, is it possible to do it yourself with limited skills or do I have to pay someone to do it, which ofcourse I am trying to avoid, Thanks in advance, you lovely experts.

ALIBOBSY

Well my mum is a pretty accomplished seamstress and she looked horrified when OH had a zip break on jeans. She said they are a nightmare to get into jeans, and that denim is a pig to sew. Really hard to do by hand and without an industrial machine you keep breaking needles.

You could give it a go yourself just to try or get a expert, mind you probably easier just to get a new pair lol(sorry not V MSE).

Perhaps someone on here knows a trick to it?
good luck
ali x

thriftlady_2

Alibobsy's right - a real pig of a job. I'd get a professional to do it;)

tandraig

wouldnt do it - not on jeans! ordinary trousers most machines will cope with. jeans are so thick - i wouldnt unless i got a leather needle and know machine will cope! sorry!

Olliebeak

I've always refused to do repairs to jeans - ruins any needles. In fact they usually snap when it comes to going through three pieces of folded denim, like the bit at the crotch where the zip needs to be caught between the fabric and the lining piece.

Bennifred

I think you can get small jobs like this done at some dry-cleaners - worth asking, anyway!

mumoftwo

Thanks for your replies, I was expecting the "don't do it yourself" answers, because I have had a good look and even if I knew where to start and which bit to put in first, there were too many thick layers and I only have a normal "cheap" sewing machine.

Will enquire how much it will be at a shop, we have an alteration shop in town, I just love the jeans, they weren't expensive, but it might still be worth doing

thanks again for your replies, I appreciate it.

purpleivy

mumoftwo wrote: »

Thanks for your replies, I was expecting the "don't do it yourself" answers, because I have had a good look and even if I knew where to start and which bit to put in first, there were too many thick layers and I only have a normal "cheap" sewing machine.

Will enquire how much it will be at a shop, we have an alteration shop in town, I just love the jeans, they weren't expensive, but it might still be worth doing

thanks again for your replies, I appreciate it.

If they're a favourite and otherwise OK, then it would be money well spent. Much more eco friendly as well. Just took a google and the first drycleaner I found with repairs charged £8.95. Keeping someone in this country in work as well!

I hate sewing denim, but inevitably end up altering jeans for my short family. Not a favourite job.

Dinkyflop

purpleivy wrote: »

If they're a favourite and otherwise OK, then it would be money well spent. Much more eco friendly as well. Just took a google and the first drycleaner I found with repairs charged £8.95. Keeping someone in this country in work as well!

I hate sewing denim, but inevitably end up altering jeans for my short family. Not a favourite job.

I had the same as issue - the zip went on my favourite, scruffy, comfy, ancient denims.

I took them to a local repairs shop - the lady there did it for 7.00 (incl. cost of purchasing replacement zip).

The denims are around 10yr old now and still going strong after their "face lift".

buxtonrabbitgreen

I did it once. Never again. Apart from it is complicated I got through 3 needles on the machine.

SailorSam

As a quick 'make do and mend' .
In the little tab part of the zip that you pull there is usually a tiny hole, thread a few inches of string through and tie in a loop.
Now when you pull the zip up put this loop onto the button before you fasten it, hey presto the zip can't go down, and if you have a tee shirt over it, it can't be seen.
Temporary fix until you can sort something better.