A dressmaking technique that is quite difficult to master is inserting a zip into a garment for an opening. It may be easy to avoid putting a zip in if you are not confident in the technique by using press fasteners, hook and bars and even hook and loop tape however with a little practice you should be able to conquer the task. Dress zips give your garments a neat finish and if you are feeling even more adventurous you may even want to tackle putting in a concealed zip, also known as an invisible zip. At Calico Laine, we sell a huge range of Zips Online so there is no excuse not to give it a go. There are around 40 different colours to choose from in our range of concealed Zips Online which are available in sizes 8", 9", 16" and 22". These are made by Opti and are made to the same British standards as YKK zips so you can be assured that after all the effort of putting the zip in, it is going to last. Concealed zips are preferable to many due to the overall aesthetic it creates as it gives a more professional finish to your garment. It is also preferable for many when you cannot find an exact colour match to your fabric as when correctly inserted, you should only see the top of the zip pull. After buying your Zips Online, it will come to the time to be brave and attempt to put in your concealed zip. It is important to concentrate while you are doing this otherwise you could be unpicking it if it all goes a bit wrong! To begin with, you would ideally need to iron the zip so that the underside of the zip lies flat enabling you to get close to the teeth of the zip when you are sewing it on the machine. The next step is to mark your seam allowance by sewing a line where your zip will be seam. The best thing at this point is to sew this before you have sewn your seams up. This will give you a guide to where your zipper teeth will sit. To sew the zip in, you will require a zipper foot for your machine. Ordinary dress zips are sewn in a closed position however concealed zips are sewn in an open position. Line up the right side of your zip to the right side of your fabric and ensure that the teeth are sat a little bit over the seam line that you marked earlier. After this, pin the zip and tack it into place to make sure that It does not move when you begin to sew. Using a long machine stitch to position the zip first, sew the zip to the fabric as close to the edge of the teeth as possible. Once you are happy with the positioning of the zip, you can then sew into place using a regular running stitch to make sure that it is secure. After this, sew the seam of your garment from the bottom hem upwards. When you reach the bottom of the zip, pull it inside and continue sewing up until you reach where you stopped sewing the zip which will close the seam fully. To give the garment a neater finish, you can sew the along the seam allowance on the other side of the zip and in theory, you should now have a neat invisible zip in your garment! If you are having trouble buying Zips Online, cannot find what you need or simply need some advice, we are always happy to help. Get in touch with us online or over the phone and we will do our best to assist you.