Location & Hours
- Mon., Wed., Thurs. 10 - 9
- Tues. Fri. & Sat. 10 - 6
- Sun. 12-5
- View holiday hours
- 905 S. Main St.,
- Royal Oak, MI 48067 Map
- (248) 541-0010
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Zipper Jewelry
Use zipper tapes to create unique contemporary jewelry and add cool textured embellishments to clothing and accessories. Floral or abstract designs can become pins, bracelets, or headbands and simple or sculptural necklaces.Haberman Fabrics carries great colors and styles of special zippers for your projects. Try zippers with metallic tapes, bold or subdued colors, even with black and white striped tapes.
BASIC TECHNIQUESUse these simple techniques with one side of separated zippers, to form shaped elements. Then use the shapes individually or in combination to form jewelry. |
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CONTINUOUS TAPE GATHERINGKnot a strong thread and do a long running stitch on the outer edge of the zipper tape. Gently pull the thread to gather the tape and it will start to curl. Wrap the curled tape into your desired shape. Sew occasional stitches through layers of the tape at the edges to secure as you go. Glue can also be used, but be careful to apply it sparingly. |
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INDIVIDUAL PETALSUse short lengths of zipper tape, gathering a couple inches in the center with long running stitches. Bring segment ends together to form petals or leaves, tacking (sewing) or gluing to secure ends. Then assemble them as petals or leaves to build flowers or add accents to other designs, in single or multi-color styles. It’s best to use your strong thread to secure the assembled design, but glue may be used.
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INDIVIDUAL COILSUse this technique for more contemporary, abstract or sculptural designs. Wrap a single side of zipper tape into tight coils, keeping centers as closed or open as you wish. Try it with different lengths of tapes, or cut tape when you achieve the look you want. Sew through each coil to secure. Also try varying the depth of the coil to show more or less of the tape. PLAN: Place your coils on a blank piece of paper, arranging them together in interesting balanced or asymmetrical designs, with enough contact between coils to allow you to securely sew (tack) them together. Have fun creating anything from a sculptural “bib” necklace to a dramatic choker. DRAW: Draw an outline around your design to identify placement of each coil. SECURE: Sew (tack) pieces together with strong thread. Your outline allows you to lift segments to work with, without forgetting the design. TIES: Sew a simple or decorative ribbon to each side of the finished piece, long enough for you to be able to tie on the necklace with a bow and have it hang as low or high as you wish. |
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FINISHING
EMBELLISH CENTERS: Add jeweled buttons or beads, or even the zipper pull to floral styles in centers for a finished look.
BACK FLORAL DESIGNS: Cut a round piece of non-fraying fabric or suede cloth to cover as much of the back as you want to conceal. Attach it to back with fabric glue like Fabri-Tac®.
PIN BACKS: Glue or stitch to completed project.
BRACELETS: Use old or new inexpensive cuff styles. Lightly glue (or spray glue) and wrap with zipper tape or ribbon. Glue or tack your zipper project to the covered bracelet. You can also use wide elastic sewn into a circle band for bracelets.
BARRETTES and HEAD BANDS: Wrap with ribbon. Attach zipper project.
SAMPLES OF ZIPPER PROJECTS
or pieces of projects in progress:
Continuous Gathered Tape |
Continuous Gathered |
Individual Coils for a |
Coiled Zipper Necklace |
FOR MORE INSPIRATION:
Visit etsy.com, and search for "Zipper Jewelry"
Visit youtube.com, and search for "Zipper Flower Tutorial"
Visit Kate Cusack's website (www.katecusack.com) for contemporary and abstract designs.