Sewing Zippers: How to Use Basting Tape

Sewing zippers can be the trickiest part of any sewing project. Stacy Grissom shows how to make zippers a little easier with the help of basting tape. Basting tape is a double-sided adhesive that can adhere to most fabrics and easily hold them in place for stitching, eliminating the need for pins. Stacy explains how this makes sewing zippers easier and quicker because there are no pins to pucker the fabric and no need to stop and remove any pins while stitching.

Different Types of Basting Tape

Sewing zippers into any project, whether it’s a quick and easy sewing project like a coin purse or something larger like a jacket, can be made easier with basting tape. It adheres to most fabrics and even plastic surfaces, which means it can be used on fabrics like oil cloths or other water-resistant fabrics. There are also several different types of basting tapes that are designed for specific fabrics. Basting tape for canvas is slightly stickier than regular basting tape and is better for coarser fabrics. Mylar or Kevlar basting tape is one of the stickiest types of basting tape and is great for those heavier fabrics like mylar or kevlar.

Basting Tape Widths

Basting tape is not just handy for sewing zippers but also for other sewing projects as well. The basting tape used in this video is fairly thin, but it also comes in other widths including ¼”, ⅜” and ½”. It’s best to choose the width of tape that is similar to the seam allowance you will be using on your project.

Sticky Needles

Basting tape is designed to be sewn through; however, if you are using a lot of the stickier type of basting tape, it could start to gum up your needle. If this does happen, an easy way to clean your needle is to swab it with rubbing alcohol. If that is not available, running the needle along the edge of a bar of soap can also remove any stickiness.