Adding a Zipper Shield to Any Pattern
Updated: Jul 9, 2022
Lots of the items I sew that have a zipper I tend to add a zipper shield to protect the skin from the zipper and make it softer and more comfortable for kids to wear. There are many other reasons for a zipper shield and they are actually fairly easy to sew and add to items. I use them on everything from adapted swimwear, to jackets and in my example below a Baby Coversuit. In my example I have used the FREE Lybstes Suit in size 56-62cm (0-3 months). I had some left over OTY Fabrics French Terry and some Brush Sweatshirting scraps so I decided to sew up the Coversuit to test the design. It has many options for closure, from snap closure front, zipper sewn in on an angle or in the option I chose to do a zip running down the central fold line. As I was putting in a zip I decided to add a zipper shield which I often add to items for Babies that have a zipper. There was no shield pattern piece for this design so I decided to just draft one. They are pretty easy to draft and add to zips no matter what you are sewing, closed end or open end zip the concept is pretty much the same. In my example I show you how to add them to a closed end zipper. Open end you would just omit the way I finish off the end of the zipper shield with the Coversuit. If you want to make your own Lybstes Coversuit with the zipper and shield this tutorial will probably come in handy! Now onto the tutorial...
What you will need:
A ruler
a marker (tailors chalk, some sort of fabric marker that washes or irons off)
scrap of coordinating fabric for the shield (I recommend lighter fabric to prevent it being bulky)
Overlocker, standard sewing machine with zipper foot
thread
Pins or Wonder Clips
Zipper of your choice
Item you are sewing up and adding zipper to (unsewn is best)
Steps to add a Zipper Shield:
First off you need to grab your zipper and front of your pattern piece. You need to measure the front edge of your pattern piece to see how long you need the Shield to be. If you are doing closed end like I was you can choose to run the shield right to the end of the outfit and cut off as you overlock. Often I just measure the zip and add an extra 4cm or more to the end of the Zipper Shield piece to allow for the end to be comfortably covered when its within an item. In my example I use a 30cm closed end zip. I measure a piece of fabric 6cm longer at the top of the zip and 5cm longer at the bottom. So for a 30cm long closed end zip I would have a piece of fabric 41-42cm long by 5cm wide.
Cut two pieces of zipper shield to your measurements (mirror images of each other) and place right side to right side. Curve the top edge by about 3cm into a half moon shape. Stitch from the top of that curve down to the end on one long side and across the short non curved end. Turn inside out and iron flat. Overlock or finish the raw edges together.
Place your zip facing you onto the shield with the curved edge facing under the zip and away from the edge. Fold the curved end over the zipper end folding the top tape away from the zipper top as you fold. Ensure you have the zipper pull end covered by the curved piece, adjusting the position of your zipper to get the best cover of the curve over the zipper pull. Clip zip in place and fold over the curved end tucking your excess zipper tape to the side. Stitch zipper to zipper shield (baste or just use a straight stitch)
You are now ready to attach the zipper and zipper shield to the front of your item. In my example I have stitched the two front pieces together after making a marker at the 30cm mark which is the end of the zipper. If you have a hood like I do I recommend attaching that first and closing the shoulder seams before inserting the zip. It makes for a tidier edge.