zips, not what they used to be, they used to be easily shortened from the top. I spent an hour yesterday, had a 28" black zip for my drill vest, need 26.5. Then I realised that it had welded on plastic coats as stoppers at the top, could not use it. It is a neat zip, I am sure it is ykk and open ended.
I found a 36" black plastic zip in my stash and using my jewellery tool kit, I started to dismantle. Prised off the silver coloured stoppers, cheap with tiny prongs. I cut the zip to 1" from the length I needed. The zip teeth were a coil and a real potch to get off. Then I put the stoppers back on top, they looked awful and slightly lopsided as was the top of the zip. I abandoned that. 26.5 is impossible to find so I have ordered 26" ykk vislon, chunky with a doughnut head. I shall just make up for the 1/2" , 1/4" at each end of the vest. Note will be made on my pattern, perhaps will lengthen the pattern by 1/2 inch. I can get away with cheap plastic coloured zips on most of my garments but want a good looking quality zip when it is on show
I see that william gee have a very large variety of ykk zips, good prices too. I ordered mine from amazon but will have to wait at least a week. I may well estimate if I can get away with taking just 1" off pattern length and order a few zips at 27". I can see me making the vest over and over
I am up to inserting the zip stage on envigado, what a gorgeous fit, having a shaped top is so much more flattering than straight up and down.
