Tutorial – Adding a Zip Pull using Mini Macarons
Hello there! Well, this morning I’ve just finished off a zip pull – one of those fantastic 5-10min project that makes you feel so happy with the end result, that I just had to hop on and share it with you!
A little while ago, I’d ordered a few things from the Rose Garden Patchwork (a new-to-me online shop) which specialises in Japanese fabrics. Obviously, I’d ordered a couple of fat quarters (!) but also added to my basket these Mini Macaron’s: they are like buttons that you can cover with fabric but without the shank. So you can place them together to cover the end of zip-tabs….I’d never seen them before and really wanted to have a play with them!
Once I’d finished my Not So Little Zippy Pouch, I thought a zipper pull would add the perfect
To make a zipper pull, you will need;
- 2 macaron covers – I used 24mm and they come in sets of 6
- 2 pieces of fabric, minimum 1.5″ square for zipper pulls
- 1 piece of fabric, 0.75″ wide by 2″ long for zipper pull tab
- Scrap piece of fabric
- Needle & thread
To start, cut two circles bigger than the size of the macaron – I used the bottom of a large thread spool to draw a circle 1.5″ wide.
Take some thread and, starting on the right side of the fabric, do a running stitch around the edge of the fabric, until you reach your starting point. Place the macaron dome side down in the middle of your fabric and gently start to pull the threads together gathering the fabric up so that it is tight over the macaron. Knot your thread to secure. If you feel that the fabric is not tight enough, I found completing a second round of running stitch and securing it helped to solve this. Repeat for the remaining macaron. Set aside.
Taking the zipper pull tab, fold the fabric in half width-ways, wrong sides together. Finger press before folding the outside edges in towards the centre. Finger press again and keep in place with a couple of pins.
Place a scrap piece of fabric under your machine needle – we are going to use this to help feed our tiny little zipper pull tab through the machine (these are sometimes called leaders/enders) as the fabric is so narrow it can easily be eaten by the machine/not feed through properly.
Complete a few stitches on the scrap piece of fabric, and stop just before you reach the end of the fabric. Lift the presser foot to place one end of the zipper tab
Take your zipper tab pull, and snipping off the scrap fabric, thread it through the end of your zipper pull. Set aside.
Place two covered macaron pieces wrong sides together. Holding in place, begin hand-stitching (I use ladder stitch) around the outside to join them together, stopping when you are 1″ from where you started.
Squeeze the opposite sides together slightly to help open up the gap, and gently push the zipper tab pull ends inside until you reach the desired length (I pushed them nearly all the way in!). If you are struggling to get the ends in, you can use sharp scissors to help encourage them!
Holding everything in position, secure in place, stitching through the zipper pull tab a few times before going on to close the gap.
And ta-dah! We’re all done! I hope you’ve found this useful if you’ve not made covered buttons/zipper pulls before. I had so much fun making this, that I think I’ll be adding them to lots more pouches in the future! And don’t forget, if you’d like your own (Not So) Little Zippy pouch, do check out the pattern here!
See you soon,
S x
Today’s sky::: slightly cloudy, but finally some sunshine!!!
If you would like monthly news and updates, please sign-up to my newsletter.
To check out my quilt and accessories patterns, visit my Pattern shop.
For my favourite sewing equipment and tools, visit my Amazon store.
