Supplies Checklist:

• Jeans That Need Repairing
• Seam Ripper
• Scissors
• New Zipper
• Sewing Needle
• Thread
• A Sewing Machine is a Big Help

Step-By-Step Tutorial:

• First have a look at the situation. If you have a broken zipper, there really aren’t too many other ways I know of to fix it other than replace it, but have a look anyways.
• Next rip out any seams that are JUST attaching the jean zipper. Do not rip out anything that is showing on the front of the jeans. A good rule of thumb is that more than likely the zipper will be attached with a different color thread. Just be careful here.
• Cut the zipper away fromt he jeans where you are not able to rip out the seams. Get as close to the seam as possible without cutting anything else.
• When the zipper is removed, you’ll see that the front is completely in-tact and the threads are untouched.
• Get out your new zipper and lay it next to the zipper you just removed.
• Mark on the new zipper the length of the zipper you just removed so that you can cut it down to fit the jeans perfectly.
• Where you just cut off you now need to create a “bar tack”. This is essentially going to replace the bottom of the zipper because you are going to cut it down. It will keep the zipper pull from coming off.
• You can do this by hand or to do this on the sewing machine set the stitch pattern on your sewing machine to “Zig Zag” and the stitch length on your machine to the lowest setting (usually “0″).
• Then position the zipper up and down under the needle and right at the end create a thick stitch with these settings so that it looks like the picture above. The zig zag stitch should keep the needle on the outside of the zipper teeth to prevent it from breaking.
• After your “bar tack” is created and everything is secure, cut off the rest of the zipper UNDER the bar tack you just created.
• Fold the top flap of the zipper under and pin in place on the jeans.
• On your sewing machine, with the zipper foot attached, create a stitch all the way down on the left side. This side you do not need to hand stitch because the stitches will be hidden inside the jeans.
• Secure the top of this side of the zipper by hand.
• Flip the jeans over and pin the other side of the zipper, with the flap folded forward this time.
• Secure this side by hand by creating small, close together stitches, all double stitched (which means, go over each of them twice).
• When you’ve created one line, create 2-3 more, one in the middle, and one closer to the zipper. Also secure the top of this side of the zipper.
• Now secure the bottom of this side of the zipper by hand.
• Now create another bar tack on the bottom of the zipper, going through the jeans and around the outside of the bottom of the zipper. This time do it by hand and secure it as well as you can.
• After that you’re all done!
• And the best part is you can’t tell from the outside.