How to use zipper by the meter?

Often when starting sewing, you buy classic zips with a slider and a stop at the haberdashery. These work very well for many sewing projects but... sometimes you need a "non-standard" measurement and that’s when zip by the meter really makes sense...

I invite you to discover this sewing supply that I can’t do without anymore 😊

What is zip by the meter?

Zip by the meter comes as a "torch" or a long spool of mesh tape. You can find spools of 10, 20, 50, or even 100m of zip. In the shop, we decided to sell them by the meter with a slider included for simplicity. It’s obviously possible to buy extra sliders as needed.

By cutting this mesh tape to your needs, you create a zip at the length you want. Then just add one or more sliders; and voilà, you’ve created a zip at the length needed for your project!

In fact, a gold zip by the meter from the shop with its matching slider is what I used to create the opening of my Bahia fanny pack because I didn’t have a zip of the required length on hand.

Advantages of zip by the meter

Zip by the meter has many advantages.

Choosing the zip length: yes, you decide the zip length, so no more problems with non-standard zip measurements.
Zip availability: if you buy zip by the meter and build up a small stock; you'll always have the right length of zip on hand for your project.
I’m sure you’ve started a project on a Sunday and had to stop because you didn’t have a zipper of the right length!
Less waste: since you choose the zipper length with zippers by the meter, you no longer have to cut longer stock zippers when those are all you have on hand. I’m sure that’s happened to you too 😊 and you buy only the number of sliders you need.
Zippers by the meter are therefore more economical
Creativity and flair can also be expressed with zippers by the meter. Indeed, you can play with slider colors, use decorative ones, or even mix zipper teeth by using different colors on each side.
It is also possible to put a second slider on the zipper by the meter (placing them face to face) to create a zipper that can open in both directions.

Points to note

Zippers by the meter come in several tooth widths. You need to be careful to buy sliders that match this tooth width; otherwise, you won’t be able to thread the slider. In the shop, we offer size 3 zippers in basic colors (black, white, ecru, navy blue, and red) as well as gold and silver.
Zippers by the meter do not allow for detachable zippers, so they are not suitable for jackets and coats, for example.
Putting the slider in place takes a bit of practice at first; but once you get the hang of it, it becomes child's play 😊.

Placing the slider

Nothing could be simpler, you just need a fork... yes, you read that right: a fork!
Demonstration:

There are also zippers by the meter with sliders already attached. These are often sold by the spool in lengths of 5, 10, or 20 meters. We have chosen to offer them in the shop as 5-meter spools with 10 sliders attached.