Note to self: aluminum is not the same as nickel. Yep. It says so right there on the old periodic table. When the metals are used for zipper teeth, the difference is more than obvious: it's "one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others obvious. I don't know if you can see the difference, but I can and it annoys me. Sigh.
So what are my options? First, the aluminum zipper is staying in. It took me FOUR tries just to sew the zipper stop at the top. After I finally got that on, I installed the zipper and topstitched it in place. This is my first time installing a separating zipper and I am quite pleased with the final result. I am not unpicking that shit.
I've given some thought to what else I could do to make this jacket happen:
Option 1 - Order two more 24" zippers from Wawak and shorten them to the lengths required for the pockets and sleeves (which is 6"). I've never added a pull tab or metal stops to an already-existing zipper, so this will be new to me. In addition to buying more zippers, I would also have to get zipper tops, bottoms, pull tabs, and pliers and then watch YouTube videos to see how to put these things on.
Wawak has a shorter 10" aluminum zipper made for slipcovers and pillows, but the zipper tape only comes in natural. Yeah, like pillows can't be any other color than natural. SMH
Option 2 - Try to order the zippers from Zipperstop. The reason I didn't order from them in the first place is because the only two zipper tape colors they had were black and navy. There's a note that says any other color requires a minimum 50-unit order. I will call them to see if they would be willing to make an exception. If not, then this option isn't happening. What am I going to do with 50 6" aluminum zippers? Exactly.
Option 3 - Try Joann's or my other local fabric store. I doubt Joann's will have what I'm looking for; that's why I didn't go there in the first place. I will call the local fabric store to see if they have what I need. Their zipper supply is pretty thin, so I'm not too optimistic.
Option 4 - Skip the zippers on the sleeves and pockets altogether and save that idea for the second version of this pattern.
If option 2 doesn't work out, then I'll probably just proceed with option 4. I really don't feel like building a zipper from scratch. It's a shame, too. This jacket would have been totally bad-ass with all the shiny metal. The aluminum just goes with the grey denim. It really does. Now the jacket just looks pitiful.
I have light blue denim that I was going to use to make another pair of jeans. I think this fabric will make a cute moto jacket with brass zipper teeth. For now, it looks like version one will be plain and simple.
L
