I think this winter we've lost 4 zipper pulls. Now I have sweatsuit tops that zip fine, but there's no "pull" on the zipper. The slide works fine but the pull is either missing or can't be reattached. Is there a way to save the sweatsuits and jackets without having to replace the ENTIRE zipper?
The zipper is FINE. The teeth connect and detach fine. The slide works great. It's just the pull that has broken off of the slide. Either the pull is entirely missing or it's missing a part where it now can't be reattached to the slide.
HELP Mamas! I'm pretty handy/crafty/creative and am desperate to save these clothes!!!!
Yeah, we've done the paperclip/safety pin thing before, but these are those "new" zippers....the slide is one piece, the pull is another and there's a small piece of metal that connects the two. These crummy "new zippers" don't have a hole where the paperclip, safety pin or lanyard type string can be pulled through - similar to the eye of a needle. These ones almost have this metal "bracket" that breaks off...yes, I'm headed to Joann's today and then maybe a shoe repair or cleaners to see if any of them can be saved. I HATE cheap materials!!! Esp. on good quality clothes. These new zippers really SUCK.
Update: Went to Joann's and they said you can buy a "box" of zipper pulls for $15, but there's no guarantee they will be the right size or color. Then off to a shoe repair, he said he'd have to order the slide and charge me $23, just to replace the slide! So I took it to a cleaners - the woman pulled out a tackle box full of zipper slides in all different colors, shapes and sizes. She said it'd take a little trial and error but she'd find one that would fit. She showed me how they take the TOP stop off the zipper, pull the slide off the top and run a new slide onto the zipper for $10! Worth saving the jacket, but I really wish I was able to do it myself.
I would recommend trying a shoe repair place or Vogue Fabrics (there's one in Evanston and elsewhere in the city). My husband has had several zipper pulls on coats and backpacks replaced at shoe repair places.
Good luck!
Depending on how old the item is and where you bought it, I would just take it back. It is defective I bought a few of the same style shirts from Nordstom Rack last year, after washing them twice, they fell apart. I brought them back and got new ones because it was not my fault. If the rest of the item doesn't look and isn't "worn out" I would go back to the store.
Try a safety pin. If you are concerned about iit opening, use small strips of duck tape, or colorful ribbon wrapped around it and cleverly secured.
Don't know if this kind of thing is still out there, but we have a small clip looking thing (one site calls them lanyard clips) and it has dgd's name (kinda like a tag, but much prettier) on this clip - which can be clipped onto the slide part!
here's a link that I just popped up quickly - to give you some ideas
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=zipper+pulls+for+kids...
I know exactly what you mean. I cannot tell you how many broken zippers we have at my house. And the stupid things do not have a spot to add some string or ribbon. It has gotten to the point that I keep tags and receipts for any jackets with zippers just in case. More stores are willing to replace items for customer service and returned buyers. I think they do it on purpose really so you have to buy a new zipper. The dry cleaner by me charges $2 per inch to replace a zipper. For one of my daughter's sweater, I bought some buttons to match and crocheted a chain to the one side and the button to the other so now she can just button it up. Might not work for everything but maybe a solution to one of the jackets? You could use other materials also.
Oh my gosh! I have the exact same problem. I am interested to see all the ideas people come up with because I just try to close the zipper without the pull. LOL.
I think they are making them cheaper and cheaper each year!!
We keep having the same problem... my solution is the tacky safety pin.
But its cheaper than buying a new one.
Big paperclip...not safety pin.
I think I am picturing what you are talking about, and if I am correct, it is the same problem we have here. I have been taking a safety pin and sliding it in the hole to operate the zipper.
If you want to make it cute, so you can keep it on there, I'd just string a few colored beads on the safety pin.
You can get a roll of leathery string at a sewIng store. Loop it through and pull the zipper! Easy and less ugly than paper clip and safer than a pin
I would take a sweater to Joann's or a similar fabric type store and show them. They are extremely knowledgeable and there may be some sort of gadgetitydoo that can help with replacing just the pull without removing the whole zipper. Or, you can do the other route using a safety pin/paper clip.
I just clip a paper clip into the space where the zipper pull use to be and it works just fine.
If you want it to look like a real zipper again (instead of some of the other good ideas mentioned), try finding one of those shoe repair/luggage repair shops. A lot of malls have them in the building. I've taken purses and jackets and they can just add a zipper pull instead of replacing the whole thing. If these are kid's items, I don't know if they will have little pulls or if they would look too large, but the items I've done this for look "normal" again. Good luck!
Sears used to replace any garment that wore out before your child outgrew it. My oldest always broke the zipper on her winter coats, and I replaced 4 or 5 of them (really great for little sister to have a new coat!) I think they still do. No receipt was needed, but you had to get the same size. One year when all the coats in her size were sold out, they told me to come back in the fall. When I did, I had the whole range of styles to choose from.
We slide 3 colors of matching grograin(sp) ribbon, the really narrow stuff and then braid it. We have also attached a decoration to the end to make it personal for the person. Ex: soccer metal for my son who calls it olympic medal and ballerina shoes(craft store) for my son. Requires no sewing and doesn't look bad. For mine I threaded on cool beads that match the coat.
They do make zipper pulls you can attach to your clothes. Some of them are simple string with a charm on them like this: http://www.amazon.com/Zipper-Decorative-Strap-Clear-Rhine... These are pretty easy to make, or you can get them at most craft stores like Michael's, Jo Ann Fabrics, or Hobby Lobby.
and some are a little more zipper pull looking, like http://www.amazon.com/Ohio-Travel-Bag-Zipper-Fixer/dp/B00... I think you can actually find these in the sewing sections of most craft stores. They might even carry them in sewing sections of places like WalMart, although I have never really looked there.
