How to Sew a Fly Front Zipper Like a Boss {with video}

During my time teaching women how to sew, I have learned that there are certain things that are universal fears among beginner sewists. One of them is their loved ones using their fabric scissors to cut paper and the other is closures. Yes, you know what I’m talking about – buttons, zippers, elastic – I can hear you screaming “just stop it right now, Jessica!”

But you know I can’t. I can’t let you stay scared of something that just ain’t that scary!

Now the mother of all closure scariness is absolutely the fly front zipper. I’ve seen ladies resort to some pretty sketchy things to avoid these and it gives me all sorts of feelings. Confusion, sadness, fear. Somebody hold me.

So the times has come my friends. No longer will you wear stretchy pants in a non-stretchy pants situation! No longer will you shy away from gloriously structured woven pants that make your caboose look like it was chiseled with the precision of the Greeks! From now on you will henceforth and forever more, be a sewist without fear. So let’s freaking do this.

First thing’s first. If you aren’t familiar with zippers (the different types, sizes, etc.) then check out this Guide to Understanding Zipper Types, Weight Sizes, and Parts First.

Watch and Learn – Video Tutorial

Here is a video tutorial for those of you who just can’t even with written and picture tutorials <3

Step by Step

Prefer to have the tutorial in your hands? Download the mini ebook!

1. Prep your fly extensions by finishing the curved edge with a serger, zig zag or overcast stitch.

2. Prep your fly guard by folding and pressing it in half with the wrong sides together and finishing the raw side and bottom edges.