How to Add a Zipper to a Knit or Crochet Bag
Dig all those cool, knit and crochet bag patterns out there, but intimidated by the prospect of attahing a zipper? No worries, I’ve got you!
There are several ways to approach how to add a zipper, but today I’m just going to focus on my favorite method using a crochet hook. Even though you’ll be crocheting the zipper on, you don’t need to be an experienced crocheter. This technique only requires knowing one stitch (which I’ll walk you through in the video below), and works on knit, crochet, and heavier-woven bags alike. Watch below to see learn how to do it!
How to Add a Zipper to a Knit or Crochet Bag: Written Tutorial
MATERIALS
Zipper
Steel crochet hook, Size US C or SMALLER
Crochet hook and yarn to match bag
Coordinating, light-weight yarn
Clips ot Sewing Pins
STEP 1:
Cut zipper down to desired length by machine stitching back-and forth, or whipstitching several times with a needle & thread, about 1″ above you cutting line, which will also be 1″ longer than your bag. Use pinking shears or scissors to trim zipper.
STEP 2:
Punch crochet hook through zipper fabric about 1/4″ in and down from one corner edge. Chain 1 (ch 1), *single-crochet (sc) evenly to (punching your hook through the zipper fabric as you go) the corner, 3 sc in corner; rep from * 3 more times. Join the round with a slip stitch. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Pro Tip: Be sure to ease your zipper fabric, every few stitches, by tugging and smoothing with your fingers.
STEP 3:
Insert the zipper inside your bag and clip or pin evenly into place.
STEP 4:
Join yarn by inserting your hook through the first stitch of the bag’s edge and then the closest corresponding stitch of the zipper; pull the loop through. Sc in that stitch and all the way around, taking care to work 3 sc in each corner.
Note: You won’t like have the exact amount of zipper stitches as you do bag stitches. That’s no problem. Simply skip bag stitches, where necessary, to ensure that the fabric lays as smoothly as possible.
