Sewing a Zipper onto Jeans

Hi, the zipper on my favorite pair of jeans has torn. Not at the top near the button, but at the bottom of the fly. It’s torn away from the fabric. Since these are my favorite jeans, I’ve worn and washed them often over the years. Can I sew it back on, or is it not worth the trouble anymore? Thanks for your answers.

It’s definitely worth it.
Especially if they’re your favorite jeans or a more expensive brand—you do get attached to these pieces, after all :-)

I run an alterations shop myself and sew in new zippers almost every day.
Just unpick the old zipper from the jeans. ( This can sometimes be a bit tedious if they’re sewn in for eternity. ) You’ll also need to open a section of the seam at the top of the waistband so you can fit the new zipper in, and usually the facing on the inside is still sewn together. It’s best to unpick that as well.
Then simply sew a new zipper of the same length back in exactly the same spot.
If you’re unsure where it goes, just remove the old one bit by bit and sew the new one back in the same spot as you go. It’s best to sew one side at a time with the zipper open, working from top to bottom until about 5 cm remains. Then raise the presser foot, leaving the needle in place, and close the zipper. Then you can sew the remaining bit.

A new zipper costs about 2.50. If you need one, I’d be happy to send you one.
Of course, the prices for having it sewn in vary if you’d like to have that done. Just ask beforehand—you’re sure to get the information you need.

I hope I was able to help you a little.

Best regards, Nici
 

And did it work out?

When it’s your favorite pair of jeans, it’s not about whether it’s worth it, but rather, “Grandma, you can do it.” So I’d carefully unpick the zipper from the bottom as much as necessary, then place a piece of fabric underneath where it tore out and stitch over it with a straight stitch. Depending on the grainline, sew up and down or back and forth. Once that’s worked, sew the zipper back in properly. I hope I’ve explained that clearly. Good luck!



 

Thanks for the tips. I took it to an alterations service. I didn’t want to damage it even more. When I read Nici’s post, I remembered that there’s an alterations shop two streets away that I often walk past, but somehow hadn’t really noticed before. I assume the owner there has a lot more experience than I do. :-)
Sunny greetings
Sidney

How much does a sewing service cost, including materials and labor?

Based on my experience, that should cost around 15 euros. Of course, that varies depending on which repair service you use.

Yeah, that’s what I would have said too, Sundown. Somewhere between 10 and 15 €.
For me, it’s usually 12 plus the zipper.