Bimini Question

[jojo]

Hi guys,
What is the best way to install a zipper in a bimini sleeve where there was none previously? There's got to be a better way than picking out the stitches.

[Mike]

I cut down the center of the pocket then bind both sides and sew the zipper on the i side keppong the teeth at the center allow for the curve when sewing the. Ipper on

[Mike]

O And i use 2 zippers on the mAin  pockets stArting at the ends and ending in the middle this way the zipper wont creep open

[jojo]

Thanks Mike!

[bobbin]

Right there with Mike! 

I came of age with high end marine canvas work.  Every bow pocket had a zipper... and end every pocket was split and bound... NEVER was a zipper sewn to a top, EVER.   Make sure you use a "crow's foot"  to secure the end of the pocket.  (Crow's foot=back stitch and then backstitch again so it's 45 degrees away from the first line of stitching).

Crow's foot: stitch forward, backtack, forward again.  Backtack 45 degrees up and come back to the intended line of stitching.  Make sense?  do the same thing on the opposite end;  the idea is to provide stitching to secure the pocket and spread the load on the stitch line more evenly.  Make sense?

[jojo]

Bobbin, yes, it makes sense! I'm a believer that every sleeve should have a zipper. Nothing is worse than disassembling a frame to get the bimini on/off.
I've seen it done many times where one end of the zipper is sewn directly onto the top with no reinforcement. It just seems so wrong! And I do the crow's foot stitch. However, I won't here, because the sleeve is already sewn down.

[JuneC]

Yep, what they said.  Same thing.  On big tops I typically put in a reinforcing patch - maybe 6 x 6 where the ends of the center pockets will be attached.  It prevents little annoying holes where the end of the stitch lines end up.

June