How Do I Reattach a Zipper Pull?

If you've accidentally pulled a zipper slider completely off the zipper tape - don't panic! 😄The pull can simply be put back on.

It's also a really useful technique to know when making bags, as there may be times when you deliberately remove a zipper pull during construction and need to reattach it afterwards.

Watch me do it on YouTube

This is definitely one of those techniques that's much easier to understand when you see it happening, so here's my video showing exactly how I put a zipper pull back onto zipper tape with a few different methods:

Watch on YouTube: How to reattach a zipper pull →

First - check which way the zipper pull goes

This sounds obvious, but it's surprisingly easy to get wrong!

A zipper slider has a wider opening at one end and a narrower opening at the other.

When putting the pull back onto the zipper, the zipper tape needs to enter through the larger, wider opening first.

Don't try to feed the zipper into the narrow end - it won't work, no matter how nicely you ask it. 😂

Make one side of the zipper slightly shorter

Here's the trick I find makes putting the pull back on much easier.

At the end of one side of the zipper tape, carefully remove or cut away approximately 3-4 zipper teeth, preferably at an angle like in the photo.

You now have one side where the zipper teeth extend all the way to the end and one side with a short section removed. 

Feed the longer side into the zipper pull first

Take the side where the teeth still extend to the end and feed it into the wide opening of the zipper pull first.

Slide the pull onto this side just far enough that you can then feed the exposed tape on the shorter side into the other channel of the slider.

Because you've removed those few teeth, you have much more room to manoeuvre the second side into position.

Once both sides are inside the slider, place the zipper flat on the table, hold the zipper tapes firmly with one finger on each side of the tape next to the pull. 

And gently pull the slider onto the zipper with your other hand.

An extra pair of hands can really help!

If you're struggling to hold both zipper tapes and pull the slider at the same time, ask someone to help you.

One person can hold the zipper tapes firmly while the other works the slider onto them.

Sometimes an extra pair of hands really does make all the difference - particularly with a stubborn zipper.

If the zipper tape starts fraying

Cut zipper tape can sometimes start to fray while you're trying to feed it into the pull.

For synthetic zipper tape, I quickly pass a lighter along the cut edge to melt and seal the fibres.

You only need a very quick pass with the flame - you're sealing the edge, not trying to set your zipper on fire. 😂🔥

Keep the flame away from the zipper teeth and pull, and obviously don't do this near glue, solvents or other flammable materials.

Check the alignment

Once the pull is back on, slide it along the zipper a little and check that everything is running smoothly.

If the two sides are badly misaligned or the zipper isn't closing properly, take the pull back off and try again.

Don't worry if it takes a couple of attempts. Getting the second side into exactly the right position can be fiddly until you've done it a few times.

And that's it!

Putting a zipper pull back on can feel ridiculously difficult the first time - mostly because it seems as though you need about six hands. 😂

Remember the three important things:

Wide end of the zipper pull first → remove 3-4 teeth from one side → insert the longer side first.

And if you're still wrestling with it, recruit a friend. Sometimes two extra hands beat another ten minutes of swearing at a zipper. ❤️