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Why does nobody mention how long it takes to find the RIGHT zipper color?

I spent 3 hours at a fabric store in Denver yesterday just trying to match a deep burgundy zipper to some velvet I'm using for a custom dress. Every shade was either too purple or too brown, and I nearly gave up after the 12th pull. Has anyone found a reliable trick for color matching zippers when the store's lighting is all wonky?
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2 Comments
robert_smith36
Grab a swatch of velvet and hold it next to the zipper coil first.
2
amybarnes
amybarnes26d ago
Three out of four times I've tried that, the velvet snagged on the zipper teeth anyway and then I had to pick fibers out for ten minutes. @robert_smith36, I get why people suggest it for delicate fabrics, but in practice it's not foolproof. If the zipper coil has even a tiny burr or rough edge, that velvet trick backfires hard. Better off just running a bar of soap or a candle along both sides of the teeth before you zip, that actually lubricates without risking fabric damage. Velvet's just asking for a hassle unless you're using a special zipper foot.
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