ShopTalk Exterior SEWING PROCEDURES * Position the panel with the inside facing up (¾-inch binding should be facing down). * Line up the edge of the zipper with the outside edge of the ¾-inch binding and stitch it down on the edge of the zipper. Pull the zipper tape very slightly when approaching the corner and try to keep the zipper teeth as flat as possible (Photo 1). 1 * Stitch the inside curve of the zipper, staying as close to the zipper teeth as possible, while pushing the zipper teeth flat (Photo 2). * Ignore the "bacon edge" of the inside curve of the zipper tape (Photo 3). * Flip the panel over so the outside is facing up and stitch the inside edge of the 1¼-inch binding down, lining up with the inside edge of the zipper. You will be sewing through the gathering stitch you made in the binding prep stage (Photo 4). 2 * Put tension on the panel back as you approach the corner and force the sewing machine feed dogs to smooth out the bacon-edge wrinkles in the zipper tape. * Flip the panel over so that the inside is facing up. 3 * Mark the zipper with match marks, separate the zipper and peel the clear vinyl apart on the scored line you made earlier with the razor blade. * With the insert and body separated, stitch the outside zipper and ¾-inch binding close to the zipper teeth. * Stitch the outside edge of the 1¼-inch binding to the edge of the clear vinyl. 4 * Bind the outside edge of the 1¼-inch binding with ¾-inch binding (Photo 5). * Line up the zipper match marks and add two zipper sliders (zip both to the center). 5 36 Marine Fabricator | May/June 2020 0520MF_p32-CV4.indd 36 4/23/20 2:26 AM