Zipper and Eye Machine Embroidery Design – 2 Sizes

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The Zipper and Eye Machine Embroidery Design creates an optical illusion: an embroidered zipper appears to open the fabric and reveal a single watchful eye underneath. The slider, teeth, tape, shadows and eye are all built with stitches. No real zipper, appliqué fabric or cutting step is required.

The long, narrow composition works as a vertical statement on a jacket back, backpack, costume panel or mask, and it can be rotated for a horizontal placement when the machine’s actual embroidery field allows it. It is also a practical choice for a separate patch used to cover a stain, small hole or worn area without hooping the finished garment directly.

This purchase includes digital machine-embroidery files only. A finished patch, garment, mask, zipper, fabric, thread and stabilizer are not included.

Size: 48.4x176.2 mm / 1.91x6.94 in, Stitches: 13410
Size: 54.2x198.0 mm / 2.13x7.80 in, Stitches: 15795
Formats: .dst, .jef, .pec, .vip, .hus, .pes, .exp, .dat, .vp3, .xxx

SKU: RPE-885-001. The purchase contains one zipper-and-eye motif prepared in two sizes, not two different eye designs.

Hoop Fit and the Very Small Safety Margin

The smaller file can fit a true 130x180 mm / 5x7-class field, but it leaves only 1.9 mm / 0.07 in at each end. The larger file leaves only 1.0 mm / 0.04 in at each end of a 140x200 mm field. A machine with an internal safety margin may reject either borderline fit. Run the boundary trace before stitching and compare the file with the machine’s actual usable embroidery field, not the hoop’s outer dimensions.

Neither size fits a 100x100 mm / 4x4 field. The larger file also does not fit a 130x180 mm / 5x7-class field because its long side measures 198.0 mm / 7.80 in.

Original Madeira Palette

The supplied run sheets use Madeira Classic Rayon No. 40. Both sizes follow the same 11-color sequence. The squares below use the colors printed in the original chart; they are screen references, so choose spools by the Madeira numbers and compare a physical thread card when exact matching matters.

Programmed Color Sequence

Keep the blocks in this order. The first four colors build the eye area, and the dark and blue blocks complete the outlines, zipper, slider and final depth. If another thread brand is used, check each number in the free Madeira thread converter.

The eye does not have to remain yellow-gold. The dedicated Zipper and Eye project tutorial suggests Polyneon 5557 Sage for a green version, 1163 Medium Blue for blue, 529 Terracotta for red and 1313 for violet. Change only the eye-related blocks after checking the run sheet; preserve the zipper shading sequence.

Stabilizer and Needle by Project

A long design can look stable at the center while creeping at the two ends. The backing must support the complete 176.2 or 198.0 mm length. For more fabric-specific choices, use the machine embroidery stabilizer guide.

Practical Tricks for a Clean Zipper Illusion

• Print the template at 100%. Mark the long centerline and both ends before hooping. A small angular error is very noticeable on a straight zipper.
• Trace the boundary. The 130x180 and 140x200 placements have less than 2 mm / 0.08 in clearance at each end.
• Use a separate patch for difficult garments. Stitch the design on twill, canvas or patch material, trim it and sew or fuse it over a hole. This avoids bulky seams and inaccessible lining.
• Do not stitch across hardware. Check the wrong side for a functional zipper, pocket opening, drawstring channel, snap, rivet or heavy seam before the needle starts.
• Use polyester for hard-wearing projects. Bags, masks, outerwear and washable patches benefit from polyester’s abrasion and moisture resistance.
• Add glow selectively. Glow-in-the-dark thread works best as an iris or eye accent after a test, not as an automatic replacement for every pale block.
• Make the zipper look metallic without overloading it. Replace only a tested zipper highlight block with smooth No. 40 metallic thread, use a 90/14 metallic needle and reduce speed to approximately 350–500 stitches per minute. Read the metallic-thread setup guide before using flat ribbon-style thread.

If neither prepared size suits the project, do not force a large percentage change in ordinary editing software. The zipper teeth, narrow outlines and eye details depend on their programmed stitch lengths. Order the professional embroidery design resizing service when a substantially different size is required.

Download, Formats and License

After purchase, download the ZIP archive, extract it and transfer the required size in a format supported by the embroidery machine. If the device cannot open ZIP files, use the Royal Present Online ZIP Unzip Tool.

The design may be used for personal projects and limited finished items for sale. Bulk manufacturing is not permitted. The digital files may not be copied, shared, exchanged, uploaded, repackaged or resold. See the Royal Present Embroidery Terms and Conditions of Use for the complete license.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a real zipper sewn into the project?

No. The zipper teeth, tape, slider and opening are embroidered. The design creates the appearance of a zipper but does not include functional hardware or a cut opening.

Does the smaller size fit a 5x7 hoop?

It fits only when the machine has a true usable field of at least 130x180 mm / 5.12x7.09 in. The 176.2 mm / 6.94 in length leaves only 3.8 mm / 0.15 in of total clearance, so run the boundary trace first.

Does the larger size fit a 5x7 hoop?

No. Its long side measures 198.0 mm / 7.80 in. Use a true 140x200 mm / 5.51x7.87 in field, a 100x300 mm / 3.94x11.81 in field or a larger compatible field.

Can I rotate the design by 90 degrees?

Yes, if both rotated dimensions remain inside the machine’s actual field. Rotation changes placement, not file size. Recheck the boundary after rotating and make sure the garment can move freely around the hoop.

Can this design be embroidered on a T-shirt?

Yes. Use fusible no-show poly mesh or soft cut-away, a new 75/11 ballpoint embroidery needle and hoop the shirt without stretching it. Stitch a test on comparable knit first because the long zipper can reveal even slight fabric movement.

Can I make it as a patch to cover a hole?

Yes. Stitch it on sturdy non-stretch twill, canvas, felt or specialty patch material with firm backing. Trim the patch and attach it by stitching, textile adhesive or fusible web according to the garment fabric. This method is often safer than embroidering directly over a damaged or bulky area.

Can the eye be green or glow in the dark?

Yes. Change only the eye-related blocks after checking the run sheet. A green polyester or luminous thread can create the effect shown in customer projects, but test density, needle choice and visibility in both daylight and darkness before stitching the final item.

How many colors and color changes are programmed?

The original chart contains 11 unique Madeira Classic shades in 11 programmed blocks, producing 10 thread changes. Both prepared sizes use the same sequence.

Is JEF included?

Yes. The supplied formats are DST, JEF, PEC, VIP, HUS, PES, EXP, DAT, VP3 and XXX. SEW is not listed for this product.

Can I resize the file myself?

Use one of the two prepared sizes whenever possible. Strong scaling can distort the zipper teeth, satin outlines, density and pull compensation. A substantially different size requires stitch recalculation, not only percentage scaling.

What exactly will I receive?

You will receive a ZIP archive containing the two digital machine-embroidery sizes in the ten listed formats. No physical product, garment, patch, zipper, fabric, thread or stabilizer is shipped.