Coat Zip Problems.

[Tilly2]

I have North Face coat which has served me well over the last two years but just lately the zip has been getting stuck on the internal facing of the zip. When this happens, no amount of tugging and yanking will release the zip and I have to pull the coat off over my head.

Eventually, I manage to free the zip. Goodness knows how.

Is there anything I can do to stop it catching in the first place?

I have read about using a candle/soap to lubricate the zip but i can't see how that would help with it catching on the internal fabric.

Any suggestions?

[klazomaniac]

Try a little bit of WD40 (or equivalent)

[barry1010]

Is the coat lining overlapping the zip a teeny bit in one place and getting caught?
If so you might be able to stitch it out of the way without affecting the coat

[wolf63]

Get a new zip put in. That would be totally out-with my abilities but maybe you could do it.

[gness]

Tilly. The lining will be slightly larger than the outer which is usually why this happens.
Barry's suggestion is good as long as you stitch along the side seam/s. A little tuck over to the back and hand sew from underarm to the bottom. If you're not sure that this will solve the problem try on one side with some long tacking stitches to save time before doing it neatly.

[douglas9401]

Does it

a. Need a dart put in and

b. Is that the proper name for what I mean?
Folded over and stitched to make it neater and tighter.

[gness]

A dart would work fine, Douglas but would just be more visible. However if Tilly found that easier it would be a good solution especially if she has a sewing machine.
That could be done from higher up than my suggestion as long as it doesn't pull on the armholes.

[jno]

if it's catching on the fabric of the zip itself then any loose fabric may need tacking down, or replace the whole zip. (Not a job for amateurs, at least not this one.) If it's the lining of the coat then as barry says it should be easier to tack down.

[Tilly2]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I was trying to avoid sewing it as it's a waterproof coat and I dont want to ruin it. I'll give it a go later and see what I can do with.
The zip itself is fine. It's the storm flap under the zip that gets stuck in the zip.

[Arrods]

Sometimes, if you know that it's been a problem before, you can use your index finger to move the lining away as you pull the zip up.