How to Repair a Zipper on Leather Furniture

Loosen a stuck zipper with a light coating of beeswax. Light the candle and let it burn a few minutes to soften the wax. Rub the soft wax from the top of the candle on the teeth of the zipper. Work the zipper back and forth several times to distribute the wax evenly.

Reattach a zipper pull that has become detached on one side by first zipping the pull to the bottom of the zipper. Cut out the lowest two teeth on the other side of the zipper. Thread the pull onto that side of the zipper through the gap you created. Zip the zipper closed several inches. Using a small upholstery needle and heavy thread, sew the zipper tightly closed two teeth above the missing teeth. An upholstery needle is a curved needle that allows you to sew when you can only reach one side of the fabric.

Sew a zipper you cannot fix closed. Tuck the teeth inside as you slip-stitch the tape on each side of the zipper together. Use an upholstery needle and heavy thread and make small tight stitches back and forth across the opening.

Close the seam where one side of a zipper is ripping out by hand-sewing it with a needle and heavy thread. Remove the cover from the cushion and pin the zipper back in place before you hand-sew along the seam. Replace the cover and close the zipper.

Replace a zipper by carefully ripping out the old zipper and adding a new one. Heavy-duty zippers are sold by color and length. You may use a leather jacker zipper if you sew it shut at the opening end, by sewing around the lowest set of teeth eight times, with heavy thread. Do this with the zipper closed.

Remove the cover from the cushion. Carefully rip out the old zipper. Pin the new zipper in place and sew it along the original seams with heavy thread. Sew the seams twice; the second time you sew the seam go up through the holes you went down through and down through the holes you went up through. This will make stitches on each side between the stitches of your first seam.