The frustrating thing is that I have and it was easier than this; it's those were just beginner's luck. This one, I hand-basted in and it was fine, but when I used the sewing machine, the stitches on one side were too close to the teeth and it wouldn't open. I pulled out those stitches and re-did the seam, but now it's too far away and didn't catch on that side. I might have to just hand-sew that side of the zipper.

At least it's a side zipper so the messiness shouldn't be too obvious when I'm wearing the dress.

PS - are you owlfish's sister? You mentioned a post or so back that you had a sister who'd recently given birth to a girl; plus it was owlfish who introduced us in the first place. Just wondering.