Abstract: A sewing machine (10) for mass producing zipper closable garment pocket entries (65) includes a pair of pocket entry (65) in a plurality of garments (50,72,80). The apparatus 10 is a modification of a conventional type of double needle sewing machine and includes knife blades (18) spaced laterally apart from each other which cooperate with a pair of conventional double needles (12) to cut in advance of each stitch (58) and enable provision of a square miter at the ends of each finished pocket entry (65). The knife blades (18) are disposable between and behind the two needles (12) in the material feed direction. A feeder mechanism feeds continuous zipper tape (38) across the throat plate (16) beneath the needles (12) and knife blades (18) which may be selectively lowered and raised by the operator. The knife blades (18) operate in conjunction with the needle bar (14) movement only when engaged so as to cut in advance of each stitch while being unaffected by needle bar movement when disengaged.

Abstract: A method for providing in a garment, at a predetermined pocket location therein, a closable pocket entry having a zipper closure therefor which comprises the steps of providing a zipper fastener tape having a pair of substantially continuous zipper teeth chains along the outermost extremities thereof, which tape is secured to the garment at the predetermined location adjacent each of the zipper teeth chains with the chain being located along the outermost opposed extremities of the zipper fastener tape. The garment is cut at the predetermined location to provide a substantially continuous slit for the pocket entry and each of the pair of opposed extremity zipper teeth chains are bent until the chains are in opposed adjacent relationship with means being provided thereon for completing the formation of the secured closable zipper at the pocket entry in order to provide the zipper closure therefor.