Tack (sewing)

In sewing, to tack or baste is to make quick, temporary stitching intended to be removed. Tacking is used in a variety of ways:

  • To easily hold a seam or trim in place until it can be permanently sewn, usually with a long running stitch made by hand or machine called a tacking stitch or basting stitch.
  • X-shaped tacking stitches are also very common on vents (slits) on the back of men's suit jackets, or at the bottom of kick pleats on a woman's skirt. They are meant to hold the flaps in place during shipping and when on display in the store. They should be removed before being worn; however many shoppers do not realize it.[1] Brand labels loosely basted on the outer edges of the sleeves of outfits as well as women's winter coats should also be removed after purchase. They are meant to help customers to easily identify the brands in the store without reaching into the collar.[2]
  • To temporarily attach a lace collar, ruffles, or other trim to clothing so that the attached article may be removed easily for cleaning or to be worn with a different garment. For this purpose, tacking stitches are sewn by hand in such a way that they are almost invisible from the outside of the garment.
  • To transfer pattern markings to fabric, or to otherwise mark the point where two pieces of fabric are to be joined. A special loose looped stitch used for this purpose is called a tack or tailor's tack. This is often done through two opposing layers of the same fabric so that when the threads are snipped between the layers the stitches will be in exactly the same places for both layers thus saving time having to chalk and tack the other layer.
  • A basting stitch is essentially a straight stitch, sewn with long stitches and unfinished ends. The basting stitch is used for temporarily holding sandwiched pieces of fabric in place. The stitch is removed after the piece is finished. Often used in quilting or embroidery.
  • Basting thread on the right side (outer side) of fabric.
  • Tracing paper from a pattern is basted to fabric before a piece is cut. The basting marks are outlined with tailor's chalk.
  • Tailor's tacks mark fabric to trace a pattern piece, without attaching tracing paper.

References
  1. Quilters' Board: Tacking Stitch
  2. Fashion faux pas – Tags on sleeves
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