Types Of Tacking Stitches| Get To Know All About Tacking Stitch

I wanted to hold 2 fabrics together for a temporary time so I asked my grandma what to do with them. She said ‘You can do tacking stitches or basting stitches and there are many types of tacking stitches too.’

What are the other types of grandma? Tell me in detail about it.

What Is A Tacking Stitch?

A tacking stitch is a temporary stitch used to hold pieces of fabric together before you sew them permanently. This is another types of stitches sewing. Tack stitch is easy and quick. It’s like a placeholder stitch that keeps things in place while you work on the final sewing. You can easily remove it once you’re done.

Types Of Tacking Stitches

There are 15 types of tacking stitches such as:

1. Regular Tacking Stitches
2. Tailor’s Tacking Stitch
3. Even Tacking Stitch
4. Uneven Tacking Stitch
5. Diagonal Tacking Stitch
6. Slip Tacking Stitches
7. Long Tacking Stitch
8. Short Tacking Stitches
9. Machine Tacking Stitch
10. Tie Tacking Stitch
11. Cross Tacking Stitch
12. French Tack Stitch
13. Arrow Head Tacking Stitch
14. Bar Tacking Stitch
15. Pin Tack Stitch

Regular tacking stitches are super simple like running stitches, evenly-spaced running stitches that you use temporarily to hold fabric pieces together.

This is the most basic stitches type among two types of tacking stitches. If you’re doing it by hand, just thread a needle with a contrasting color thread so it’s easy to see and remove later. Make small, straight stitches about 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart through the fabric layers.

When you’re done, either tie a small knot on the backside or leave a tail if you’re planning to remove the stitches soon.

Tailor’s tacking is a type of basting stitch where you use a double thread to stitch through 2 layers of fabric. This is like doing an overcast stitch by hand.

After stitching, you cut the thread between the layers, leaving large looped stitches in each piece. These loops help mark seam lines and important points without damaging the fabric, making it easy to match everything up correctly.

And, the fun part is,

You can do tailor tack stitch in 2 patterns.

1. Loss
2. Loop

-Which one is easier, Grandma?

An even tacking stitch is like a loose, long stitch used in sewing to hold fabric pieces together temporarily before you do the real stitching. It’s called “even” because both sides of the stitch look the same. This one kinda looks like a straight stitch.

Here are some grandma tips to make it easier: 

This can be done intentionally to provide a temporary hold to fabric pieces before permanent stitching or to create an effect in the fabric. It’s a bit more freeform compared to even tacking and can be used for various sewing projects depending on the desired outcome.

This technique is often used in tailoring to keep the fabric layers from shifting and to provide additional stability. This kind of looks like a saddle stitch. This can be vertical stitches. but diagonal tacking can help maintain the shape of a garment during construction and makes it easier to handle the fabric when sewing permanent seams.

It’s a simple but effective method that adds precision to the sewing process.

Slip tacking stitches catch only a few threads of the fabric on the top layer, making the stitches nearly invisible from the right side. Slip stitch hand sewing is often used for tasks like matching patterns or plaids, where you want the stitches to be inconspicuous.

Slip tacking provides a secure hold while maintaining the neat appearance of the fabric.

Long tacking refers to a temporary stitching method in sewing where longer stitches are used to hold fabric pieces together.

Long tacking is useful for holding fabric layers in place during fitting or construction stages before permanent stitching is done. It provides stability without requiring as much time or effort as permanent stitches, making it a handy technique in sewing projects.

Short tacking is smaller and closer together compared to regular basting stitches. This is a form of free style embroidery stitch. And the most common stitch.

Short tacking is often used for precise or delicate work, such as securing fabric layers before final stitching or creating temporary markers for adjustments. This kinda reminds me of pick stitch. It provides a secure hold without being too visible and is easily removed once it’s no longer needed, making it a versatile technique in sewing projects.

Machine tacking is like using a sewing machine to make temporary stitches. It’s a quicker and more efficient way compared to hand tacking, especially for big projects.

Sewing machines have different machine stitches options you can adjust to make these temporary holds, depending on how long and tight you want them. While it’s often used in factories for making clothes, it’s also handy for sewing at home.

The tie tacking stitch is a method used to secure the back blade of a necktie to the front, ensuring that the tie keeps its shape and doesn’t shift during wear.

According to merriam-webster,

It’s a simple strong stitch that’s typically hidden beneath the label of the tie, helping to maintain a clean and polished appearance.  Just like hemming stitches do.

Cross-tacking stitches are creating stitches in an x pattern to temporarily hold fabric layers together.

It’s often used for securing seams or folds in place before permanent stitching.

This cross-stitch provides extra stability and prevents shifting of fabric during the sewing process. This process is kinda similar to hand sew buttonhole.   Once the final stitches are in place, cross-tacking stitches can be easily removed. It’s a handy method for ensuring precise and secure sewing results.

French tack is this invisible bond that joins 2 layers of fabric in a garment without being all obvious about it. It is a sneaky little trick in sewing. You usually do it by hand, hiding it in the seam allowances. People like to use French tacks at spots like the hem of a skirt, the waistline, or the bottom of armholes. 

To make one, you do blanket stitches across a bunch of threads to create a little bar. Some folks say French tacks are stronger and fancier-looking than chain tacks, but chain tacks are easier to pick up.

Arrowhead tacking is like a special sewing move that makes these cool temporary stitches look like little arrowheads. It looks like an overcast stitch. It’s super handy because it holds fabric in place really securely but is also easy to take out when you’re done. You’d use this technique when you need things to stay put just right before you do the real sewing.

These stitches usually stand out because they’re made with a different color thread. Once you’re all done with the final stitching, you can just remove the arrowhead tacking stitches, and your sewing project looks all polished and pro. It’s a neat trick that combines accuracy and convenience in sewing jobs.

A bar tack is basically a stitch used to make seams super strong. You’ll often spot them on outdoor stuff, especially where straps meet fabric or on buckles and spots that get a lot of stress. 

However, the size isn’t certain. It will depend on your stitch purpose. You will learn when you start to do the bar tack stitch by hand.

The pin tack stitch is a stitch that creates a “tacked” effect by sewing tiny, close stitches in a straight folded line. It adds a bit of texture or gathering without the bulk. Each stitch is really small—think just a couple of millimetres long. It’s usually spaced very close to the next stitch

This stitch works especially well on lightweight fabrics like cotton and silk, where the fine, evenly spaced pintacks can stand out and add a delicate touch. 

How To Do Tacking Stitch?

To do a tacking stitch, start by threading a needle with a contrasting single thread and knotting the end. Then, make long, straight stitchesthrough the layers of fabric you want to temporarily hold together. Space the stitches evenly, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart.

Once you’ve tacked the area, secure the thread with a knot on the backside of the fabric or leave a tail for easy removal later. Tacking stitches are great for holding fabric in place while you sew, and they’re easy to take out once you’re done.

Tacking Stitches Examples

After learning the tacking stitch, I did it often here and there. I took it as practice, but it turned out to be fun. 😁

Tacking stitches are used to temporarily hold fabric, mark sewing lines, or position pieces before final stitching. Here is my tacking stitch work:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Final Talk

Now you know all types of tacking stitches, right? So, tell me which tacking stitches you find the most interesting. If you are on wanna learn more about it then stay with sewing inspo.