Tack (sewing)

In sewing, to tack or baste is to sew quick, temporary stitches that will later be removed. Tacking is used for a variety of reasons, such as holding a seam in place until it is sewn properly, or transferring pattern markings onto the garment. Tacking is typically sewn using a specialised tacking thread, which may snap easily in order for it to be easily removed from the garment when necessary.

Tacking is used in a variety of ways; one of the most common uses is to easily hold a

X-shaped tacking stitches are also very common on the

Tacking may be used to temporarily attach a lace collar, ruffles, or other trims 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.^[3]

Tacking may be used to transfer pattern markings to fabric, or to otherwise mark the point where two pieces of fabric are to be joined. A special loose loop 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 - an overlong straight stitch with unfinished ends - is often used in quilting or embroidery to temporarily hold sandwiched pieces of fabric in place, with the basting stitches removed when the piece is finished.

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  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

  .
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  Tailor's tacks mark fabric to trace a pattern piece, without attaching tracing paper.

• Bar tack

• Tacking stitch