Friday 29 December 2023

oversew and so on

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For the longest time since (mid-1980s) I have wondered what ‘oversew’ meant when hiding tails at the end of a tatting project. I came across it in my Anchor and Coats books. Tried my own methods (including overcast stitch as in embroidery) but none worked out – knotting was the only way I knew and continued with it despite the 'ugliness'. 

Two decades later, on the net, I asked around, to no avail, but I switched to whip stitch some years ago.  Until a few months back when Jean Inglis used the term in her FB post! At my request, she explained and also uploaded a WIP pic. It got me thinking and I obviously had to try it out to compare and contrast with other sewing methods of hiding ends/tails as compiled here -. https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2016/11/beginning-or-ending.html

In my current study, I found two main methods that are commonly used to sew in the ends. Please excuse my shoddy samplers below (the sewing thread/tail should not be visible once it is pulled tight). I have used a contrasting blue thread as tails or ends for the purpose of clarity.

The first is what I will now refer to as OVERSEW

Here, we sew the tail Under the cap or waist band of the double stitch, and weave between the legs of the ds - under and over the half-stitches.  Hence a 10 ds count segment will give you 10 stitches front and behind. This method is diagrammed clearly by Jennifer Williamshttps://www.cariad-tatting.com/techniques.  

A variation of this method is shared by Lily Morales where we weave between the double stitches. Hence if there are 10 ds, you have 5 stitches under the caps in front, and 5 behind. [the link from The Online Tatting Class is currently unavailable]. 

The second method is WHIP STITCH. Here we sew the tail across the Top of the caps, weaving in between the double stitches. You can clearly see the tail (blue thread) moving over the top of the stitches instead of through the sides. This is my go-to method for 7 years now, when Carollyn Brown uploaded her video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q-JloBBdIM and it just clicked with me.

Jean Inglis'  Mom taught her to tat in 1980 and to sew in her ends as above. She used the term 'oversew'. She unravels the tail and uses the thinner thread to sew and hide, thus leaving a tinier footprint. But look closely, and you realise it is actually the whip stitch! Yet, this unraveling of thread can be used for the oversew methods described above, too.

In conclusion, I'd say traditionally 'oversew' would simply have meant to sew in the tails whether you wove the tail under or over the caps; between double or half-stitches. However, if we wish to fine tune it, we can differentiate oversew from whip stitch as explained above.

Feel free to share your own thoughts and experience; no need to hide them!


For an annotated and frequently updated listing of the many ways to start, add, or hide ends, mostly knotless: https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2016/11/beginning-or-ending.html

Many thanks to all mentioned above, and those not mentioned, who constantly help us improve our knowledge, understanding, and skills.

12 comments:

  1. When I started tatting, in 1978, the recommended way to deal with ends was to take a matching sewing thread and sew the ends onto the back of the tatting. It's quite fiddly, and difficult to hide the ends of the sewing thread itself. You have to try to remember to sew all the ends to the same side of the work! Anyway, it could also be described as oversewing. I think Jane Eborall has diagrams showing how to deal with ends on her techniques pages.

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    1. Oh yes, that is what I called 'overcast' (I probably should've said couching instead ;-P) and I had the same reaction as you did, Jane. Didn't repeat it after that first attempt, LOL. Thank you for sharing your trials 💕

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  2. I had trouble understanding the oversew and I'm still not sure I got it. I do a kind of whip stitch, but I zig-zag each stitch left and right. Wait, isn't that the oversew?
    Anyway. I hope you have nice holidays and a happy New Year!

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    1. Lavi, think of it like this - A] when the ring is laid flat and you see the cap and 2 legs of a ds; now if you poke the tail needle down one leg and up the next, and so on, (all below the cap) -- this is oversew.
      B] when you poke your needle through the cap - moving right and left (if seen from above) in a zigzag manner Across and Over each cap, this is whip stitch.
      My annotated post has many more tutorial links if you are interested.
      I didn't mean this present post as a tutorial 😁 hence apologise for any confusion.
      Sending you wishes for a great year ahead, Lavi, with time to be creative in all your chosen fields and also to visit our blogs 😍

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    2. Thank you for explaining! I've gone back and read your previous post on hiding ends and I am using Ninetta's style of whip stitch. It creates less bulk.
      I hope you have a great year ahead too! :)

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    3. Ninetta and Carollyn's methods are the same - whip stitch, and my absolute favourite! Since I first learned it from the latter, I give her credit 😁💗 Good to know you got that sorted out, Lavi 😍

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  3. Thanks for the tip on unraveling the thread, I haven't noticed to do that. Now I have a new habit to learn next year. I wish you a Happy New Year!

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    1. We learn so much when we share! Wishing you a very happy new year, too, Marja 😍

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  4. Interesting post, it's always useful to learn alternatives 🥰👍

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    1. Thanks, Nin, it is certainly good to have options 😍

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  5. Thank you for showing it with the contrast colors, it makes more sense(to me, anyway). ;)

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    1. Welcome, Sue 😍 I'm not too happy with my work, but thankfully there are better tutorials out there to learn from.

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