Before seamstresses had the opportunity to “cheat” with fusible interfacing, we had to reinforce points of wear in our clothing the old fashioned way. You could use plain old interfacing by itself but the prettiest option available – in my opinion – was the Arrowhead Tack, sometimes also known as the Sprat’s Head stitch.
Though you’d be hard pressed to find an example of an Arrowhead Tack on any item of clothing made today – excepting, of course, upscale western wear – but in 40’s and 50’s clothing this eye-catching embellishment was commonplace.
I love Arrowhead Tacks for securing the corners of slash or welt pockets, flanking either side of buttonholes, decoratively pointing along a seam, or reinforcing the release point of a pleat or vent. Nowadays more than ever, a well-executed Arrowhead Tack has enough “wow factor” to immediately elevate a ho-hum garment into couture territory!
The good news is that your embroidery skills don’t need to be crazy good to make a decent Arrowhead Tack – it’s basically just some well-organized straight stitches. To incorporate an Arrowhead Tack into your next project, trace out the desired size and shape of your tack onto your project using an erasable marker or tailor’s chalk, thread a double-thickness of contrasting embroidery floss onto your embroidery needle and follow the nifty diagram I’ve included in this post.
As always, enjoy this technique – I’d love to see what you end up doing with it!
P.S. I’ve encountered a lot of Arrowhead Tacks in my vintage shopping adventures but I had a heck of a time finding examples on the internet for this post. If you have an example on your hands, please let me know in the comments below!
Jan 1, 2011, 10.27 PMby maux
I tried this technique and it worked like a charm ! http://maux.squarespace.com/journal/2011/1/1/new-years-eve-recap-and-first-2011-checkmark.html
Dec 20, 2010, 12.10 PMby seazoo
Lovely! Thank you for adding great technique on here! I’ll try it :)
1 Reply
Dec 20, 2010, 05.54 PMby eringilday
You’re welcome, seazoo! Glad to hear its been useful for you.
Dec 20, 2010, 04.49 AMby sammurphy
OMG! I just made Simplicity 1345 (pictured above) the other day and didn’t include the arrow heads because…well firstly because I just didn’t want them, but secondly because I didn’t know how to!
Thanks for the great post – keep them coming!
1 Reply
Dec 20, 2010, 05.54 PMby eringilday
That’s spooky, Sam! I pulled that one from my personal collection and scanned it in for this post. That’s the pattern that inspired this post in the first place! I’ve had it since high school and always looooooved the red with the black arrowhead tacks and fantasized about making it. Never have, though! I’d love to see what you made with it!
Thanks for reading!
Dec 19, 2010, 11.27 AMby sewlikeabee6
Yes you can save them under your favorites I just try it and it worked, most any thing you can save I think it lets you know if you can not do it. I could be wrong. so try to save eringilday arrowhead tacks. cool stuff
1 Reply
Dec 19, 2010, 05.21 PMby eringilday
Thanks, Bee! I’m going to repost this under Kelepso’s question to make sure he sees it….
Dec 19, 2010, 11.13 AMby sewlikeabee6
Thanks for the information cool stuff( I will try that) watch me stick myself lol. eringilday have a great day!
1 Reply
Dec 19, 2010, 05.20 PMby eringilday
You, too Bee!!!!! (The username change made me change to eringilday – all one word – but you can call me Erin!) =)
Dec 18, 2010, 10.47 PMby ruthw
I like the pictures – good ideas. Seeing it get called “historical” stings a bit, though! I know this stitch and I’m not fifty yet! LOL
1 Reply
Dec 19, 2010, 01.15 AMby eringilday
Glad you enjoyed the post, Ruth! No offense meant – these days it seems like everything pre-1990 is labelled “vintage,” which does just seem silly to me.
On the other hand though, I often wonder about the rapid excelleration in the changes (or should I say deterioration?) of RTW construction standards that has happened just over the last several decades. So much change so fast using so many new materials, techniques and machines/computers really does make certain techniques/garments seem “vintage” before their time.
I guess what we consider to be “vintage” is all a matter of perspective, though, right? I wonder about the history of that word, too – “vintage” – I mean…I feel like 100 years ago they would have just called them “old clothes” and been done with it. I wonder. (I guess that bears further research!)
Dec 18, 2010, 02.05 AMby jenss-1
Thank you for the information about this technique—very useful! I’ll definitely consider it for future projects.
1 Reply
Dec 18, 2010, 07.40 PMby eringilday
you’re welcome! enjoy!
Dec 17, 2010, 06.38 AMby loyl8
love this post i have this in one of my sewing books and have been meaning to add it to the end/top of a dart on a blouse
1 Reply
Dec 17, 2010, 05.08 PMby eringilday
cuuuute! I want to see when you’ve got it done!
Dec 16, 2010, 08.37 PMby stuffit-1
Interesting, I just knew it for securing the slits of skirts. Thank you for more information! :) Funny thing it is called a “Fliege” (fly) in german :D
1 Reply
Dec 17, 2010, 05.08 PMby eringilday
O neat! Glad you liked the post!
Dec 16, 2010, 06.42 PMby kelepso
Very cool detail. How can I favorite this article for use in the future?
5 Replies
Dec 16, 2010, 07.13 PMby eringilday
hmmm…not sure what you mean, Kelepso! Maybe bookmark it in your browser? Am I confused?
Dec 17, 2010, 03.08 AMby kelepso
I assumed readers were able to “favorite” an article like we are able to “favorite” techniques to be stored in our homepage for future reference. I am interested in trying this technique when I have some spare time on my hands. Regardless, I will take your advice and bookmark it. Secondly, what type of thread would you use to create this arrowhead tack? thickness? etc?
Dec 19, 2010, 01.22 AMby eringilday
Oh, I see what you mean now! Yeah, I still don’t know for certain how to do that. Sorry! =)
As far as thread goes – good question! I wouldn’t use regular sewing thread because that would just take ages to fill in so something thicker is definitely called for. I could see this done with embroidery floss for a dainty look on a blouse or even in mercerized perle for a more rugged, textural look on a heavy winter coat. I think anything would work though, even regular sewing thread, if you have the patience – I think the answer would depend on what type of effect you’re looking for.
HTH, Kelepso! Can’t wait to see what you do with it!
Dec 19, 2010, 05.22 PMby eringilday
Hi Kelepso!
sewlikeabee6 had some advice downthread that I thought I would repost here to make sure you see it:
“Yes you can save them under your favorites I just try it and it worked, most any thing you can save I think it lets you know if you can not do it. I could be wrong. so try to save eringilday arrowhead tacks.”
Helpful? Being an internet bumbler, I still have no idea what either of you are talking about. =)
Dec 19, 2010, 06.44 PMby kelepso
Thank you both (eringilday & sewlikeabee). Your advice was helpful. I bookmarked the link for reference. Funny enough, I never used the bookmark function until now.
Dec 16, 2010, 06.26 PMby carottesauvage
waow great tip! thanks!
1 Reply
Dec 16, 2010, 07.10 PMby eringilday
You’re welcome!
Dec 16, 2010, 05.06 PMby YarnUiPhoneApp
Be sure to use the proper thimble for this technique otherwise it will hurt. A lot!
1 Reply
Dec 16, 2010, 07.10 PMby eringilday
OW! Learned the hard way, huh? I always say “won’t be the last time” when I stick myself with pins/needles/whathaveyou. I just accept it as part of sewing. Actually, in costume shops (where I learned to sew), its good luck for the costumer to bleed on the costume, so there you go. =)
Dec 16, 2010, 04.56 PMby fashionfreek
Me too :O). Funny thing about sewing is you want to learn everything…Well I do :) Thanks for bringing this topic up.
1 Reply
Dec 16, 2010, 07.08 PMby eringilday
You’re welcome! My thoughts exactly! I was just thinking this morning about how I’m as enthusiastic about quilting as I am about dressmaking…and werid stuff like bookbinding (basically sewing) and making fabric boxes. There is never a shortage of things to learn – especially when you look at fiber arts history!