100 stitches - overcast stitch

Time for 100 stitches, but this time in 3-D! No special glasses required ;)See this rounded, puffy, 3-d looking stitch making up the center line of this blade of "sea grass"? This is the overcast stitch. 100 stitches also calls this Trailing: This stitch isn't as easy as it may look...here is how I did it. Basically, this stitch is made up of two different threads. A laid thread, which just lays on the pattern line, and a working thread which actually stitches the laid thread into place. Sort of like the couching stitch. The laid thread is going to be completely covered up by the working thread so it doesn't matter what color you use for the laid thread. I am using two different colors of the pearl cotton floss so it will be easier to follow my demonstration. I first drew a line to be the stitching line:I am going to have the white floss be the laid thread and the lavender floss be the working thread. Thread each color on its own needle: Bring the laid thread up through the fabric at the start of the stitching line. Smooth it down along the stitching line. 100 Stitches suggests holding it in place with your thumb, but it was too difficult for me to hold in place, stitch and take a picture! Now bring the working thread up right at the start of the stitching line: With the working thread, go back into the fabric on one side of the stitching line: and come back up through the fabric on the opposite side of the stitching line: Pull all the way through and go back into the fabric on the opposite side of the stitching line. The laid thread is being encased by these stitches: Come up through the fabric on the opposite side of the stitching line: Just keep stitching: and stitching: Until you are at the end of the stitching line. Bring the working thread through the fabric to the back and secure it. Now bring the laid thread back into the fabric and secure it to the underside: That will finish off the stitch. The result is a beautiful line of stitching!Here is a picture of the underside of the stitch. It looks neat and clean but sort of lumpy :( Like I said earlier, this stitch looks easy to do but I had a little bit of trouble keeping all my stitches a consistent tension. I am getting better at it with practice.This stitch was really fun to do and I love the three dimensional look it gives. 100 Stitches suggest that you use this stitch for delicate stems and outlines. I plan on using it a lot! This stitch is #18 and is in the flat stitches section of 100 Stitches.