Overcasting half around
Stitcher was harnessed with some, and then stepped on the wrong side of the buttonhole at the starting end to fasten the thread with tiny back steps.
“This buttonhole-stitch will cover the bar and overcasting,” he said. “Now turn your work around, so that the starting end will be at your right hand, and do as I tell you.” Then he sang:
“At starting end, I come half-way through,
From my eye you bring threads down the right ’neath my toe,
Left thumb holds them down, I slip through and over,
Pull threads out and up, the edge firmly cover.
Stitching left, ’long the side and around the end go,
Then ’long the next side to starting end, sew.