From – May 7, 2010
Part of the pattern for the Faberge Eggs requires a couching of the suede strips for stems or snakes or sailboat masts. Because I do not want to sew through the leather (too much stress on the fingers) I will use the embroidery technique of couching instead. I love couching.
Couching gives the sewer the opportunity to attach materials to the piece that would not otherwise be attachable through more conventional methods of needlework. Glue is always an option but it won’t hold as well. Coins, leather, feathers, lace or any number of items that would be problematic to sew through, can instead be couched on and securely fastened.
One aspect of this technique to keep in mind is that to keep the stitches that show (those coming across the top) level, you must make the stitch underneath the one that is sewn on the angle.
The thread coming over the top should be level and this is done by the needle coming out from under the object being couched on and then being inserted back into the underlying fabric to produce a level stitch. The stitch under the couched on object is the one that is at the angle determined by the length of the space between stitches that show above the couched on object. If you want more space between the stitches shown, make a greater angle under the object. If you want a denser look with your thread, have the needle come out from under, closer to the previous stitch.
Couching opens up all kind of options when talking about embellishments. Because quilting is such a wonderful way to self express, taking advantage of all of the techniques available to us in that expression is just another part of our tool box.
At times nothing else can be substituted for couching.
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Karen Dennison
Learn, Grow, Share – And most of all – Create!
