Has anyone ever tried couching?
 

In the new McCalls magazine, they showed how to take a piece of yarn, cord or decorative thread and quilt over it with a zizzag stitch. You can use it to add decorative stitching to your quilt. It looks very interesting. I was just wondering if anyone on the board has tried it and how did it look. I'd like to try it but am always afraid of trying something different. Just wondering. Thanks¹

I tried it in a class many years ago...somewhere I have the samples I made...never have applied it to a quilt, but did do some couching around the neckline of a jumper and it looked really good. Give it a try!!

I tried this as part of trying out all my feet on my new machine. The couching foot has little grooves to line up the decorative threads (up to 3) and makes it really easy. It was fun and I liked the effect. I used the sample piece to make a tote bag.

Good question...I am also curious ... will wait for replies.

Couching is a fun technique. I added threads/yarns to tote bags, cushions and journal covers, wall hangings. I have used the zig zag stitch as well as decorative stitches.

I have tried that. I made a sweatshirt jacket and did the couching an inch above the end of the arms. Looked cute and country.

Lynn

I did a lot of couching with counted cross stitch and embroidery, but haven't yet had an opportunity with a quilt.

I just completed my 2nd Argyle pattern quilt for my DGDs for christmas. I applied yarn on the first quilt but when I was done noticed the quilt had puckered some from stretching the yarn as I was sewing. Next quilt I used cotton yarn (in the balls) and had much better results. Just be sure you set your width - not too wide. Have fun!

I took a class from Karen Linduska, she showed us how to use different yarns, felt, and different decorative stitches on our machines. It was so much fun and I have used the technique on small quilts and love it

I did it on a denm quilt made for my son. I drew large designs with chalk like a foot print, star etc. Then used red yarn and red thread zigzagged over the designs. This was probably 25 years ago and the quilt is now in the possession of our grandson at college. The designs are still there and look good. Try laying the thread on the quilt in the design that you are thinking of and step back and look at it.

I've done couching on home dec projects and a couple of vests. It's fun and if you have a couching foot and decorative stitches on your machine, it's a pretty easy way to add some pizazz. I love using metallic yarn or cord and invisible thread. Get some scraps and practice. I think you'll like it. I don't see why you couldn't use it on a quilt, might be a great little pop.

I have done couching and loved it. I have done it both with a zigzag stitch and a couching foot. Which way is determined by how much I want to do and the threads used.

ali

One of the members here, debcaven, did an awesome tutorial on this technique. It's on my very very long to do list :D
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...s-t110571.html

I did it to ad vines and stems to an applique quilt it was much easier and neater for me then the stem stitch. I hand stitched it.

Do you have to have a special foot for your machine to do couching???

I have only done couching by hand. I used invisible thread and it came out looking pretty good.

I have never done this, but if I were you I'd definitely try it out on a scrap piece before I did it on my actual quilt. Good luck learning!

Try this on some scraps, use different kinds of yarns, multiple strands of threads, braidings, etc. I have seen beautiful effects using narrow ribbon too.

Use a zig zag or the more open type of decorative stitches on your machine. You may find that on a single layer of fabric that you will need a stabilizer to eliminate puckering. Heavily starching the fabric first, may eliminate the need for a stabilizer.

A couching foot makes the process easier, but a zig zag foot with a grooze in the bottom of it will work too. There is also a couching foot made to use while FMQ :)

You can couch on yardage and make beautiful fabric for a unique backing, or cut it up into quilt blocks.
Couched bias strips, with a decorative stitch makes beautiful vines and stems. Experiment, have fun, and please show us your results :) :) :)

Couching is really easy. My old old old sewing maching has an attachment that allows you to not have to worry about lining up the cord, ribbon, etc. because it feeds it right to the needle so this makes it easy to turn corners or stitch around an applique. The new machines probably have the same type attachment but newer and improved compared to mine.