Couching is one way to lay down lines particularly, using thick threads and thin cords that you can’t sew with on the fabric you’ve using. I’ve never used it much really, but think I need to more. So in the current series of little sample thingies I’m experimenting, and here are a couple more featuring couching:

It wasn’t easy to work with, took me a while to learn how to handle it properly. First, I did appliqued the circle (a bit clunky) then stitched the line beginning in the lower left corner finishing near the left edge, and finally added the little ring with ends sticking out. As I felt I got better, I didn’t remove the less competent start – left it there to remind me. I hadn’t seen this printed paper rolled into a raffia-like ‘thread’ so bought 10m at the haberdashery I was in, and as I say, it could be useful some time. I sometimes find unusual things speak to me and really influence a turn I take in my work, but maybe not this one – it might sit in the drawer next to the 2m string of pearlescent sequins and the 4m string of gold vinyl stars …

Couching can be done by machine, too, and during the week I had some correspondence with an embroiderer who said she’d only couch if it could be done by machine. I’m sure that’s wonderful sometimes, but I am pretty focused on hand stitch myself! And, I love that it is possible to couch in such a way that the sewing thread is not at all visible, so the cord just seems to be sitting or resting on the fabric. I’m tempted to say that working by hand allows finer twists and turns in the line, but being so far out of date with fancy modern machine technology, I can accept that may not be true these days. Couching one cord over the top of another as above, may or may not be easily done by machine, I don’t know – perhaps someone will enlighten me..