TAST Stitch 9 – Couching

tast stitch 9 couching
TAST stitch 9 is a simple, yet elegant stitch - couching. For this seemingly simple stitch, you can do a lot with it by changing your threads used.

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TAST stitch 9 – Couching

This wasn’t really a ‘new to me’ stitch, but more one I could work out where to use on my elephant! A simple, yet elegant stitch. My Jacobean piece used quite a bit of couching, as did my more recent crewelwork piece.

To continue on with my ‘glamorous’ elephant, I decided I would incorporate both the pink, and the ‘bling’ theme with my couching. Using a DMC metallic thread, and an Oliver Twistscotton thread, I worked the couching stitch around my vandyke stitch and long legged detached chain stitch. I’m actually quite pleased with the overall effect this has created in these two areas.

couching around long legged detached chain
     
couching around vandyke

 

 

 

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40 thoughts on “TAST Stitch 9 – Couching”

  1. Hi Catherine
    Love the blog. May I ask .. how are the little pink flowers done? Are those beads in the centre?
    Liz J

    1. Thanks Liz for your kind words and for taking the time to read and comment.
      The little pink flowers are stitched in a stitch called long legged detached chain. (You can read more about that stitch here: https://hillviewembroidery.com/tast-stitch-30-long-legged-detached-chain-stitch/)
      The centres are finished with a starry sequin. I found it in my ‘stash’. I have no idea what I originally intended them for (Christmas ornament perhaps?), but I liked the way they finished the flowers!

      1. Really helpful Catherine. Thanks. In the UK, I’ve found lots of lovely shaped sequins online at JosyRose

      2. Thanks for the information about JosyRose. I’ve just had a look at their website and feel I could get lost for a while there! So many beautiful things there! I can’t believe I’ve not come across them before. Thank you!

  2. The colours in that variegated thread are just yummy – gorgeous combinations – this is going to be an awesome piece when it’s finished

    1. I tend to shy away from variegated threads as you lose control of the colour placement. But they certainly work in some situations!

  3. I really like the plain couching over the metallic thread. The use of opposites in bling just makes it…more! This guy is starting to really take shape, looking forward to the next stitch you have chosen to highlight!

  4. The couching on those stitches looks really nice. Your elephant will truly be a beautiful piece when finished – I am (always) looking forward to the next installment.

    1. Thanks Connie. I was a bit worried the randomness of the stitches used would give an odd look, but I think it will be ok with some carefully considered stitches next!

  5. I clicked back to your previous Elephant posts and couching was the perfect stitch to add to those areas

    Often having a final plan for a piece gives us the push we need to really get working on it. I’m looking forward to finding out what you plan is.

    Thanks so much for linking up to last week’s Stitchery Link Party. Aloha hugs!

    1. Thanks Sue! I’m just working on it again now and think there are several other areas where couching will finish it off nicely. And it’s fun to be able to add that bling in without needing to actually stitch with metallic threads!

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Catherine of Hillview Embroidery

Thanks so much for visiting today! I’m Catherine, and it’s great to have you here. You will find here lots of information about my projects and designs, what worked, what didn’t, what I enjoyed, what I didn’t!

With a Certificate in Technical Hand Embroidery from the RSN, combined with my current technical studies in depth of each technique at the San Fransisco School of Needlework and Design, I strive to complete each piece to a high degree of technical excellence. But I also like to stretch the ‘rules’ and explore my own methods and techniques!

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