After writing a post on embellishing wool leaves with the couching foot that came with my Bernina (read HERE) a follower told me about Bernina’s #43 Couching Foot. It allows free motion stitching while couching!
Couching is an embroidery technique in which a heavier thread is laid on top of the fabric and stitched over with another thread to secure in place.
The couching foot that came with my Bernina only allowed straight stitch couching so the design options were limited. The #43 foot allows much more design flexibility.
I experimented with several different yarns and cords–more on that in a future post. Some yarns shredded like– the finger weight yarn below, and some worked pretty well. My favorite was a nylon twine I found in my basement–probably purchased from the hardware store.
To use the #43 foot, thread the sewing machine for normal stitching.
Next, thread the cord or yarn into the side of the foot and down into the bottom of the foot. After the foot is threaded, attach it to the machine and start stitching (with a straight stitch). Here’s a short Bernina video of the process.
I love this technique, but do have a few more issues to work out–like how to tie the ends of the cord and more experimenting with threads.
I am so excited to think of all the new ways the free motion motifs can be adapted to couching! Wouldn’t this be great for a pillow, or a table runner, or….
I need to go lay down on the couch and think about it!
Lori
PS…All photos, tutorials and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt. Feel free to re-blog and Pin with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me (I’ll be on my couch today) at lckennedy@hotmail.com.
