Stitch dictionary

Couching

Also known as Couching stitch, Laid work

A thick, textured or metallic thread laid along the line and held down by small stitches in a second, usually finer, thread. It makes a bold line from threads that are too thick or fragile to stitch through fabric.

A gently curving line of thick blue thread on linen, held down by small golden-brown stitches at even spaces.

Quick facts

Type
Couched stitch
Best for
Bold lines, Thick or metallic threads, Smooth curves
Difficulty
Beginner (1 of 3)
Strands
Laid thread: 6 strands, perle or a thicker thread; tie-downs: 1–2 strands (of six-strand floss)
Needle
A large-eyed chenille needle to take the laid thread's ends through; an embroidery needle, size 9–10, for the tie-downs
Stitch length
Tie-downs every 3–5 mm (1/8–3/16 in), closer on curves
On curves
Very good: add tie-downs on curves
Related
Whipped backstitch, Chain stitch

Step by step

Shown right-handed, worked from left to right with the stab method in a hoop. The tie-downs are in a contrasting colour so they show; you would usually match them to the laid thread.

  1. Lay the thread

    Step 1: a thick laid thread lying along the line.

    Bring the laid thread up at the start of the line, or leave a tail on top to take through later, and lay it along the line without pulling it.

  2. First tie-down

    Step 2: the first tie-down crosses the laid thread near its start, from 1 on one side to 2 on the other. The laid thread is shown paler.

    With the second thread, come up at 1, just beside the laid thread near its start, and go down at 2 on the other side, so the small stitch crosses it. Use separate holes for 1 and 2, or the tie-down can drag the laid thread into the fabric.

  3. Space the tie-downs

    Step 3: a second tie-down, from 3 to 4, an even space along.

    Come up at 3, a stitch length of about 3 mm (1/8 in) along, and go down at 4 on the other side. Keep the spacing even, and put the tie-downs closer on curves.

  4. Plunge the ends

    Step 4: the finished couched line, held by evenly spaced tie-downs from end to end.

    When the whole line is tied down, take each end of the laid thread through to the back with a large-eyed needle and secure it with the second thread. Don't trim the ends too short.

Shown left-handed, worked from right to left: the right-handed pictures turned half a turn. The tie-downs are in a contrasting colour so they show.

Tips

  • Match the tie-down thread to the laid thread for an invisible hold, or contrast it for a decorative line.
  • Tie-downs every 3–5 mm (1/8–3/16 in) suit most lines. None of the stitch dictionaries we checked gives a number: this is our suggestion, taken from textile-conservation practice.
  • Put the tie-downs closer on curves, so the laid thread follows the line instead of pulling straight between them.
  • More laid strands make a bolder line; a slightly slack laid thread gives a looser, textured look.
  • Take the ends through with a large-eyed needle, and leave them long enough to secure on the back.

Common mistakes

Tie-downs too far apart on a curve

A tight curve in couching with only a few tie-downs: the laid thread runs straight between them in angled segments.

Looks like: The laid thread runs straight between tie-downs, cutting across the curve.

Why it happens: Too few tie-downs where the line bends.

Fix: Add tie-downs on curves, closer together the tighter the bend.

Tie-downs that disappear

Looks like: A tie-down sinks out of sight, or the laid thread is pulled into the fabric.

Why it happens: The tie-down came up and went down in the same hole.

Fix: Come up on one side of the laid thread and go down on the other.

The back of the work

The back shows only the tie-down thread's small stitches and the laid thread's two secured ends: the laid thread stays on the front, so couching uses very little of it. How the tie-down thread travels on the back is up to you, so we don't draw it; keep the travel short.

Variations

  • Decorative couching: Tie-downs in a contrasting colour, or in shapes such as small cross stitches, become part of the design.
  • Trellis couching: Long threads laid across a shape in a grid, held down where they cross, make an open filling.

Compare

Both make a bold, raised line. Use couching for threads too thick or fragile to stitch through fabric; use whipped backstitch with ordinary floss. Whipped backstitch

In a Hoopsake pattern

Hoopsake turns your photo into a hand-embroidery pattern with a real stitch plan: it chooses a stitch such as couching for every line, matches each colour to a DMC thread and gives you a guide to print. Make a pattern from a photo

Names and history

Couching is also listed as couching stitch, laid work, convent stitch and kloster stitch, though laid work usually means threads laid across a whole shape. Sources disagree on whether couching is one stitch or a family of techniques; here it is one technique with variations.

Questions

How far apart should couching stitches be?

About 3–5 mm (1/8–3/16 in) on straight lines, closer on curves.

What thread can I couch?

Almost any: all six strands of floss, perle, wool, ribbon, cord or metallic threads that would fray if stitched through fabric.

Should the tie-downs match?

Usually, so they disappear into the laid thread. A contrasting colour makes them part of the design.