Week 3 was a bust with an unexpected trip out of state so I’m jumping straight into Week 4 with a unique yet satisfying technique – Couching.
To start this double week, my crocheted Temperature Blanket took an unexpected turn when the temps dropped to the single digits ๐ฅถ. I needed to use my grey crushed chenille yarn for crocheting those chilly days. Not a great experience (Ugh, that yarn!!) and I eventually had to purchase a different grey yarn. I was once again on the lookout for something to create with those beautiful, yet awful-to-work-with, crushed chenille skeins.
In my FB scrolling quest for yarn projects, I stumbled upon “couching” – the technique of sewing with yarn instead of thread. I tried a few different methods and I really think a free motion (or maybe just better quality ๐) sewing machine would work better for shapes and fun designs. I was successful with using yarn for straight couching using the DIY safety pin method but a couching foot looks like it would make the entire process less stressful. All my fabrics and colors schemes are not great, but passable. HOWEVER, as you know, I’m trying to use what I have. Especially when trying out some of these questionable techniques!
HelloSewing.com – Sewing Tip 126 Yarn Embroidery with a safety pin (watch on YouTube)
I’m in no way affiliated with The Wonderful World of Sewing or their products but I do have “foot envy” and think this couching set might be a good purchase for large amounts of couching on a project.
Couching
Time Spent – ~4 hours (most was trying to keep the yarn tension correct and un-knotted)
This is my progression from start to finish – different fabrics, patterns, yarn. My final pink and cream test project is noticeably better than my first attempt so this is definitely a technique that requires a bit of practice before you jump onto your final fabric.
Tips from my test projects with a safety pin:
- GO SLOW, especially if you have any type of fuzzy yarn, it can get caught on the foot and stop the forward motion.
- Keep an eye on your thread if you have yarn that sheds. The extra fuzz can get gummed up in the needle.
- Make sure the yarn is completely through the foot and aligned with the needle and the direction of the thread out the back of the foot. This is important on turns as well.
- Watch the safety pin when you lift the foot or attempt a fancy stitch, it may be stopping the foot or needle from it’s full range of motion.
In case you don’t know what a Rag-Quilt is, here’s an easy one. A quilt with smaller squares than these ends up with a lot of fabric at each juncture. The couching would be an easy way to get the look without fighting all the fabric layers.
My Final Couching Test Project…
Even though the couching required a lot of trial and error, I absolutely enjoyed it. Hopefully I can finish a quilted project and use up some of that extra yarn along with fabric from my stash.
Try out couching and let me know how it goes, or if you have any suggestions for DIYing the process. This was my first attempt, but not my last!
Talk soon,
Cara