13 Couching Stitches to Try In Your Next Embroidery Project

When you hear the word couching, do you think hanging out on your sofa or hand embroidery? If you're a stitcher, probably the latter.

Couching refers to attaching a thread or groups of thread to fabric using short stitches. It's an applique stitch because much of the work is done on the surface of the fabric. Couching is often used to attach materials that are too thick, textured, or fragile to be stitched directly through fabric. 

Couching also refers to a stitch family. Stitch families are groups of stitches that all use the same foundational stitches. Because couching simply refers to tacking down one thread with another, it can be applied to various threads and stitches, creating a multitude of variations! There are many well known couching stitches, but you can also make up your own by using a stitch to tac down another thread.

Want to give some of those couching stitch variations a try? Let's dive into the couching stitch family and explore how to create 13 of these stitch variations.

13 Couching Stitches and How to Embroider Them

Couching

Traditional couching lays one thread on the fabric (loose or a long stitch), then uses short stitches to hold the thread in place. Use this step-by-step tutorial and stitch video to learn how to create the couching stitch.

Trailing Couching

This is a variation on couching that is most similar to couching. Instead of using spaced out tacking stitching to hold down a stitch or loose thread, trailing covers the thread. Think making a satin stitch over the laid thread. Use this step-by-step tutorial and stitch video to learn how to create the trailing couching stitch.

Thorn Stitch

This stitch also uses short stitches to tac down a loose thread or stitch. But instead of one single stitch, the thorn stitch creates X's over the laid thread. The upper half of the X stitch is further away from the laid thread, creating the look of a vine with thorns. Use this step-by-step tutorial and stitch video to learn how to create the thorn couching stitch.

Couched Circle Stitch

The couched circle is essentially as the name states, couching done in a circle. Instead of randomly placing the tacking stitching, the couched circle has specific spokes where the tacking stitches are placed along the circle. Use this step-by-step tutorial and stitch video to learn how to create the couched circle stitch.

Bokhara Couching Stitch

This couching stitch is great for filling in spaces. Similar to the couched circle, the tacking stitches are placed in a diagonal pattern across the shape being filled in. Use this step-by-step tutorial and stitch video to learn how to create the Bokhara couching stitch.

Trellis Stitch

The trellis stitch is an open grid-like stitch that is tacked down at the corners with a short stitch. Use this step-by-step tutorial and stitch video to learn how to create the trellis stitch.

Jacobean Couching

This stitch is similar to the trellis stitch. Instead of tacking the grid corners down with one vertical stitch, this grid is tacked down with an X stitch. This variation is a little more tedious to embroider, but creates a more securely attached grid on the front of the fabric with additional detail. Use this step-by-step tutorial and stitch video to learn how to create the Jacobean couching stitch.

Battlement Couching

This couching stitch lays down multiple layers of grid stitches (often stitched in different colors) before tacking the top grid layer down with short stitches in the corner of the grid. Use this step-by-step tutorial and stitch video to learn how to create the battlement couching stitch.

Tuft Couching/ Tassel Stitch

This stitch can be known as tuft couching or the tassel stitch. With this stitch, thread is tacked down on one side and then cut to look like a tassel. It's a popular stitch for creating modern raised flower embroidery. Use this step-by-step tutorial and stitch video to learn how to create the tuft couching/ tassel stitch.

Buttonhole Couching

As I mentioned above, with couching, you can use any stitch to tac down thread. Buttonhole couching does just that. The buttonhole stitch is used to tac down the thread. It can be done as a single or double option, depending on how covered you want the laid thread. Use this step-by-step tutorial and stitch video to learn how to create the buttonhole couching stitch.

Burden Stitch

The burden stitch is another great stitch for filling in space. It's worked in rows and the tacking stitches are slightly longer and closer together than traditional couching. Use this step-by-step tutorial and stitch video to learn how to create the burden stitch.

Plaid Filling

Love the plaid pattern and want to use it to couch thread? Then this is your stitch. The plaid filling stitch is worked on an open grid, with longer hashtag-like or equal sign stitches overlapping the laid grid thread. Use this step-by-step tutorial and stitch video to learn how to create the plaid filling stitch.

Persian Boarder Stitch

This stitch is almost like double couching. First the thread is laid on the fabric. Then another thread is used to create a squiggly design on top. A third thread tacks down the squiggly designed thread along the outer edges of the first laid thread. See what I mean by double couching? Two threads are laid down (in different designs) then another thread is used to tac them down. Use this step-by-step tutorial and stitch video to learn how to create the Persian boarder stitch.

Looking for more helpful embroidery tips, supplies, and hands-on workshops?

Workshops

Join Melissa Galbraith of MCreativeJ for a hands-on workshop! Melissa makes hand embroidery easy with a wide variety of embroidery classes. Classes are beginner-friendly to advanced and will walk you through a wide variety of stitches, techniques, and designs.

Find all upcoming workshops at: https://www.mcreativej.com/upcoming-seattle-events

Embroidery Books

Want a great hand embroidery reference? Try one of Melissa's hand embroidery books! Each book is great for beginners and breaks down materials, stitches, techniques, and projects for you.