You probably know couching is one of my favourite techniques, and I’m currently conducting an experiment to see how effectively couching might substitute for quilting.
I don’t often get as much time as I’d like for my own work but I’ve been squeezing in an hour here and there on this little quilt that began in June 2024 as a heap of little patches that needed stitching together.
It’s hand-pieced, from lots of vintage and contemporary scraps – past and present sitting side by side, as they do in life – and most of the stitching is either couching or very simple embroidery.
The whole thing measures about a square yard or so.
The red circle is about 10 inches in diameter and began as lines of straight stitch. That didn’t give a prominent enough amount of colour, so I’ve threaded the straight stitches with a fine wool yarn.
The vertical lines are still very much in progress, and there are lots more still to do. I’m couching a fine silk bourette yarn with quilting cotton thread, and that seems to be holding the layers together pretty well. The backing is lightweight calico and the batting is Hobbs wool.
It’s all very much a work in progress. This little quilt has had many false starts and many unpickings in the two years of its construction, but I think it seems happier now and we’ll keep going until we get to wherever it is.
In other news – I’ll be taking some time out next week, so the shop will be closed temporarily for a few days while I attend to other things. Please be patient if you need to get in touch as I may not be checking emails every day.
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Thank you for such an Informative and Inspiring post. Squeezing in sewing sessions is a constant challenge !
Love the Winnie the Pooh message too !
thanks so much Sheila, it really is a constant challenge but nice when you can get to it. Always loved Winnie the Pooh 🙂
I love this post on many levels. First, I quilt and I am SO going to do some couching on my next piece; second I absolutely love all things Winnie the Pooh. Thinking of you over the next few days while you attend to life’s challenges.
Thanks so much Amanda Marie, enjoy your quilt-couching! Mostly I’ll be dyeing thread, and possibly re-decorating the bedroom – both fairly enjoyable challenges I hope 🙂
Thanks!
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🙂
Enjoy your time off and thank you for sharing your ongoing projects. As always, beautiful hues of colors, and inspiring stitching! Karen
Thanks so much Karen 🙂
Do all your stitches go through all layers of your quilt? I’m assuming all layers are ‘caught’. It is so fabulous.
Thanks so much Judy, yes the thread doing the couching is going through all layers, just the same as quilting really.
This is lovely, coming together very well indeed, I think!
Thank you, it’s certainly taken its time – after a few false starts it’ll have to carry on now, there’s far too much to unpick 😆
From ‘The House on Pooh Corner. “Rivers know this: There is no hurry. We shall get there some day”. Happy to watch whenever it works for you. I loved the bouquet. It will be my stitching for today.
Fabulous, thanks so much Kay. There is a Great Deal of wisdom in the Winnie the Pooh books 🙂
I love your stitching on your quilt and I think I will be borrowing your idea as well please. There are some really lovely little pieces of fabric in your quilt. There is no rush to finish – just keep imagining with every stitch. What stories are woven with each stitch. So lovely to see. Enjoy your break and thanks for showing your lovely stitching.
Mary :))
Thanks so much Mary. Yes, of course you’re right, it will be done when it’s done 🙂
This is just wonderful on so many levels. Thank you for your generosity in sharing and inspiring. I already have a couple of Winnie the Pooh books on the dining table right now as a reminder to reread them soon.
Thanks so much Stephanie, enjoy your A A Milne 🙂