This 6 hour in-person workshop teaches a variety of couching techniques using a zig zag stitch on your domestic machine. While these techniques can be used for both bed/lap quilts and art quilts, the sample projects we work on in class and examples I show will focus on adding couching to traditional quilts. You’ll learn how to couch, as well as how to apply this highly versatile and fun technique. Couching is not just for art quilts!!

During the class, we work on several small sampler projects, learning how to choose the best yarns, machine foot, zigzag stitch, and threads for various applications. I’ll give you tips on how to setup your machine. We will complete one sample project – a ‘Faux 9 patch star’ - learning several ways to start and stop couching on a quilt sandwich, similar to how you might use couching on a bed quilt. We will finish it off with a couched binding that you can use even on a King-sized quilt! Along the way, we’ll discuss common issues – with piecing and quilting, as well as with couching - and I’ll show you how to address them (with more couching!). We will then work on a ‘prettier’ project that you might choose to finish into a pillow, table mat or small wall hanging after class. The focus of this 2nd project - couching a drawn or appliqued heart – will be on curved and multiple layers of couching. You’ll do interior couching if desired, then outline your heart with couching, covering any appliqued edges, then couch around your heart as both quilting and decoration, time permitting. You can even try my “Faux Chenille” technique! Lastly, we will have play time where you can test out different yarns that I’ll provide and/or bring your own, swap with other students, etc. to try.

1.Prerequisites:

a.Experience with doing a zig zag stitch with feed dogs up (normal walking; not free motion) on the machine you are bringing to class

b.Experience with adjusting top tension on the machine you are bringing to class