Jacobean Couching
Jacobean couching, also called Trellis, is a filling stitch from Jacobean crewelwork used to fill large areas of designs.
Don’t be intimidated by the name. The technique of the Jacobean Couching stitch is surprisingly simple. A grid made of long horizontal and vertical laid stitches is couched with a diagonal stitch on each intersection of the laid threads. With a bit of practice, you’ll master this technique in no time.
Other names of the stitch
This hand embroidery technique has many alternative names, each reflecting a different aspect of the stitch: Trellis, referring to the grid-like pattern it creates; Trellis filling, emphasizing its use in filling large areas; Square laid filling and Squared laid work, highlighting the method of laying the threads; and Couched filling stitch, describing the couching technique used.
Applications of the Jacobean Couching
The Jacobean Couching technique is not just a filling stitch, it’s a work of art. You can use one, two, or even three colors to create a decorative Trellis. This hand embroidery technique is very decorative, adding beauty to large areas of the embroidery work—backgrounds, shapes like floral petals, household objects, or abstract shapes.
More stitches from the Couching stitch family
- Couching Stitch
- Bokhara Couching
- Underside Couching
Learn how to embroider Jacobean Couching
Follow the step-by-step tutorial with detailed photos below, and you will learn the Jacobean Couching quickly. If you are a visual learner, watch a video lesson in the tutorial or on the Practical Embroidery YouTube channel to learn this hand embroidery technique faster.
How to embroider Jacobean Couching
Step-by-step hand embroidery tutorial
Instructions
1. Mark the grid to make sure your laid threads are distanced equally.
2. Embroider equally spaced long vertical stitches.
3. Then, add equally spaced horizontal stitches.
4. Add couching stitches.
5. Move from intersection to intersection in diagonal order to couch every intersection of laid threads.
Video tutorial
Tools and materials I used for this sampler
Disclaimer. To cover the cost of creating free embroidery patterns and video tutorials for this blog, I do sometimes link to products. Please assume these links are affiliate links. If you choose to buy through my links then THANK YOU – it will make it possible for me to keep doing this.
What’s next?
If you’re in the mood to explore more hand embroidery stitches, check out the Stitches and Techniques page for the list of other fantastic stitches available on my blog. From timeless classics to modern twists, a whole world of stitches is waiting for you to explore and master. So, grab your hoop and needle, and let’s stitch our way to creative bliss!
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Need More Guidance?
The top 10 hand embroidery stitches to learn is a free online course created for beginners.
