Underside Couching stitch

Underside Couching is a hand embroidery technique in which the laid thread—traditionally more voluminous, metallic, or silk—is attached to the surface with a strong thread like linen or cotton. Instead of remaining visible (like in the Couching Stitch), the couching thread remains on the back side of the fabric, and the laid thread is pulled to the backside.

Other names of the Underside Couching

The Underside Couching technique was widely used in the traditional medieval English work Opus Anglicanum. For this reason, the embroidery technique is sometimes called the Opus Anglicanum stitch.

Underside Couching - line and filling — Underside Couching embroidery: line and filling with pearl cotton thread

Underside Couching embroidery reverse side — Reverse side of the sampler

Applications of the Underside Couching

Underside Couching embroidery stitch is an excellent technique for filling extensive areas with an interesting surface structure. Traditionally, large surfaces were filled with gold background. This filling technique is flexible, as you can create diagonal or chevron patterns by placing the couching stitches in different order.

More stitches from the Couching Stitch family

Jacobean Couching
Bokhara Couching
Honeycomb Couching

Learn how to embroider Underside Couching stitch

Follow the step-by-step tutorial with detailed photos below, and you will learn the Underside Couching stitch in no time. If you are a visual learner, watch a video lesson in the tutorial or on the Practical Embroidery YouTube channel to learn how to stitch this hand embroidery faster.

Underside Couching embroidery with light blue pearl cotton

How to embroider Underside Couching stitch

Step-by-step Underside Couching stitch hand embroidery tutorial

Prepare the needles.
Prepare two needles with thread. The laid thread will be visible on the surface, and the second—couching thread—will remain on the reverse side of the fabric.
Start with laid thread.
Take the needle with a laid thread to the surface. Lay the thread in the desired direction.
Start couching.
Take the needle with a couching thread under the line the laid thread should follow. Pull the thread to the surface.
Make first couching stitch.
Make a stitch. Go over the laid thread and push the needle to the same hole. Pull the couching thread tight from the back side so that the laid thread pops to the reverse side of the fabric.
Second couching stitch.
Make one more couching stitch, pulling the laid thread to the reverse side. Keep the laid thread tight to avoid the waves or loops in the finished stitch.
Final step.
When you finish couching, push the needle with a laid thread to the back side of the fabric and secure it.
Use cases.
You can create the lines or the filling with an Underside Couching technique.

Video tutorial

How to Embroider the Underside Couching Stitch | Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beginners — **Underside Couching Embroidery Stitch 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.

Embroidery fabric cotton linen neutral colors Etsy — Embroidery fabric

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!