Sew Inspirational

Free Motion Couching Foot #43

by Kerrie Hay

The Free Motion Couching Foot #43 is a foot that works with the feed dogs in the lowered position and allows you to couch narrow cords, braids and different yarns onto fabric, stitching in any direction that you want and creating many different designs. It can be used in conjunction with many different projects such as hats, bags, cushions quilts and many more.  

The foot is spring loaded to allow it to travel over many different surfaces with ease and not put pressure on the cord or yarn that is being attached.

There is a wire guide that comes with the foot that is attached at to the thread cutter on the side of the machine. The cutter is easily removed to allow the guide to slide on over the two prongs and clipped back into position. This allows the guide to remain on the machine all the time and can be used for other applications.

Once attached, cords can be threaded through this guide then also threaded through the guide on the side of the foot using the loop threader that also comes with the foot. The cord is then taken through the needle hole in the foot. After the cord is fully loaded you will need to lower the feed dogs of the machine and select straight stitch and stitch the cord onto the fabric in any pattern or direction you desire.

This technique allows you to use one long continuous length of cord so that you don’t have to stop and start all the time like you used to do when putting cords and yarns in the bobbin and sewing upside down.

To finish the ends of the cord at both beginning and end, simply use a hand sewing needle to pull the threads to the back of the work and tie in a knot with the bobbin thread.

Try this foot out on a skirt or jacket that you may have had in the wardrobe for a while and give it a whole new look that will last a few more seasons.