Each foot has a “gate” which closes over the top of the cords once you’ve inserted them into the foot, through each of the side escapes built into the foot. See picture below:
I like to use a serpentine stitch which is Stitch #4 on many Bernina machines. It’s highlighted in blue on my machine in the picture below. The default setting of the stitch is 5.5 mm wide and approximately .5 in length. I like to adjust the length to at least a 1.5 or a bit longer to keep it feeding and moving along.
Here’s the silver Razzle Dazzle thread, loaded into the foot, and the beginnings of the couching technique. You want to keep a firm hold on the threads, and let the little grooves do the work of separating the threads for you!
The pic to the right is a detail from the art journal quilt “Grace.”
You can see my stitch length has been adjusted to a 1.70 in this picture; that works great too. It’s a personal preference and so take a few minutes to see what you like best!
Hint #1: Make a test on a piece of muslin, and mark your settings down with a Sharpie marker for future reference.
Hint #2: Don’t limit yourself to just the serpentine stitch! Try other utility stitches, or an ‘open’ styled decorative stitch too! Keep in mind that the less ‘backward’ movement a decorative or utility stitch makes, the better looking (and easier) it will be to accomplish your couching feature.
I added this picture, as I am hoping you will be able to see the serpentine stitch on top of the thick silver threads. I like this look ALOT!
…. and I hope you will TRY IT, too!
Blessings to you all. EnJOY!
Comments 2
Mary Ann: (or anyone else w/that question). My knowledge is related to what I actually own and use (or have used). My best suggestion is to "google" those companies/feet and see what info you can find on the internet; most of them have similar feet.
Awesome info! Do you also have details for Baby Lock, Brother or Pfaff machines/specialty feet?