Guidance for Independent Design

Dear Student:

During this course there was an optional written component for you to complete if you wanted to. The written component was a list of your own definitions of the key couching stitches we worked on through the course.

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Additionally, if you want to you can research and write about a piece of goldwork embroidery in a museum that heavily uses couching. This can be in any format and any length that you want and also include images. You can share this with the class in the discussion area, or privately with me.

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In the final 2 weeks of our course I would like you to use your knowledge of the various types of couching stitch to create a unique design.  Or, if you don't want to do that then you can go back and continue to work on your samples from the previous weeks. See image below for 4 student samples combining various techniques from the previous time this course was run.

Your design can be as large or small as you want it to be.  I do not expect you to stitch this design during the last few weeks of our course, but I would like to see your design PLAN as a minimum.  You will need 4 separate drawings. You can see below a few examples of my planning process:

1. A drawing of the basic design - a simple line drawing. You can make up something totally new, you can trace the outline of a shape you like, you can use art books..... whatever you feel comfortable with.


2. A copy of your simple line drawing shaded in black and white. If you are able to look at an image and imagine where the dark and light parts are, then you will know how heavy you will need to do your couching stitches. If this is too difficult for you to do, then you can look online for an image that you like and print it off in black and white. Then you will be able to quickly see where the dark and light parts are.


3. A copy of your simple line drawing now showing your stitch plan - show the flow of the stitches and label the type of couching stitch - see here for a few variations


4. A copy of your simple line drawing now showing your colour plan

Some of you might even have time to think about the colour numbers of the threads you would use.  If you happen to have your desired threads handy, then you could consider making up a design ‘stick’ such as these ones that I have made up for projects. This gives you a nice visual and textural reference.


If you are very pleased with your design, then consider bringing it to life and actually stitching it!

Complete and Continue