Everything is better with Bows

DIY Couching Tutorial

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BOWS ARE SO FUN!

I have been very jealous of the people that I have seen online with bows attached to their clothes. So much so that I took it into my own hands to make a jean jacket with bows sewn onto it. Take a look at the video I posted about it and then scroll down to read my step by step tutorial for how I achieved it.

@tannerfrostbowenI love my little bows #bows #jeanjacket #diyfashion #sewingtiktok

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Couching Tutorial

I attached these bows using a technique called couching, which is an embroidery technique that involves laying a trim or other fiber on the surface of fabric and stitching over it with thread to hold it in place.

1. Cut or obtain a long strip of fabric.

   1. I used scraps of fabric from my own stash in effort to become more zero-waste.

2. Tie it into a bow and pin it to the desired location.

3. Using a needle and thread, stitch around the strip of fabric in a zig zag pattern.

   1. Insert your threaded hand-sewing needle from the backside of the fabric to the front, near the starting point of your couching thread. You want to secure the couching thread to the fabric with a small stitch.

   2. Carefully bring the needle back to the front of the fabric, making a small stitch over the couching thread to hold it in place. You can adjust the stitch length depending on your design and preferences.

   3. Continue couching the thread by taking small, evenly spaced stitches over the couching thread as you follow the desired path. Make sure the couching thread lies flat and follows the marked design if you used one.

   4. When you reach the end of your design or need to change couching thread, secure the thread with a few small stitches. Trim any excess couching thread and tuck it under the fabric.

   5. To finish, secure your couching thread on the backside of the fabric with a knot or by weaving it through the back stitches. Trim any loose ends.