This stitch is a form of self-couching - where the same thread is used to stitch a long, laid stitch which is then held down with one or more couching stitches before the next laid stitch is worked.  (Conventional couching uses separate threads, often of different types, for the laid and couching threads.)

There are broadly three self-couching stitches: Romanian couching, Bokhara couching and Romanian couching stitch, but the distinction between them is not always clear.  The majority view amongst needlework sources is that Romanian couching uses multiple long diagonal couching stitches to hold each laid thread; Bokhara couching uses multiple short diagonal couching stitches (possibly in a bricked or diagonal pattern) and Romanian couching stitch uses a single short diagonal couching stitch to hold each laid thread and the couching stitches are in a line so that they form a ‘spine’ down the centre of the area.  However, not all sources are in agreement on a variety of points: the length of couching stitches is sometimes transposed between Romanian couching and Bokhara couching; sometimes Romanian couching uses only a single long couching stitch (potentially in a line, so making Romanian couching more similar to Romanian couching stitch); for Bokhara couching the short couching stitches are sometimes perpendicular to the laid thread rather than diagonal.  Historical references frequently refer to ‘self-couching’ without specifying which stitch was used.

This stitch is shown here as a canvaswork stitch but it is also often worked as a surface stitch.

The many names by which this stitch is known are testament to its varied history.  It has been widely used for centuries: in the Middle Ages it was used in central Europe to portray biblical figures, animals and birds, hence the name ‘figure stitch’.  In China, during the Ming dynasty, self-couching was used on mandarin squares to fill areas of the designs (although it is possible this was Bokhara couching rather than Romanian).

By the 18th century in New England this stitch had become popular as an alternative to the traditional long and short stitch for crewelwork, as it allowed for more thread to be shown on the surface of the fabric (hence the name ‘New England economy stitch’).

Romanian couching is also still used in Jebel Haraz embroidery from Yemen where it is used to embellish festive garments.