Nautical Scrappy Stripes | Le Challenge {Quilting}

Oh! I am so excited about my stripes entry! Let me tell you it was hard to part with it, because this is a birthday present given at the beginning of the month. 

I did not want to knit another beanie hat for this birthday, so each present made is different. I had not seen the birthday boy for a while, but his Dad is much taller than Mr MiH (who is already 6'2) so I was not going to venture into making clothes. However I thought it would be nice to make something for his room, that hopefully he would keep for a while - not unlike the presents Lucy makes for birthdays. The theme I was given was nautical - with light blue, red and white accents. 

It was a great break from Christmas makes - and an opportunity to make the most of my stash!

Stripes really suited the nautical theme. And suddenly scrappy stripes came into my mind - and I just knew I was on the right path. It was easier to adjust the white and red accents - I am definitely an 'organised scrap' convert. It is also a great way to use my Creative Thursday fabrics (how cute is those little rabbits!). 

I wanted also to add something more specific for this birthday. I considered adding the name of the birthday boy, but I did not think it was really 'nautical' - not as much as a number is. 

I printed the 1 in the circle on golden threads quilting paper and machine quilted around the 1 and the circle and added some embroidery to make it pop.

I did not really quilt the cushion cover. I only stitched in the ditch between the white fabric section and the scrappy section. 

I bought the back fabric for this project as I like to have matching fabric for cushion covers (like for the Happy Feet! cushion). I used the Sew Mama Sew tutorial for the zipper. 

And here we are a birthday present for a super cute little boy!

And my first entry to le challenge that was made AGES before the actual deadline - oh, it feels good to be organised!

For all the other stripes entry, go over to le challenge. Do join the fun for a chance to win a $25 at the Fat Quarter Shop (open until November 16 at 11am UK time). 

Knitting and decreasing | A new baby hat {Knitting}

I will start with my star model (so you don't even have to read to the end of the post to see him)! Here he is, eating his breakfast, and therefore busy enough not to take his hat off. This is not going to be his hat though, I was only making sure this would fit another one year old  - and it clearly does. 

The pattern is from Phildar Catalogue Layette no 84 - in French. If anyone is interested (once you see the final result of course) I can write a translation - and include my modifications. I am knitting it in Rowan Creative Focus worsted yarn (I just love the palette of colours), in 3.5 mm. 

In the pattern I came across a new decrease stitch that I thought might be of interest for the knitters out there. 

The white dot shows the decrease stitch

Et voila. It is a bit fiddly, in fact very fiddly when you are working on DPNs with not many stitches left - but you do go from 3 stitches to 1 and the 'seam' really shows. Any new stitches you have found recently?