All we need is ... a baby {quilting + knitting}

The Moses Basket has been featured many times here, but this is the final post about it - at least without baby MiH sleeping in it (due date Sunday - if you are wondering, that is 2 days, 48 hours, and no I am not panicking at all ..). I promise I will move on from the Moses basket. But as it is finished Friday after all, I thought I should give you a bit more details on the finishing of the bumper and the baby blanket. 

Did you see the latest addition on the window seal - the little rabbit lamp from White Rabbit England 

For the Moses basket bumper {Quilting}

I used two fabrics: The blue one is from the Maya collection by Leah Duncan and the white-ish one is the Moda Grunge Sugar Cookies (with blue and green accents) - for the front, the back and the binding. 

I did not buy the fabrics for this project - I fell in love with the Maya collection, and bought nearly the whole range knowing I would find a project at some point - I was lucky to buy enough of it in the end. So note for the future, if I am that keen on a collection buy enough of it because it will sell out. I bought the Moda Grunge ages ago, and honestly I did not like it when I received it, it was less white than I expected. But it works really well with the blue of the Maya fabric. So glad I had it in the end, it really adds texture and interest to the bumper. 

The pattern is quite obvious. I cut out strips of 2 inches to make a rectangle of 68 inches. I laid the different strips randomly making sure it would be wide enough. In terms of dimensions I had the original bumper, so replicated it - down to the ties to the frame. I hand stitched in the ditch to add some ripple effect, and used some blue Aurifil for the hand stitching at the top of the blue rectangles. I wanted it to look a bit homemade, hence no machine stitching for once. 

For the Baby Blanket {Knitting}:

I did a post the night I started the baby blanket and I knew then it would be something special, but  it looks even better than I expected. I used to hate blocking phase of my knitted projects, but since finishing Umaro and this blanket, this is the step I am looking forward the most now. It just makes the blanket. The yarn is really soft, no itching for me, so perfect for a baby. 

Pattern: Shale Baby Blanket by Jared Flood

Yarn: Hand dyed organic merino silk wool, light worsted DK yarn from SixSkeins (Etsy)

Needle sizes: 5.5 mm circular

Size: Baby size (I did 47 repeats in the end because of I had three skeins)
Final dimensions (once blocked): 85 cm x 105 cm
Result: I absolutely love it. It is not as hard as Umaro, and I remembered the pattern pretty quickly - so a definite TV, cups of tea and biscuits (still 3 weeks to knit it) kind of project. If you have friend expecting a baby who does not knit, make it for her it is the perfect gift. 

 So the blanket has now moved to Baby MiH's hospital bag, and the Moses basket is waiting for one special person. Exciting times! Have a great weekend everyone!

The Pressure {Sewing}

You know that it is going to be your turn soon when two of your antenatal class friends have given birth and you are supposed to be the fourth one... A bit more than a week to go... although we think the little one is just chilling and will be late. Anyway we are nearly there, but not yet. A couple of WIPs on the go - and we are nearly there as well. 

The Moses basket roundabout/bumper binding needs to be finished. I hand quilted it as I wanted a vintage feel.  I may add a blue hand stitch as well - but binding first! 

And I could not resist the little bunny - so cute!

And I making a hooded towel following the  Purlbee's tutorial. I love the Night Owl Carnival fabric from Robert Kaufman. It is the first time I have been working with terry cloth, and I personally found it quite tricky to cut.  Hopefully it will be better to sew together!

I am quite excited to see the finish towel though, will look great on the vintage concertina hanger!

A touch of Modern {quilting}

I have finally had time to start on the roundabout of Baby MiH's Moses basket - it is amazing how my job did get in the way of preparing for crafting! It is great to be able to make progress with so many projects at the same time... 

**Don't forget to enter my giveaway - open until Friday evening**

Over the weekend, I toyed with several designs for the roundabout, which is basically a very long rectangular piece - and have the final design approved by Mr MiH over the weekend. He calls it a ribbed design - and I suppose it is. The basic design is made up of three strips of fabric (the solid is Moda Grunge, Sugar Cookies, and the blue design is part of the Maya collection by Leah Duncan).

I cut out strips of 3 inches. 

And sew them one next to each other making a wave 'ribbed' design. 

The quilting is probably going to be quite basic - stitch in the ditch to reinforce the ribbed effect, and hand stitch to reinforce the wave effect. 

Finally leaving you with a picture of the 70s template... 

Linking up to Freshly Pieced today, to see the other amazing WIPs click here. It is guest hosted by Svetlana today!

Fresh Sewing Day and announcing giveaway

This is my first ever entry to Lynne's Fresh Sewing Day, so for starters this is quite exciting! Then, I actually have a few finishes this month - double the excitement, and finally I am one of the finalists in a quilting competition - triple the excitement. Way too much excitement for one heavily pregnant person!

I finished the Totally Groovy Quilt on time, just, to entering the competition hosted by Pile O'Fabric (who organised the QAL). I know my choice of fabrics and colours is totally out there (the pattern recommends solids...), but I love it. It has this retro feel to it that goes with the lines and structure of the pattern. My quilt is one of the 10 quilts selected for the final vote, and you get to vote (for me, maybe? - I am entry no 3).. How cool is this? 

You get to choose the winner! Don't forget to vote at Pile O'Fabric

For the quilting, it is hard to see on the picture, but I did hand stitch every single stem of the white Echo fabric, and tried to be respectful of the pattern of the fabrics in other cases so that the quilting and the patterns did not have to compete one against the other. Again hard to see on the pictures (the detailed ones are better) but you get the idea. 

Anyway, everyone is a winner at the end of the day. Baby MiH has a quilt, I finished on time, I got selected - which is like a HUGE honour - especially when the other entries are beautiful! 

And my wacky choice of fabrics (and scraps) inspired me to do a cushion cover for the room as well - when I have a theme in my head I cannot stop thinking about it. So this is my second finish of this month: Les souris grises cushion cover. Much less dark than the quilt - but they balance each other out I think, so a great combination!

The last entry is not fabric related, but many bloggers are also interested in other crafts. So if you have missed it, I wrote a pattern for the vintage crochet cushion cover that goes - oh so - well with the triangle cushion cover. You can find the free pattern here. 

As it is a new month, and someone is going on maternity leave in 2 days - i.e. moi (yes TWO, Whoohooooooo!!!) I thought I would share my next project. I have talked about Mr MiH Moses basket recently - soon to become the property of Baby MiH, and needing updating. I went through my stash and I think I have now a pretty good idea of what to do and what it will involve - a bit mysterious but I am leaving myself the option of changing my mind. Linking up to Thursday Think Tank over at Making Rebecca Lynne. 

It will be light, airy, with some modern blue and grey tones. As this is a vintage Moses basket (yes, Mr MiH is officially vintage) we had a few issues to find a new mattress with the right dimensions, fitted sheet etc, but I think we are there now (save for a few adjustments I will have to make). Anyway more to come in the coming week. 

Finally check out the blog over the weekend as I will be celebrating the start of my maternity leave with a GIVEAWAY- make sure you follow the blog so you don't miss out!

Other brilliant projects for Fresh Sewing Day can be found here - Off to check them out!

The Tales of Two Rooms {Interior Design}

Not so long ago I mentioned that Mr MiH was building an office shed (hmm..my hobby room) in the garden so that Baby MiH could have his own room. Although the shed is not finished yet, we are starting to pack up for the move, and start decorating. 

Very tidy and not at all bursting with stuff

You can see why I need to de-stash - right - now. 

You have seen this corner quite a few times now, and this is probably the only thing that is going to remain as it is. 

I am now calling on your imagination and creativity. The 'shed' is very much work-in progress. Apparently we could not possibly get rid of the cherry tree to make the shed bigger for instance, and 'we' Mr MiH chose to build around it. 

The structure is in place, the roof should appear this weekend, I believe we have a door somewhere (probably in the garage) but no window as yet. And well you can see for yourself there is still a bit to do. But we are getting there - only 4 weeks and a half left before the due date, plenty of time, right!? 

Let's talk about things I am responsible for ahead of the arrival of the little one. Let me introduce you to his Moses basket, or to be precise Mr MiH's Moses basket. Hard to believe that the 6'2 man I married ever fitted in this. It is in really good condition, and has been awaiting all of this time to welcome the first grandchild of the family. 

To be honest I was worried when Mr MiH's Mum offered it to us - we don't have the same... taste in furniture - but I actually think it is lovely... until I saw the roundabout - check out the late 70s fabric (and accompanying smell). Yes so that has to go, anyway it does not fit so not sure whether it is the right one. Also the mattress has to go - rectangular in an oval shape basket, interesting... So that will be a spare mattress - once it has been thoroughly cleaned. 

So here we are: the next project on the long list of projects. Well all I can say is that it is really time for me to go on maternity leave (3 working days, THREE!!!!) - because I have things to get on with!