The last few weeks have flown and I can’t believe it’s already the final week of the CKAL! Thank you so much to everyone who has participated and shared their work in progress. It’s been lovely to see photos of your cushions in their various stages in the Scheepjes Facebook groups.
Finding the Pattern
This week I’ve put together some info and videos for anyone who would like a little help making up their embroidered knitted or crocheted cushion. Scheepjes have released the final part of the pattern today. English, Dutch and German language patterns have been posted in the groups under the ‘Files’ tab and you can also find them in all languages on both the Scheepjes English and Dutch websites.
Which Cushion Insert Should I Choose?
If you have kept to gauge, you will require a 45cm square cushion pad. If you don’t have a cushion already to upcycle, inserts are readily available and usually offered in a choice of duck feather or polyester hollow fibre filling. Polyester filled cushions are robust and practical for decorative cushions. They are less likely to aggravate any sensitivities and tend to keep their shape. (We have sneezers in our house, so that’s what I used.) Feather filled cushions are breathable and offer more support. They will relax and compress when you lean into them so will need regular plumping.
Hopefully your cushion front and back turned out the same size, but don’t worry if they are a little bit different! I know some of you have learned to knit or crochet during the CKAL and tension can be hard to regulate at first. Cushions are pretty forgiving. If your pieces turned out a bit bigger, you may decide to cover a 50cm square insert. If they turned out smaller, a 40cm insert might be better. For a plump cushion I generally choose an insert around the same size as my finished front and back pieces. You could also make your own inner to any size using light coloured scrap fabric.
Seaming the Cushions
If you are making a decorative cushion following the pattern, knitters will need to sew up three seams of the cushion before popping in the insert and crocheters will crochet around three sides. You will need your Blue Macaron Scheepjes Scrumptious, your tapestry needle and a pair of scissors to hand. I would also recommend some quilters binding clips if you have them, or safety pins. They will be handy to keep the insert in place while you close up your 4th side.
For both the knitted and crocheted versions, I would recommend taking a bit of time to match the front and back pieces before you begin. Place the pieces together and match the rows and stitches. Place a safety pin through both layers at each corner then another two or three spaced down each side through the corresponding stitches of both layers. As well as making the fabric easier to handle, you will know you are on track with your stitches as you reach and remove each pin.
It’s also worthwhile spending time to make sure the filling of cushion insert is evenly distributed. Often when they come out of the packaging, they’re a bit gappy in the corners and a bit of ‘floofing’ is necessary. In the same way, make sure the corners of the pad go right up to the edges of your cushion fabric when you insert it. It’s so much easier to do this before you stitch up the fourth side!
Making up the Knitted Cushion
Although we knitted the cushion pieces double stranded, we’ll use just one strand to sew up the cushion to prevent bulky seams. You can use any method you prefer. You will need to work the 4th seam with the right sides of the cover facing out, so mattress stitch is a good choice.
Here’s how I stitched up the verticals:
I recommend threading your tapestry needle with a maximum length of around 80cm to prevent it tangling. However this isn’t enough to make it the whole way up the seam so in the video below I show how to join in a new length of yarn:
Mattress stitch on horizontal seams is worked in a similar way, except you will go under the ‘legs’ of the bottom V-shaped stitch.
I’m left handed, so if you would prefer a detailed right-hander’s explanation of mattress stitch, I would recommend looking at these New Leaf Podcast tutorials. Carmen is friend of Scheepjes and an expert designer and crafter who makes brilliant professional knitting and crochet videos.
Making up the Crochet Cushions
Crocheters have the easier task this week! We will simply crochet our front and back pieces together using a slip stitch. I really like how this gives the cushions a border that isn’t obvious until you insert the cushion pad, and then it looks almost like the edges have been piped.
Here’s a little more info of how it’s done:
Thank You
Thanks a million to all the CKAL participants for your enthusiasm throughout the project. Please continue to share your WIPs and show off your finished cushions in the groups. The mods and I are loving seeing them! I’ve enjoyed crafting along with you and have just finished my crochet versions and I’ll be starting to embroider onto my knitted cushion next. The sun has finally arrived here in Yorkshire and I’m looking forward to stitching outdoors listening to the birdsong at the weekend.
I hope you have enjoyed making your cushions and found these blogposts and the support in the Facebook groups helpful. I’m especially proud of everyone who has got over a hurdle or learned something new during the CKAL and I love that so many have learned to knit, or returned to knitting after a long break!
Perhaps you have gained confidence and are eager to explore embroidering into your knitting and crochet more in future. These are some of my favourite designers whose work you may want to take a look at: Dario Tubiana @rosso.cardinale, Judit Gummlich @ku.ni.berta and Anna Nikipirowicz @annanikipirowicz .
One big final thank you goes to Scheepjes Facebook group admins and mods who are all fantastic. I have really appreciated all your encouragement, passion for crafting and complete support. This is for you ⬇️
Bizzymitts 