Mama Fern & Papa Sam: More baby blankets

Hi All,

Finally I've completed my planned crochet projects, and the most basic sewn items for our impending arrival (8 weeks to go!). Which is a really good thing, as there's a beautiful box of quilting fabric now sitting on the table, begging for my attention.

Our little one will be sharing our room for the first little while, and I was keen to have bedding that matched the red, black and yellow of our own bed, at least just for the cot and cradle that will be taking up long-term residence in our room. I have a tonne of other coloured bedding, but those will be used more for the moses basket, pram and porta-cots that we keep downstairs.

We also have a painting that looks like a melting red and black chessboard hanging in our room, which Papa Sam painted. It inspired me to start making red and black crochet squares, eventually leading to me running out of wool and deciding that I really, really wanted to make a full red and black blanket chessboard, so would be REQUIRED to order more wool ;) Having discovered and fallen in love with a particular wool (http://www.ashford.co.nz/newsite/yarns/2013-tekapo-8ply), the decision was easy, and I only had to wait a week or so...

Middle of the year Christmas time!!!!

Now suitably armed with plenty of wool, ribbon and sheets, it was time to start working!

First up were some old single sheets and a duvet cover, which I cut into cot sheets, then trimmed with a black and white gingham ribbon. All 8 sheets I made will be kept as flat sheets. I prefer to use fitted and flat as sets, but it was just easier to do it this way (sooner or later, I'm probably going to regret this decision, but ah well!)

Then, after the colossal job of stitching 64 identical red and black squares, I began the long job of stitching them all together.

Followed by edging the blanket

Then deciding it needed more edging, until I was happy with the finished result :)

And of course, the obligatory trial of blanket and sheets together (I had to trial this in the cradle, as I still haven't got around to buying the cot mattress yet). Really excited to see this once I have the cot set up properly.

Next up was my first ever go at a chevron blanket... I started off with my chain stitches waaaaaaaaaaay too tight, ending up with a more skirt shaped blanket than a straight one, but I'm super happy with the result.