Christmas Blanket - Beyond the Square Crochet Motif #27

I finished the Christmas blanket using motif #27 from the "Beyond the Square" crochet book a few weeks ago but haven't got round to posting about it until now.

I took the circular motif and squared it off. I've written detailed instructions here.

I made 70 motifs in total and sewed them together, 10 long by 7 wide,  using a whip stitch.

The finished size, including borders is 40"/102cm x 54"/ 137cm. This makes a small blanket, ideal for pulling over yourself when sat on the sofa.

I used Vanna's Choice worsted weight acrylic in cream, green and red.  I'm not a big fan of acrylic yarn but at least it can be washed in a machine without worrying about it spoiling.
 I also like the way these colours remind me of a poinsettia and when the motifs are all sewn together, they create a Moorish tile effect.

For the border I crocheted one row of dc in "Lamb". In "Cranberry" I then did one row of sc, I row of dc, ch2 and then another row of dc. Then, to keep to the theme, I did the trim in "Fern" using the sc, stab stitch and picot combination Edie Eckman uses for the final round of motif  #27.

The blanket is very festive looking and cosy...perhaps not the most tasteful creation I have ever made, but then I think Christmas is one of the few times where we can be unashamedly tacky :-)

Originally I was going to give this blanket as a Christmas gift but since finishing it, I decided I didn't want to part with it and it's already been used a lot for sofa snuggling.