Baby Blanket!
I made a baby blanket for a close friend, completely from my stash as I have a buy-stop (except for the batting, I don't have a stash of that).
Is a free pattern called grindsted tæppet (Named for a danish city. Don't ask me why) https://www.hannes-patchwork.dk/shop/grindsted-taeppet-som-1600s1.html
... 9x9 chess board is brutal on the brain
I can see what you mean, but I think it's mostly a bad picture and maybe weird lighting because it isn't a problem when you look at it in real life.