Finally, after nearly a year, I finished The Compromise Quilt yesterday. Here it is on the bed. It’s hard to show all of it because we have a tiny, junky bedroom and I don’t have a good place to hang large quilts to show them off either.

I couldn’t wait to sleep under it even though I was afraid it might be too warm for our current weather (It has wool batting and flannel backing.) but it was perfect. It’s been in the low 50′s most nights and we’ve been sleeping with the window open. The quilt I’ve had on the bed for the last few weeks (not one I made) has a cotton batting. The new quilt feels nicer. The wool is, surprisingly, more breathable so, although it is very warm it doesn’t make me feel clammy.

I am disappointed with myself that I took so long to finish it. I sort of lost some of my enthusiasm for it along the way. I ended up wishing I had done it differently somehow. Same idea – wildlife prints with pink – but a different pattern, maybe narrower sashing in just one shade of pink. It was a very impulsive quilt and I didn’t take a lot of time to think about it. But I think it turned out okay and I don’t have any big regrets.

I’ve already started the top for my next quilt. I’ve cut more than half the pieces and sewn together some of the blocks. It will be a gift for Christmas 2011 so I need to keep the details a secret just in case a certain person is lurking. I have several more gift quilts I want to make and hope to get three done by December 2011 – and I feel like I should be able to do even more – but based on my record so far I’ll be doing pretty good if I manage to finish two.

Sewing clothes – I’m almost finished with another flannel shirt. The weather has been so warm lately I don’t know when I will get to wear it for longer than an hour so in the morning. Right now I don’t know if I’ll start another garment or focus on quilting for while. I’m leaning toward quilting. The enthusiasm of starting a new project, you know.

I need to make time for a little fall cleaning too. Perhaps sacrifice some of the old to make room for the new, but mostly just straightening and organizing, I think. Of course that’s always easier when you have less to straighten and organize.