Monday, April 16, 2012

the end is near

For a while I sit in the back room of my studio soaking up the quiet. I don't even turn on the radio so I can hear the birds chirp. Time to collect my thoughts. It has--after all--been one of those weeks if you know what I mean.  I have been working non-stop on the new quilt. A row or two sewn together, added to the quilt each day. I try not to think about the progress. Or lack thereof. I am ready to have it done but glad I have a project. Something to do.

I even remade one of the rows. The  thought there was too much orange so I added more lavender. Not how I wanted to spend my time but I want them to absolutely LOVE the quilt. After all they will be living with it for years.

Now I notice that I only have three more rows to sew together and add to the quilt. Even get one of them pieced into a row yesterday.  Two more rows.  First pin a row onto the quilt.


Sew them together. It is so big that even with my Industrial Machine I have to use care.


Cover the seam with a binding and press.


 Whip stitch the binding down. It is "only" nine feet of hand sewing after all.


And repeat. And repeat. Then the binding and the Velcro on top. Clean up the quilt.  You know how that goes. It is like that hike which is just a bit too long. Isn't the last half mile the hardest? At least it is for me. I can feel the cold drink of water as I collapse on the ground but I am not there yet. I know I won't finish it today. Certainly not tomorrow. That is my day off though I may do just a bit to keep moving forward. Maybe Wednesday but I won't count on that. Thinking Thursday. Then there will be such a feeling of relief. I know I won't want to move. Maybe make some potholders. Clean the studio. Dare I weed the garden?

But that is in the future. Today I will sew a couple more rows together. Keep going forward and try not to think about the end.

Does this happen to you? Do you think about the end and find the last rows the hardest? Or does it just sneak up on you?

Can't think of all the other projects that beckon.

1 comment:

  1. I am feeling you. I've been working on a huge teapot project that just keeps going on and on. I want it to be the best that it can be, so I reworked some pieces that weren't fitting properly and I can't wait until it is complete. I've been dreaming about having to start over, it's that consuming. So I know exactly where you're coming from :^)
    Don't forget to give yourself a treat when you finish. You deserve it for a job well done!

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