Making time

I'm constantly moaning to myself that I don't have enough time to make all the things that I want to make. It hasn't escaped me that this is because I spend a lot of time in front of the TV. I keep telling myself that this has to stop; but as much as I love making things, sitting in front of the TV is just easier. After a day of brain-straining work like editing, sitting and staring mindlessly at moving pictures appeals strongly.

Two Fridays ago, though, there was nothing on the TV and I really couldn't face re-watching a DVD that I've watched several times already (namely any Jane Austen adaptation). So instead I got out a quilt that I've been meaning to finish. I love Japanese fabrics, and this is about the fourth quilt, and the most recent, that I've started which uses them. None of the others is finished either. (The first I started was so enormous that I don't think I'll ever be able to lay it out and sandwich it together unless I borrow someone's ballroom, or maybe a sailmaker's loft.)

The design is by Ruth van Haeff and is from Handmade Style: Quilt by Murdoch Books.

I made the top of this one about six years ago, and the backing about two years ago, then stopped where I normally stop – at the thought of having to put it all together then quilt it. This is a throw-size quilt, though, so it's just small enough to be assembled on my table, which takes a lot of the tedium out of the process.

I marked out the quilting design on Friday night, pinned the lot together on Saturday morning, then spent an enjoyable few hours stitching away to the accompaniment of George Michael and the Buena Vista Social Club. I pretty soon got a blister and quite sore fingers, but as it hurt even more whenever I came back to it after a break, I decided just to sew through the pain. (Yeah, I'm hard).

I did a bit more to the quilting most nights last week (much of it in front of the TV, killing two recreational birds with one stone and making me feel less guilty about watching the box). Last night I attached the binding, and voilà, one more unfinished project finished.

I'm now inspired to tackle another neglected quilting project – once my blisters have healed.