DH's Wool Quilt

I am making slow but steady progress on my UFOs without adding too many more to the bottom of the list. This quilt was at the top. I am embarrassed to admit that DH and I chose these fabrics in 2010

The top has been pieced for some time - edited to add that the squares finish at 6"

and I ordered wool batting last year and then spent some time on my hands and knees:

In December, I set to quilting it. The NFR (National Finals Rodeo) allowed me to make good progress on it. 10 nights of championship rodeo and DH's quilt was quilted!

My only regret is that I didn't make it bigger. I seem to do that a lot...talk about making bigger quilts. It finishes at 70 x 70.

I hemmed and hawed over a quilting design, but DH asked for simple. No swirls or doo-dads. No brands or western motifs. Simple. Unassuming. I asked several times while I was working on it and the answer was always the same.

                                        

As I was finishing up the squares and about to move onto the triangles on the edge, I realized I was going to run out of the yarn I'd been using. A quick search online told me that it had been discontinued so I called the store in Brady where I originally purchased it probably 3 years ago, maybe more. They had expanded and opened another store in Fredricksburg and moved all of their wool, and much of their yarn there. Phone call #2 brought success. Yes, they had the yarn and they were kind enough to send it to me. I also needed some wool for the binding.

                                                 

I gave DH the quilt at Christmas, but it lacked the binding so I stopped into the shop when I was driving through a few weeks ago and chose wool for the binding.

                                                       

They have a wonderful selection of wool and I will admit to hovering over the bolts and contemplating another wool quilt. However, common sense quickly prevailed. It gets cold in New Mexico, but unless we move to Alaska or Tibet, I'm fairly certain we won't be needing a stack of wool quilts.

Once I was back home, stitching commenced, but the double fold binding I always make was just too thick so un-stitching took place. I had already hand stitched down one side. I kept asking DH what he thought and he didn't want me to have to un-stitch it all, but we both thought the binding was awfully thick so I took it all off and trimmed down the binding. Now that its finished, I'm glad I did. Much better. DH loves it. When I had added the last stitch, clipped the thread, and presented it to him, he commented, "Just in time for our first 80 degree day!" Rascal.