Ugly Is As Ugly Does! ((Or Death By Cheetos ---))

If you read my frustrated post from THIS AFTERNOON ---You will already KNOW what kind of defeated mood I found myself in.

And because of this fiasco -- my whole plan to show more MQX photos today went OUT THE WINDOW. Which is where this quilt back should have gone too --- just sayin'!

Tomorrow. I'll do more pics tomorrow.

How could ONE PERSON mess up on a quilt back when she had 10 yards of fabric to work with?

I’ll tell you how….

You measure and cut and piece the backing ……using the measurement across the TOP of the quilt….not down the SIDE….that’s how!

And it wouldn’t have been a problem except that this fabric is not only directional like a stripe, but directional as it can’t go sideways, and it can’t go UPSIDE DOWN either, because it’s buildings and café’s and little street scenes.

So OUT comes the trusty Orphan Box.

The search began for something I had “enough of” to go all the way across the quilt from side to side, therefore adding to the LENGTH of the backing.

AHA! There are some REALLY hideous giant 4 patches on point that were a failed way-laid leader/ender project, and I know they haven’t seen the light of day for at least 5 years – this was way before we moved to NC!

I could alternate these with SOMETHING, but it had to be something that stood out against that Paris fabric….and you know what?

There was this ONE PIECE. The only one I liked color-wise…and it was in the “Use for charity” bin --- I loved the colors in it, it picked up the red in the Paris fabric ---I loved the pattern, it’s a very cool print – but I HATE THE FEEL of this fabric!

I’ve washed it, ironed it – it still feels stiff and yucky. No matter – it’s getting used, and will be GONE. ((I think it came from Joann’s – how’s that for a confession! I’ve bought good feeling stuff there, but this was not one of them – so go by the feel and don’t trust that something is going to soften in the wash.))

Being in a green kind of mood…I pulled out my Singer 185J “Mean Judy Green.” She is a 3/4 sized machine and was born in 1954 ---I wanted to try the ecolux light on her --- and I know it’s really important to run machines every once in a while to keep them from locking up. I oiled her, cleaned her a bit, and set her to going….Sewing 4 patches on point to the red colored “stiffy” squares! LOL! Oh, do you see that MILLENIUM fabric front and center? Someone give me a high-five – it’s now USED!

*Note* I've been asked how I sew on different machines, and it's simple if you be sure to test and match your seam width with every different machine you switch to. If you have one machine that gives you a baseline -- you can use tape or a seam guide in order to keep a consistent seam allowance from seam to seam and machine to machine -- but TEST -- never trust a 1/4" foot to do the job for you, they are all too different.

This is an aerial view of Judy…and how I’ve been able to move the sew adjustable table by Sewing Mates to fit her base. She can’t come out of her base because she sits lopsided without it --- poor old girl! But I am loving how this table changes around to fit everything I’ve got!

Plenty of light, plenty of space…plenty of ugly UFO parts….Oy! What am I getting myself into?

I did a double row like this…and a single row. I think there are only 3 left-over 4 patches on point…..red fabric ALSO gone…that’s score 2 for me! But you know what? even at this point the backing is still 4” too short. (*&@#($*&(*&!

So here’s where things get REALLY ugly..LOL I had left over 9-patch type strip sets from Florabunda’s border. Yellow, Print, Yellow.

I had left over strip sets print/white/print in the orphan bin that someone had sent me and they’d never been used…..I decided to sub-cut everything at 2” ((Yes, I remembered to double-check that I was using the 2” die for the Accuquilt Studio!)) and set to making a checkerboard border.

Only – it doesn’t look any better…LOL!

I think it would have been FINE to have the buildings sideways at this point!

But here you go.

Paris Street Scene Fabric? GONE!

4 patch on point blocks? GONE!

Stiffy red horrid feeling fabric? GONE!

Leftover checker-board type strip-sets? GONE!

Also gone?

One 2 liter bottle of Diet Dr. Pepper

One medium bag of Cheetos ---

Yes, it was that kind of day ----and the quilt is still not on the frame, and it’s probably the ugliest backing ever, but it’s DONE!

And Mean Judy Green was just a CHAMP! She was made in Canada, and this model was made to replace the old black Singer 99’s. I found this YouTube video of an old commercial for the Singer 185. It was considered the Young Budget Machine. You could buy it on the Budget Plan for $119.50 ($12 down and $1.25 per week). This ad is too cute not to watch….Enoy!

What a hoot! I love how the hubby is inspecting the dress after she looks like she says “PUT DOWN THAT (*&@#$(*& Freaking Newspaper and pay attention! LOL!