Peg’s Challenges–Day 2, 3

Well, Day 2 and I did some more stippling on small pieces – felt a little more comfortable this time.  I do find that I can only do a very short time, as my neck and shoulders get very, very sore – probably because I’m so tense trying to get this right LOL!  One of the ‘problems’ I have is working close to the edge of the project because my hands are not completely on the top itself, but rather on the batting/backing and I worry about losing control.  Anybody have any tips about working close to the edges (that’s right and left side – top and bottom center are okay as my hands are on the quilt top).       Anyway, these pieces look much the same as Day 1 – a little more even stitching.  Then I went on to try the ‘pebble’ quilting that Michelle posted here.  I couldn’t find a tutorial, but just plunged right in with a practice piece.

Day 3 – back to more pebble quilting practice.  It’s getting better, but I’m not sure that I like this.

My first try was the top right – progressed counter-clockwise – last try bottom right.  Well it’s fine for a while, but then going over the circles to get to the starting point for the next circle doesn’t always go so well.  Then I have to slow down my hands, which makes for very, very, very tiny stitch length, to try to stay on the line – and makes the stitch lines look ‘bulky’.  Maybe with tone-on-tone it wouldn’t be so noticeable.  Maybe I’ll try that and see how it goes.  When I look back at the Michelle’s pictures, I’m wondering if each circle is done individually, instead of a continuous line – hmmmm.

I was also reading the tip (see tabs at the top of the blog), and there it says to slow down the machine, not the hands – that’s the opposite of what I was taught at a class I took a while back – have to try some of that!

Happy quilting!   Blessings, Peg