victoriasews Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 Must you have microdrives? I just can't get those little suckers round and smoothly rolling into the next pebbles. If I never get them, what are some other options besides mandering? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 I really use my microdrives a lot and personally I would not be able to get the control for tiny pebbles without them. The other option is to use the rice bags and create some drag so you can better control things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 I have found that if I go around one way and then around the other way on the next one, it works....like a figure 8. Yes, microdrive works wonders, but I can't remember if I used them....refer back to the thread "Senior Moment" Also....think about pebbles in real life...they are not all round...be organic!! Also, there is a youtube about doing pebbles...have you seen it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtreusch Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 Also turn off the SR so you have smoother movements. Debbi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoriasews Posted July 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 I did find turning off the SR helped. I've been quilting over 5 years and never did that before now. It runs much smoother. Pebbles are still pretty wonky, though. MB, I'd love to see the youtube. Do you have the link? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PattyJo Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 When I do pebbles or micro stippling, I turn my stitch length up real high and leave my SR on. For me, I get a smoother circle and I'm not creating a heap of stitches in one spot. I love the SR and probably depend on it way toooooo much, but that's one of the reasons I got a machine with one on it! OH, and I do use my micro handles too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewhappy Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 Victoriasews- Watch the Sharon Schambro videos on youtube or her web site!! It goes over pebbles & other "fills" Sewhappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewlinzi Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 I'm doing 6 million pebbles at the moment. I don't find it easy with the micro handles! I have SR on , stitch length 13... some are figure eights (these are good if you want them lined up and some are almost complete circles before they go off somewhere else. Draw a few out on paper... They are not all perfectly backtracked but en-masse look pretty good anyway. I had some quilters here today and they liked them! However, after several hours of doing that I have stifff shoulders and achey hands but I don't have time to keep stopping. What with children to feed, school holidays creeping up and a deadline I have to keep going as long as I can or until it makes me go blind!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merryjo2003 Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 I just use the regular handles and go. Circle, circle, circle, then on to the next. They don't have to be perfectly stitched on top of the last stitch line, and different shapes to fit the next space, or even different sizes give you a more realistic look, like cobblestones or pebbles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 Linzi, I turn my stitch length up to about 15, almost the last setting and that made it much easier. For me I hook my thumbs around the handles on the microdrive and leave my hands out flat so that they don't get cramped. I also keep reminding myself that I can move the machine with a fingertip so I don't have to man-handle the thing! They are definitely time consuming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethDurand Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 I agree with what everyone else said. I don't have the microdrive, and do use the SR. The only thing I'd add is to be sure and take frequent breaks. Stop and roll your shoulders around, and be sure to look at objects in the distance. I thought that my eyes were going to cross when I did pebbles! Beth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindasewsit Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 Heidi, do you use your SR with it turned up that high? linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grace Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 Is there an alternate to micro-drive? I have an older Mille, and am told the MD doesn't fit on mine. Any help out there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darlene Epp Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 Hi Grace, The Micro-Drive will fit on your machine. APQS hasn't changed the needle bar housing and that's what the MD fits around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollyJane Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 I sort of think that the whole point of pebbles is the variety - in both size and shape. It doesn't want to look like rows of perfect circles. I don't use microdrive, and I don't like the rice bag thing - so I just turn off the SR and get going! Some are rounder than others, some are larger than others - and I think that is the beauty of it! But I agree with whoever said that you have to stop as often as you can! Otherwise your hands cramp up and your shoulders seize up and your eyes see circles that just aren't there!! Best of luck - and show us the finished qult when you are done!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 I don't use my microdrive and I don't use the stitch regulator either. I go around each pebble a couple times in the figure eight. I use the same principle for bead work too. I tuck my elbows in also. I do stop every little bit to stretch and all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmyhogan Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 I don't use the microdrive. I do use the SR and, when doing tiny pebbles or stipple I set the SR to the highest setting then I do the essentially the figure eight as Mary Beth described above. I try to get the pebbles to be varied sizes and don't want them to be "perfectly" round. I have to stop every so often and go do something else for a few minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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