Mariah

I have done paper piecing before, but it has been a long time. I am having trouble with my ppiecing when I take the paper off the back, some of my seams are open. If anyone can suggest what might be happening, I will appreciate it.
It is like, I have sewn the seams 1/4" with a shorter stitch, everything looks fine, then after the paper is off, some of the seams are open.
Help!
thanks, Mariah.

MTS

Without seeing a picture....

Both fabrics HAVE to extend past the stitching line.

It's possible that you place the fabrics correctly, but when you turn it over to stitch on the line, something shifts.

Happens all the time. ;-)

Try pinning the fabrics after you've placed them correctly. Be careful when you flip it over that the two fabrics are still laying flat (without tucks or folds) before stitching.

And I wouldn't be taking the paper off until the block is sewn together with other blocks (or the whole quilt top is completed), depending on the pattern.

pocoellie

Here is how I do my PP:Your typical PP patterns has different sections, and each one of these sections, they include the seam allowance on the edge. In addition to this, they say don't take the paper off until the whole quilt/hanging/whatever is done. Well by the time you get all the sections together, it's a real bear to get the seam allowance paper out. So, what I do is I don't have the seam allowance on the paper but have it on ONLY the fabric. NO more trying to get the stupid paper out from out of the seam.

MZStitch

1. Make sure you use a very short stitch, I use #2 on my machine.
2. Start sewing slightly before the quarter inch sealine begins, and sew slightly after at the end.
3. Use light paper if possible, but if you aren't what I do is tear the paper away immediately after sewing the seam from the quarter inch portion. Before you pull it off crease it at the seam first just like you do when you fold a piece of paper in order to divide it in half. (I leave the rest of the paper on until all of my quilt top is done.)
If you follow all these steps and still have a problem, check your tension. Hope I've helped.

TonnieLoree

What they said. Your seams have to cross over each other.

Painiacs

I had the same problem. Thanks for asking!

Kitsie

Try this! Never have to rip paper off!:
http://www.twiddletails.com/store/in...age=page&id=21

Mariah

Thaqnks everyone for your helps. These are just simple blocks.
Now I have to run try it. Never had this trouble before; don't know what happened!
Mariah.

hobbykat1955

1.5 length...and also leave on until entire project done

Mariah

Things get strange with the quilting. I was doing some things around here, and thinking about the comments which came back from my question. All of a sudden, it hit me!! I think it is the folding on the seam lines before taking the paper off. It seems like the girl who taught me to ppiece showed me to be sure to do that! I will let everyone know after I try the next one of these simple little blocks.
Isn't it amazing how much we forget when we don't use the skill?!
Mariah.