I'm working on a block for our County Fair Quilt Block Contest and decided on one that is Paper Pieced. I did a test block using a product I found at JoAnn's (Perfect Piecing) but it was hard to tear out when I finished, and I'm afraid the tearing might have stretched the block out of shape. What do you use as the "foundation" when you use this method? Thanks for your input!

There are a lot of discussions on this subject. I think the ones I have read say the newsprint the kids draw on is the best for tearing away. Do a search on foundation paper or just paper and I know you will find tons of opinions.

Be sure to use a very tiny stitch, that's important no matter what tear away you use. I use my seam ripper along the seam lines to remove stubborn paper, it just cuts right off. I use Golden Threads paper when I hand trace a paper piecing pattern and cheap newsprint tablet paper when I print the pattern. It helps a lot to take opposite corners of the block and pull taunt but not tight, that gets the paper torn from the seams.

I use Carol Doak's Foundation Paper and I set the stitch length at 1.8 on my Bernina sewing machine. Your stitch length should be very short for paper piecing.

and when you tear out the paper, you should put your thumb or other finger on the stitches and tear the paper next to your finger, moving your finger down as you tear. that helps stabilize the stitching. good luck

A friend bought a 2-pack of Dixie's Kabnet Wax (used for deli food) from Costco and gave me one box. She said it was so cheap she wouldn't even tell me the price. So now I have a box of 500 sheets of 10" x 10.75" "heavyweight premium dry wax paper" that would take a lifetime to use up. I use an old rotary blade to cut it down to 8.5" and it goes through the printer very well and tears away from the stitching easily.

i prefer vellum paper when i paper piece.

I tried a paper piecing technique I found with freezer paper, and there is no tearing, therefore,, no ripped stitches.

Here is a link:

http://www.twiddletails.com/store/in...age=page&id=21

I tried it and it worked great. I will never tear paper again.

Maria

Thanks Maria for the link. I thinks this will be a much easier way and lots less messy!

Thanks Maria. I may give the freezer paper technique a test run. That sounds like a good way to keep from having to spend time tearing. I appreciate everyone's suggestions! Thanks so much!

Okay..get ready to hear a scream:)LOL I use my reg computer paper to paper piece and see no reason not to-honestly! What you prob didn't do, no matter what paper you used is to make your stitch length smaller...this makes all those little hole punches w/that needle closer together making the ripping of paper easier!:)I too did the exact thing you did on the first try only I didn't make my stitch length smaller...so it was hard to rip apart...I had many done when I figured it out!! What helps if you are stuck there like this is to use your seam ripper to start the rip on the outside edge of the paper...then it will come right off. Hope that helps:)Skeat

I'm a Paper Piecing addict. I use regular printer paper & a small stitch length.
I don't have a problem removing the paper. Tweezers are an excellent tool for removal, especially for the tiny pieces.

i don't know if you guys have heard of Stable Magic.

its paper you can run thru the printer and use for paper piecing or i use it for quilt patterns and tape it to the top of my quilt with painters tape.

then when your done you just wet the paper and it dissolves away - you don't have to rip anything out.

when i use it for quilting patterns i just throw the quilt in the washing machine (i don't even bother to take any of the paper off) and it just washes away.

its about $10 for 25 sheets but when you need it really is handy.

here's a link if you want to read more about it.


http://www.softexpressions.com/softw.../StableMag.php

Maria, Thanks for the Twiddletails link. I love foundation piecing and don't mind removing the paper, but I'm going to try your way. It sounds very interesting.

Thanks for the reminder to make my stitch length shorter. I did remember a couple of times while I was stitching :? but only went down to 2.0. I'll try 1.8 and see if that helps. I also remember reading in a quilting magazine or somewhere a while back about using a water-soluble stabilizer but had forgotten. I thought about using computer printer paper but didn't think I would be able to see through enough to match the lines...I'll give that a try too. You all are great! Thanks! :thumbup:

Klue, I started a machine applique class and the instructor wants us to use a wash away stabilzer. would this work!

yes this would work and there's actually a book that details this applique method and the authors favorite brand is this product.

Thanks Klue! Do you know the name of the book?

I've used both regular copy paper and tracing paper. Both work for me and I put my stitch length at 1.8-2.0. I LOVE paper piecing!

this is a link to her website. the book was a self published title. i'm sure if you contact her you can obtain a copy - otherwise you can look on ebay, etc.

i met her at a quilt show - i can't remember if it was NJ or PA

http://rosemhahn.net/

Update: I used this technique and it does work great! Thanks for posting this link Maria. The technique was easy to do and I was able to use the same piece of paper multiple times. This will become my new method of choice when paper piecing. Here's a picture of the block I did with this method. It is for our County Fair Quilt Block Contest. The provide the fabric and the entrants select a pattern.

I am not an expert at paper piecing like some or most of you. But I buy the regular school paper cheap. I buy it for about .50 a package. It has lines yes but doesn't seem to bother me. It tears of real easy and of course I do have a small stitch, very small. Friend said use a larger needle too and I did for a while but found regular need works better too, so easy. Hope this helps you as I am a very green beginner.

Rita

old phone book pages are good, too.

Ok since we are on this subject. Question??????

Do you tear the paper off after you get all your blocks made and sewn into a top or do you tear after each block is made? I got to thinking about that last night as I was making my sample block, what to do????

Thanks in advance.

Rita

DITTO!!! I love this method of paper piecing. I used it to complete an elaborate mariners compass top and like you I will never go back to tearing again.

FF

I use just plain old copy paper, shortening the stitch makes it a lot easier to tear the paper away.

I can give a tip on what NOT to do - and I thought I was so smart when I did it!

I sewed about 1/8 inch around each of my blocks with a short stitch - and then I pieced these little block together.

If I was going to do it again, I MIGHT use a very long basting stitch to keep the edges from flopping around - and then I would remove it before sewing any cross seams.

Those bits of paper were awful to get out. I don't think I have them all yet.

Dancing Needle - loved the block you did and I just may try that method. Thanks for sharing.

I like to rip mine after they are 'all' made. It could be time consuming for me to stop and rip right after sewing 'one'. Could be good if someone needed a short sewing break:)I like to rip when all the blocks are finished, while watching evening tv w/a small trash can right next to me...then I have a great group of blocks ready to sew in the morning-ready to go:)Skeat

Never thought of using that paper...and, w/kids...I have a ton of it!:0)

Thanks! It's fun to do. And the best part, no tearing when you're done. The block is ready to go.

Dancing Needle, I'm going to try your method. Your block is beautiful.

Thanks Minda. Yes, do give it a try. I can't take credit for the method though, Maride posted the link to the tutorial in answer to my paper piecing question. It's lots of fun. I'm searching for another paper piecing block to try now...I'm hooked! :)

There are several tips I can share. First use the cheap Tablet paper you will find in stationary. It is the kind of paper we use in elementary shcool. It is like the paper we use to learn to print on with out the lines. It is thin and will go through printer to print the pattern. The tablet does come in tablet form for around $2.00.

Another hint I read ( have not tried) Go over all the lines on the paper first with an empty needle. This perforates it and makes it eaiser to tear. Do not do this on the tablet paper as it will tear off.

If you use too heavy a paper you will have one job when you finish. You can dampen the paper too but if you used ink that is water soluable it will run . I know this as it happened t o me. Good Luck

I have tried both paper piecing for Foundation .... and Muslin. I still prefer Muslin. It doesn't stretch the blocks out of shape like paper, and the blocks go together better.
I recently made a wall hanging of flying geese and actually tried both methods. My Muslin Geese were sooooo much better.
I know a lot of people who use paper, but for me the Muslin is the best bet. You can also run the Muslin through your printer. I have found you need to allow some space on the Muslin where it first goes into the printer then it prints perfectly!
Good luck!

I use printer paper too. But have also used the paper you buy in the toy dept. - kids drawing tablets - which is slightly tan or yellow. It is very very cheap, tears away easily without stretching or pulling the stitches, and goes through the printer fine. I also use a 1.5 stitch length and medical tweezers for small and hard to get at pieces

I do all my paper-piecing on my white Featherweight and set the stitch length at 20. I usually photocopy my patterns onto standard photocopy paper. One tip I was given but have never used is to sew your pattern pieces on the sewing line with an empty needle. This pre-perforates the paper, making it easier to tear away. Also, I try not to start tearing the paper away at the edge where the stitches are. I tear the paper in the middle of the block from the edge down to the stitching, then work from the center to each side. I try to tear the paper away in the reverse order that I sewed. Maybe that's just me.

I have just started doing Paper Piecing..didn't like it at first but after buying the "add an 1/8" and "add a 1/4" rulers...I want to do one piece right after finishing the last.

I have been using my regular copy paper from the printer and I use 1.0 to 1.5 stitch length.

Works fine so far...mj

Aside from making your stitch length as tiny as possible and using strong thread, the only thing I can add is to use a larger needle to create bigger holes in the paper.
Once you get it to work for you I think your going to love it. A lot can be done that is not possible with traditional piecing.
Good Luck!

This is my first PP after getting those rulers...love using them. I have since machine quilted the background of this piece and around the figure. I am making individual ones for gifts and have made a triple one for my dil...
it is such fun since learning the easier method...mj