Ok does anyone actually Know what Paper to use???

freezer paper is used, but only for hand sewing like in grandma's flower garden pattern. For paper piecing, just plain old paper, computer paper, photo copy paper, typing paper, i even use graph paper when im not able to get to a photo copier, and newspaper, well, i would think that would make ink run all over your hands and fabric, yikes :)

Hi, I buy foudation paper made especially by Carol Doak for pp. I use freezer paper for applique and I purchase precut shapes to do English paper pcing. Marge

i assume carol doak's paper is a fine product, but it's quite expensive. 8.5 cents per sheet.

i bought children's doodle pads (made from blank newsprint) to see how they'd work. they're great for paper piecing and are only a hair more than 4 cents a sheet after sales tax.

i just found a website that sells rolls of newsprint and bundles of blanks sheets. 2,400 sheets, 15" x 20" for under $25, plus shipping (to my zip code, just under $24, total, just under $58 ). rolls, 12" x 1,695' are under $12, plus shipping. so cost per sheet is around 2 cents. that bundle would probably last me the rest of my life.

http://www.packagingsupplies.com/Newsprint.html

regular paper (normally 20lb) will work, too, but is a bit harder to tear away. if you're shopping for something, look for paper that is 15lbs or less and it will work just fine. look in office supply catalogs. a lot of the pinfed computer paper is lightweight. one pack or case will last for ages. i've been working out of a case i bought years ago.

I like printing my foundations from the computer so I had been using regular copier paper. I found it was stiff and I didn't like the punching noise that the needle made as it went through it.

I have since been using pads of tracing paper I bought at my local dollar store. 9X12 sheets , 40 sheets for a dollar. I also use HILROY plain writing tablet (ID#35700) 8X10 sheets, 100 for about 2.50. The thinner paper runs through the printer fine and I can bend it much easier and it has a much more pleasing piercing sound!!

I agree with mic-pa. Sometimes it worth the extra money. I used typewriter paper and then switch to Carol Doak's paper. I am having a tough time getting out the type paper but the Carol Doak paper is so much easier to pull out. So to me, it is worth the money, seeing that I have 30 paper pieced blocks to pull out.

I use tracing paper because it's inexpensive and works well for me. I also don't mind too much if a little bit of paper lives for all of eternity wedged between a few stubborn stitches! Lol* As long as it doesn't make a crinkly crunch sound when I cuddle up with my quilt, I'm good!

I use computer paper occasionally, but I perforate the lines before sewing. That is key for getting the heavier paper to rip off well. Just take the thread out of your machine, and stitch along the lines of your pattern. I'm pretty lazy though, so, when I can avoid having to do extra work I do - so the tracing paper works for me. Then I don't have to perforate ahead of time, the small stitches are usually enough to loosen it up well, so that when I'm ready to rip it comes right off.

I haven't tried the more expensive Carol Doak paper, is it water soluable? For my purpose's, it's not really necessary, but I can see how on some projects that would be a real advantage. Just have to decide what's right for you, your budget, and what you're making. :)

I've never tried paper piecing, but would parchment paper work? It's about the same weight and 'texture' as tracing paper, is 15" wide and comes in 24 foot rolls.