Sometimes I paper piece very simple blocks like a nine patch, flying geese, square in a square and pinwheel.
Tartan is right there are several methods many call paper piecing.
Foundation piecing is sewing strips to a background sometimes called strip piecing and is really fast and fun to do.
English paper piecing is wrapping fabric around a paper template and sewing the raw edges under.

@ Dunster: That is a great pattern and definetly a good one for a beginer and will make a gorgeous quilt.

How ablout a good old log cabin too.
peace

I started with the QuiltersCache PP instructions.
And discovered, it wasn't all that hard to do.

From there, I just learned via QB threads, youtube videos and other things I read on the web.

Before all this, I had taken a couple of PP classes ... and they were disastrous!
I was sure it was a technique I would never come to like.
Now ... I love it!

It takes a bit of time to get your own rhythm and comfort with it ... and then you're away to the races!

Good Luck!

I used the Carol Doaks CD also and it is fabulous!! You learn all the tricks to make paper piecing easier, from construction of the block, to putting the top together. You won't be sorry!!! I also use her papers to PP, I think they are the best!!!

Question - can you use anything other than the paper made specifically for foundation piecing, like freezer paper or something?

Absolutely!! I am cheap and can not see spending the $$ for special paper.

My avitar was Paper Pieced. I used cheap computer paper to print the image, pieced the blocks with a tiny stitch length (more perforations so it is easier to remove the paper). Large paper pieces were very easy to remove - sometimes I used a Purple Thing just run down the seam line on the paper side.

When I have a more intricate design with tiny pieces, it can be a bit harder. So, I moisten a Qtip, rubbing the seam line and perforations made by the stitches (done on the paper side). This softens the paper and the small pieces come right off. A nice tweezer can be useful as well.

Yes ... most of my PP patterns are printed from the computer, so I just use computer paper.

Like Eparys, I shorten my stitch length way down and the paper comes off super-easy. If anything, the pieces come off too early!!! .... painters tape makes great bandaids!

I did most of my FWS 6" blocks with PP, and lots of the pieces were teeny-tiny ... and no bits of paper stayed in.

I took the "Quick Strip Paper Piecing" class on Craftsy- it was extremely affordable, even more so when you realize it comes with like 5 (or more?) patterns!!!

I learned to paper piece and came away with some great projects (I didn't do them all though).

Oh good. Thanks for replying...I'm very interested in learning paper piecing next, but wasn't very interested in the price of that paper I saw the other day. LOL

When I do paper piecing the paper I use is the paper that the Doctors use on their exam tables ... the thin white stuff ... I asked my doctor if I could buy a roll and he actually gave me one ... it is so perfect for this.