I keep paper in until ready to press block.ready to join to next one.as seam mark is on that paper.if moving pieces about will also help to hold steady.

I thought I was going to be really smart and stay-stitch my string-pieced squares 1/8 inch from the edge.

Then I sewed the units together with a 1/4 inch seam.

Not one of my brightest ideas. It was a major hassle to pick those bits of paper off the edges!

I picked the pieces of paper off after sewing the units together.


The fold back method pf piecing is great!

Thanks everyone. It sounds like it's a personal choice. I guess I'll remove the paper before I put it together..... I'll press and trim to size. All your suggestions were great.

And I love that fold back method to paper piece. I'll have to try that on the next project. The only thing I wonder about is if you can put freezer paper in the printer. I don't think I want to hand trace all the paper piece patterns. The kimono block has 4 separate parts that get sewn together at the end. That would be 80 pieces of pattern to trace..... too much. I did hear someone say that they bought freezer paper in a regular 8 1/2 x 9" sheet size. Have any of you seen this?

I use the Carol Doak's method, I don't remove the paper until the whole quilt is together.

I removed the paper after the top was pieced - yes it was a pain to remove all the little pieces between seams.
I have purchased Ricky Tims Poly Stable Stuff for paper piecing for a project about 3 down the list, you leave it on and when washed, it turns to fibers. I have handled a PP quilt this was used in, before & after it was washed...I think I'm going to love using this!

I have tried to leave the paper until all the blocks are sew together and found that I had issues getting my seams to line up. I remove the paper when the block is completed and trimmed to the correct size, then starch and press. That is what seems to work for me, but I'm sure you'll have to experiment to find what works for you.

I also use Carol Doaks method too. I have found that the paper removal process is easier if I take the seam line paper out as I go along. I have never made a large quilt though. Just large wallhangings. I have been teaching Carols method for several years. My advice, leave paper in! The other thing I advise is to use PP paper. I figure if Im putting lots of effort, $$ for good fabric, a few more $$ for the best paper is not a deal breaker. Skip copy paper!

I remove the paper before I sew sections together. I have never had a problem with distortion. There are lots of bias edges in PP but pre- treating the fabrics with starch and handling gently solves these issues.

When sewing seams on PP it is to hard to remove all the paper in intersections and has its own issues.

I have found ignoring the 'rule' about leaving the paper on till done is just not necessary in most cases.

peace

With some of my blocks when they are very tiny, I sometimes mark the seam line with a marking pencil, take off the outer paper and sew the seam. I take all remaining paper off when the entire block is completed.

You can reuse the freezer paper 5-6 times. I trace the pattern then press the freezer paper onto another freezer paper so it is thicker/sturdier, then I score the thicker papers with my sewing machine. When it starts to lose it's sticky, I add another piece of paper and score again.