along with shortening your stitch length, before you rip that paper take the point of a pin and run in into that stitching line....it will help to tear that paper...then tear into the block not yanking away........gently is the word of the day.....It might be adviseable to look into either specific paper piecing paper-C Doak has a block of 100 I think, for less that $10, or someone suggested blank newsprint paper cut down to size vellum is usually too expensive at the office supply store, maybe on line might be a good place to find a thinner paper....I am sure someone here has the answer