I tried using tissue paper for machine quilting but it was too fragile to stand up to my wrestling my quilt around in my machine. I found that parchment paper (the kind you use in baking) worked better. It was fairly easy to tear away but held up to wrestling around. I did have to use tweezers to get it out of the little points and such. It was a bit of a hassle but just did it as I walked by and happened to see it or as I was watching TV.