I use the foundation stuff from JoAnn's and use my 40 or 50% coupons to purchase. I did do some reading somewhere, maybe even here, where some are using what is called Bank Paper purchased at a copy or printing business. Suppose to be lighter then typing/copy paper. It's on my list to try.

try freezer paper or baking paper, you can buy them at supermarket.
Freezer paper is better as has a shiny side that helps it stick to the material when pressed. I buy the generic brand as works as well as other.

freezer paper??? I have not done paper pieceing yet sorry if I am wrong

freezer paper is used between layers of food when freezing such as hamburgers. It is sold on a roll in a box the same as aluminium foil is.

You can also use adding machine tape.

End rolls of newsprint paper from a local newspaper work well. There is no ink, and you can cut pieces to any size you like. Also use a shorter stitch length to help get paper out afterwards.

Parchment paper. You can copy the pattern you want to use and it can ironed onto the fabric to follow. It tears away simply.

I buy vellum paper at Staples.

I buy rolls of the tissue used by doctor's offices on the tables from a local medical supplier. It's sturdy but very light weight and its really cheap. I use it for packing glassware and making my own patterns too. Each roll is over 100 yrd and runs $3 to $5 depending on the width.

Thanks. alot of good ideas for different papers to use for paper piecing.

try sandwich paper--you can get a large box of it at Smart and Final :)

Try some onion skin paper - tracing paper you can buy in a larger size. Could you split your block on what could become a seam (?) and maybe use foundation paper that way?

Which way does the needle # go, to make it bigger. Higher or lower. I've got a 90/12 in my machine right now. Is a 14 bigger or smaller?

I tried Carol Doak's foundation paper, but it wouldn't feed into my printer unless I hand-fed it one sheet at a time. That was a pain. I thought it was too flimsy and easy to tear. My regular multi-purpose printer paper works just as well. Just be sure to set your stitch length to a very tiny stitch and it should work fine. The short stitch perforates the paper (as in, tear along the dotted line), and it's as easy as anything else to remove when you're ready.

I'm newbie at quilting. When you talk about foundation paper -- is this also known as stabilizer?

No, stabilizer is something different. It may have other uses, but I use it for machine embroidery. It's a webbed like medium to keep embroidery from puckering. Foundation paper is just paper, and it may have other uses too, but I use it for paper-piecing. Wander around a fabric store, and you'll find both clearly marked.

I USE PARCHMENT PAPER IF I CAN'T FIND MY OTHER....WORKS GREAT AND ALSO USE IT FOR PATTERNS. IT TEARS AWAY WITH OUT ANY PROBLEMS

If you're NOT using Thangles or similar products, then Carol Doak's foundation paper is the only way to go, based on my trying everything else. It is THE most easily removed, in my experience.

I buy "doodle pads" to use for mine. They're cheap and the paper is a little thinner than regular printer paper.

Anyone besides me ever use Dr.'s paper. You know that awlful stuff you have to sit your bare bottom on in the office. I got a roll from the nurse who also is a sewer. It had a torn area on one end and she just gave it to me. It is great for tracing large patterns and can be used for paper piecing. Check it out the next time you are sitting there waiting for the Dr. :)

I use freezer paper.

A neighbor, 89yrs,showed me how to do the paper piecing useing a Sears Robuck catalog!Works beautifully!

Newsprint like the kind of pads you write on in a meeting and flip pages works well. This was recommended by an instructor whose name I don't recall. She did some stunning miniature quilts but she still used the newsprint.

Peg

The Mistress of Foundation piecing - Carol Doaks - go to www.caroldoaks.com - look in free patterns and then Introduction to paper piecing - Also www.youtube.com and search for paper piecing - good videos. Not to be confused with English Paper piecing which is another technique altogether.

Go to your local Dollar store and buy paper there. It is so low quality, that it tears away easily. I made the mistake if trying it in my printer, I had ink coming through the paper, but that could be a blessing for paper piecing.

Actually, typing paper works well....set your stitch shorter and use a new needle. Also, to remove paper, spritz a little water on the paper and it comes off quite easily!

Kids easel paper different sizes

I have a couple of packages of tissue paper intended for stuffing a puffy valance. I just cut that into squares

I admit I don't do a whole lot of paper piecing but my best friend loves it and says it's her favorite to do. Ugh!
Anyway, although she mostly uses foundation paper she says if you're on a budget, go ahead and use typing paper but she passes on this tip---once your design is on the paper fold on all the lines with your fingernail or a credit card. She says by doing all the prefolding it does make it easier to remove afterward. She's also used one of those rotary ools with the teeth that's used for clothing pattern marking. Good luck.

foundation piecing doesn't have to be paper. I hate removing the paper and have switched to using inexpensive muslin bought on sale at 50% off making it even cheaper, or ugly thin fabric that I wouldn't use on the front or back of a quilt. No ripping needed.

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA

Oops, I was guessing that you didn't mean paper piecing, but strip piecing etc.

wqh, sue in CA

I agree, I just foundation pieced 30 blocks for the Bonnie Hunter mystery and I shortened my stitch length and the paper came out so easily. In fact, that was my favorite part of making the blocks, was ripping the paper out!!

I use the paper that I have in my coping machine.....works fine for me.. Use a bigger needle and really tiny stitches.....

I use a book of graph paper to keep all my favorite patchwork blocks in one place. When I need to pp something, I just use a piece of that graph paper. Good luck with your pp project!

I use thin, cheap type paper. You don't need to spend a lot of money for this. And is the foundation for the block a full 12" or is it in sections that you sew together? I just run my patterns through my printer. If you are tracing, I agree with buying bolt ends of newsprint from your local newspaper. Ours used to give them away, but now they charge $2 per roll.

I use cheap printer paper and shorten the stitch length. I also either back stitch or use my tie off at the beginning and the end of each seam so the stitches wont pull out when I tear the paper away.

Talk about cheapo! I save the packing paper (Newsprint) that comes in anything I order threw the mail. I iron it flat and it works quite well! I figure, that way I make up for a little of the shipping and handling charges! lol

I use tracing paper that comes in pads at Walmart. I prnt the pattern using my printer. You can see through the paper and it is very easy to line up your fabric. The only problem is that the paper size is 9 inches by 12 inches so I trim 1/2 inch off one side as my printer only takes 8-1/2 wide paper.

I've been PPing for several years and have found by trial and error that the very cheapest and thinnest copy paper you can buy at the big box office store works best. I buy it by the box which will last me for two years.

I tried the thinner papers but found that they easily tore with a very multi-pieced pattern and they definitely did not hold up if you had to ripit. If you use smaller stitches, it tears out as easily as any other.

I wouldn't recommend back stitching or machine tying off with PPing. With the smaller stitch, be sure you sew two or three stitches beyond your pattern line when starting and ending. Doing this will have you sewing over previous stitches which locks them and avoids thread buildup and lumps.