My printer will not feed newsprint if I put it in where I put the regular paper, but will copy to it fine if I feed it in the manual feed tray one paper at a time. This is whether I am using it as a copier or a printer.

I don't like using the regular paper because it's harder to remove, especially if you have a spot were you have several lines of stitching coming together. I get rather picky and end up using my tweezers to get every bit out that I can - I keep telling myself its OK to leave those tiny pieces, but then I see them and they bother me.

You might ask her what she was "concerned" about. I hate it when people are non specific. If she has a "concern" why not just tell you and you can decide. You are doing it now, it's coming out great from the pictures so I'm just not sure what the problem is other than that she might feel that you won't take the class if she doesn't pick apart what you've done.

I always use copier paper (Walmart $3.76/ream) in my printer/copier. Copy shops around here charge 10 cents per b&W copy. I can make them cheaper at home. Just remember to print all your foundations at the same time on the same machine. Copiers can vary slightly and this variation can "add" up across a quilt top.

As for needles: I use a 90/14 for virtually all my sewing - quilt block piecing, paper piecing, garment mending. Maybe I'm lazy or not doing something "properly", but this needle works well for me. Some folks have used 80/12 needles. I use what's in my machine and that's a Singer 90/14 needle.

Stitch length is shortened to 1.2 or 1.4. If you find the paper is not tearing easily, just fold it back and forth on the stitched line. This helps "break" the paper fibers and you will find that the paper tears easily. For those pesky tiny pieces that sometimes get left behind, carefully pick them out using a tweezers...or just leave them in. I have started to remove the papers (only in the seams between blocks) before I sew the blocks together. This helps eliminate the tiny, pesky leftover pieces in the seams.

Right way to paper piece? Wrong way to paper piece? If it is working for you...and it sounds like you are doing just fine...don't listen to anyone else, especially someone who is probably trying to sell you something (a different sized needle pack perhaps? Specialized paper?). As others here have said, ask her what her "concern" is.

Hope my comments help.

Thanks everyone... I appreciate your opinions.

When I paper piece, I use regular copy paper which I have purchased from Walmart. I make sure to get the least expensive paper I find, not the top-quality bond paper I use for typing papers, etc. I have never had any trouble with it. Whatever needle is in my machine is the one I use for paper piecing. It's usually a 12 or 14 since that is the size I use most.

I will say that I put in a new needle when I begin a new project, but I paper piece with the same needle that is in the machine. The needle will dull fairly quickly with paper piecing, so using an old needle won't make that much difference. I'll paper piece for a while then replace with a new needle if I'm doing a new "regular" project. I hope that makes sense.

I have been told that using newsprint or vellum will produce better results, but I don't want to go against what already works for me so well. If you've found a method which works for you, then by all means continue to use it and enjoy the process!

The only thing I do differently is, I use a shorter stitch length just to make it easier to tear off the paper when the block is attached to the quilt, to avoid stretching any fabrics that might be on the bias. You are doing fabulous. Quilt police will occur. Lol.