Needle size for fpp using copy paper.
 

I have been teaching myself, with a bit of hand holding from the forums, to fpp and am fairly pleased with how I have managed my "practice blocks". I've signed up for a general class at a P&Q shop so I can have my work checked to make sure I am on the right track before I start cutting and sewing my "real" project. My printer will not accept any paper other than copy paper and I have noted that many people on the forums also use it so that's what I've been using. I've had no problems so far, have been using a 14 needle and a stitch length of 1.8 and have found it fine to machine sew through and the paper tears very easily. However the P&Q shop lady was a bit concerned when I told her, and advised that I should be using a finer paper and a smaller needle. Why? If this seems to be working for me why? And am I using the wrong size needle? I thought a 14 would cope better with the copy paper than a smaller needle but as I am intending to use batiks in my project, would the size 14 be too big to use on batiks? I can't afford to buy special paper, I can't afford to pay to use a printer from somewhere else to print out my foundations on the thinner paper, and I am hopeless at tracing by hand and if I have to do that I just won't do fpp.

So....is it ok to use copy paper like so many people seem to do? What size needle should I be using in my machine?

That's exactly what I'm doing, too. I use normal printing paper and my regular printer. My opinion is: if it works, go for it!

My printer won't take anything but regular paper either, so that's what I use.

I usually use an 80/12, but if all I had was a 90/14, I'd be using that.

If you are nearby a copy shop, you may find it cheaper to have them print your patterns if you are printing a whole bunch as printer cartridges cost so much and copy shops around here charge very little per copy for just regular b&w copies.

Have fun and let's see you practice blocks!

Watson

Thankyou Monale and Watson. I feel I can go to my lesson a little bit more confident now.

Ruby, you're doing great!!

It looks like you're doing a great job with your pp'ing. I had a really hard time figuring it out on my own. Taking a class at my LQS was the only way I finally 'got it'.

I use regular copy paper all the time with no issues. I couldn't even tell you what size needle I'm using but probably a 12 or 14. When I took the class, the instructor made zero mention of type of paper or needle size. I used primarily batiks for my project for that class - and selected the fabrics with the aid of the instructor, so if the batik/paper/needle size was to be an issue - she certainly never mentioned it.

Enjoy your class.

I use the cheapest copy paper I can use, shorten my stitch length, and usually use a #12 needle. You're doing a beautiful job.

It sounds like your instructor is a member of the quilt police academy. Her way is not the only way to go. If what you are using works for you, go with it.

cjsews, the lady at the shop didn't say I absolutely "shouldn't"....just that she was concerned that it wasn't the best or perhaps the usual way to do it. I guess she just wants me to have a successful experience. My being "new" at this I just want to do things right so I then began to worry that I was sabotaging myself.
Thanks everyone....appreciated. Feeling happy about my choices now.

I normally use a 12 or 14 needle and copy paper and I do a lot of FPP. The only thing I would say you might want to do is to shorten your stitch length slightly (I normally use 1.4-1.6 or 1.2 for very tiny pieces). This is so that it is easier to rip the paper off - but if you have had no problem ripping off the paper then it is fine.

Do what works for you!!