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!!

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.