I have never done paper piecing and decided that this is my challenge for 2010. Can anyone just tell me what type of paper is used? Ordinary typing paper or is it a special kind of paper and where can I get it? What do I ask for if I want to order it online?
Thanks.

I've not sewn paper piecing personally, but I saw a clip somewhere and the woman was using vellum, and she explained that she preferred to use it as it tears away from the seams easily. Good luck with your piecing!

Personally, I just use the cheapest copy paper I can find, don't forget to shorten your stitches.

I use copy paper.

Thanks, I thought I need to buy something special.

I prefer using newsprint, the kind you find in children's drawing pads (really cheap at Walmart). Amma did a great tutorial on paper piecing. Just go to the tutorial section scroll down to paper piecing and enjoy. I think you will be hooked once you try it. Perfect blocks every time.

I love to paper piece and Carol Doak is the queen of paper pcing. If possible get one of her books and it explains everything. I buy her special paper but I know others use what works for them best.

I just use the lined school paper and I am just a beginner also. But you have to be sure its the 8 1/2 X 11 size sheets or I did anyway it messed up in my printer. But it works great for me, its thin enough to see thru, and cheap to use. I couldn't find any of the newsprint or child paper to fit my printer. Too small. Hope this helps you.

Rita

I used regular computer paper...but I adjust the stitch so that is is a shorter stitch - the paper tears off more easily..it always works well for me!

As with nearly everyting in quilting, use whatever works! Special paper, newsprint, copy paper, notebook paper. With anything new I try, I like to start with the most inexpensive thing I can find. If it seems like something I will really get into, and the board things it's worth upgrading to something more expensive, I'll move up.

I am going to try paper piecing too, for the first time. Right now I am going to use plain computer paper, but I have ordered some tracing paper that was on sale, hoping it will work in my printer. I have downloaded at least 5 tutorials and am still nervous. Also I ordered a Carol Doak CD, someone said she was really good.

If it is regular sized piecing, I just use regular copy paper with a stitch length of 1.5. If it is teeny weeny pieces like I did for a DQ, well, copy paper works, but I've decided to use a water-soluble or tracing paper. Some of those pieces were about 1/8 th of an inch!

Good luck

Don't be nervous! The worst you could do is screw it up. It's very easy. Start with a simpler pattern, not so many pieces and work your way up to more complicated ones if you feel you need to. When you do start a project, I'd suggest buying a little extra fabric, just in case.

I use velum paper...you can get it from paper supply stores. There is also a lady named RaNae Merrill who sells it online. I'll try to find it ...here you go:

http://www.softexpressions.com/softw...impleFound.php

She charges a bit more than you can get it at the paper supply store for. If you look in the Dear Jane Cyber Sew thread, there's lots of talk about paper, where it's cheapest, etc. Problem is the thread is over 160 pages long...lots of reading to find your info.

I've used copy paper, but I actually prefer the cheep ligned paper I used in school. It's ligher and cheeper but will still go through my printer with no problems.

I use copy paper because we have a copier at home, it's free and readily available. It can be a little hard to tear off and can distort the stitching sometimes. So, I can see why vellum would be used. With copy paper I've found that moistening the paper area that you're tearing off makes it much easier to remove and the stitching isn't distorted.

I'm almost done with a paper-pieced queen-size quilt and the paper I've used is by June Taylor (purchased from Joann's). I think the thickness of the paper will affect how often you'll need to change your needle. It may not bother some people.

The June Taylor paper held extremely well while I worked with it, and it tore off easily when the time came. Just remember to sew a little past your end-points, and to lower the stitch length.

It's easy, and I can't believe I hadn't tried it before. Now that I have, I'm thinking of working on a Mariner's Compass, next.

I started using vellum and it's the cream of paper for paper piecing. I have used Carol Doak's paper, newsprint, copy paper, writing paper, tracing paper, deli paper, Dr. office paper, and freezer paper. I won't use anything but vellum, because I'm worth it. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Me too!!! :thumbup:

I use the paper you get at the dollar store. Biggest requirement is to make sure your stitch length is very short or it will not tear away easily. Best of luck with your project.
Wendy

I use copy paper and newsprint for all of mine. Short stitch length like mentioned 1.5 and I fold and crease before I tear it off. Sewing a couple of stitches beyond the seam lines is important too, it anchors the seams and omits raveling stitches :wink:

It's tricky at first knowing how to cut the material to cover your pattern (or at least it was for me because my pattern didn't tell how much I needed for each piece of the pattern), but once you get the hang of it you will love it. Blocks are so precise!

besides paper, get yourself an add a quarter ruler. that has a lip on it and it helps you tear your paper off. trimming your 1/4 seam past where you just sewed works well with this ruler. then all you have to do is place your next piece of fabric against the trimmed fabric and sew away. flip and sew.
lots of visual help online. youtube,etc.
good luck.

The Carol Doak video is on sale at Connecting Threads and is well worth the price. Regular copy paper causes my seams to be too thick. I ordered the vellum and Carol Doaks. The vellum is transparent and you can see through it. The Doak tears off easy but you can't see through it.

Rina,
I just wanted to add that paper piecing is one of the most forgiving kinds of sewing/quilting....just so easy to get perfect points even when it's someting new...I tried it and loved it...it is a lot of fun!
Bill

I agree with using the childrens pad from Walmart. Very cheap and very easy to tear off. I have used copy paper and what a nightmare to remove. Go with the tablet at Wal mart and try it.

You can use standard copy paper, but it's slippery and thick. I prefer to use Carol Doak's paper piecing paper. It's thinner and is much like fine newprint.

If you go to Carol's site you can find very good tutorials and free patterns to try.
http://www.caroldoak.com/free-quilt-patterns.php

My website has three tutorials and simple patternss.
http://sites.google.com/site/finelyf...-and-tutorials

You may also email me with questions.

I used cheap copy paper also, it worked out great. There is another method you can do for paper piecing, only if you plan on machine quilting it.
Copy our pattern block onto muslin squares, either via your printer or by tracing it. This method work great and you don't have to do any removing of paper, you just sew right onto the muslin. It's pretty cheap, you just buy the cheapest muslin you can find.
If you do this method, check on the internet for the best way to print on fabric for your printer.

I use Carol Doak's paper but I also use end-rolls from our local newspaper. It's newsprint that remains unprinted because it's the end of a roll. It's ridiculously cheap - 25 cents for a roll that has hundreds and hundreds of feet of paper. I ask for it at the reception desk; they always have some laying around and it's great for all kinds of craft and sewing activities. I just used it as an ironing sheet to absorb crayon from a crayon quilt.

I have used both tracing paper from Walmart and June Taylor from JoAnn (prefer this and I look for it when I have a 40% off coupon). Both work well. As for the size of your material, make sure it is at least 1/2" bigger than the patch you want to cover. Go to www.quilterscache.com - she has great tutorials on quilting including paper piecing as well as hundreds of patterns you can download for free. I put it as an icon on my toolbaar so I can access it quickly. Good luck - it's a great fun way to quilt.

copy paper will work.

I use whatever the lightest weight is that will go through my printer. Shorten your stitches... and when you are finished fold on your stitches... it will help release the paper. :mrgreen:

Carol Doak is the queen of paper piecing. Get any of her books. She taught me personally and if I can do it, anyone can. I use copy paper; cheap. get stitch lengh way down and the paper rips off. Drives my DH crazy as I sit and rip at noc. such fun!!

How silly of me not to post this question BEFORE I went and used my 50% off coupon on paper for paper piecing.

I've never done PP before. I've seen a couple tutorials, but I'm experimenting for the first time. I'm making a large sampler and I think only 3 or so of the 25 I have are PP. I'm so worried I'll mess up, it's a special project.

I'll try this paper I bought, but if I like it, which I hope I well the points are so nice, I'll try copy paper.

I use tissue paper...the kind in gifts....works GREAT !!!! and tears away like a dream. I just made my first paper piece making a primitive star Christmas tree skirt, table runner and throw pillow. I AM NOW A BELIEVER IN PAPER PIECING. Glad I met that challenge to work with it.

Does this paper go through your printer very well? I am a coward re paper jamming :mrgreen:

Every pping pattern I've used I printed. When using paper not suited for printing, do you trace each pattern by hand? I've seen some sew through a lot of papers using no thread to make the pattern. That seems like a lot of wasted time. I scan the pattern and then print out as many as I need.

I use copy paper but I have learned to do a little backstitch at the beginning and the end of each line of stitching. That prevents the stitches from being pulled out when I remove the papar.

I just started too, so I picked a time when I felt I could just jump in use a Carol Doak book to look at pictures. The only thing u can do is just do it. ha. i made some good ones then i messed up some so what we all live and learn. The name of that book is Show me How To Paper Piece by Carol Doak bought it from Amazon books used for 5 dollars three dollars shipping. pm me later if u want to talk.

I th1nk the vellum is essential when you start doing more than 15-20 pieces in in small area such as 6 ". It is strong and takes all the piercing with out falling apart. The fact that it is translucent really helps me rapidly piece.