Paper piecing info
 

Do you paper piece? I'm new to the technique and have tried just about every paper suggested and was really frustrated with the bulk of the paper. I also do machine embroidery and just for the heck of it decided to try some "no show mesh" for the foundation. Boy did I get a nice surprise, it worked really nice. One downfall was I had to trace my pattern onto the mesh, but that was just some crafty time for me and I enjoyed it. I may never wrestle with the paper again, the "no show mesh" was left in the potholders, layed nice and flat, and made stitching easier. Try it, you'll like it!! I dont know what the result will be to use it in a quilt, but I'm sure gonna try it. I use it on embroidered shirts a lot and it doesnt seem to shrink and helps to hold stitching in place.

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Well, I have to say it looks like you are not paper piecing, but foundation piecing instead. Paper piecing involves the removal of the stabilizing paper. With foundation piecing, you leave the foundation in the quilt permanently, and it looks like that's what you are doing.

I've done a lot of paper piecing and tried a lot of different techniques, and I have to say my favorite method is using the fold-and-stitch method on vellum (not sewing through the paper, but right next to it).

Those blocks look great. Where do you get this stuff and what is it called so I can google it! :)

There is a product called Stable Stuff that can be used in an ink jet or laser printer and it is made to be left on the fabric.
Stable Stuff® Poly becomes a fine, soft layer of polyester fibers inside your project when it is wet or washed.

I don't know the generic name for it but I bet it was made for embroidery use first.

Great ides. Thanks for the tip.

I used "lite and sheer" from www.terradonembroidery.com, but it is called different names, the first time I ordered it as "no show mesh", but I think any light weight stabilizer would work or even a wash-away stabilizer. check Walmart, they might have something that will work.

I stand corrected. It IS foundation based, I used a paper pieced pattern, seems the same to me, except I dont have to deal with the paper. As a newbie I get confused......most of the time.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]375216[/ATTACH]I recommend Alex Anderson's second edition book on Paper Piecing. I just finished this paper pieces sampler yesterday using her book. I used Carol Doak's paper and it worked out fine. Hope that helps you.

I use freezer paper for paper piecing. One reason I like it is you can iron the pieces down after sewing and they stay put. I use double side tape and stick the freezer paper to a sheet of copy paper and it goes through my printer without any trouble to make copies of a pattern. It is fairly easy to remove the paper, too.
Sue