Paper piecing question
 

Have any of you ever used plain old copy paper for foundation paper piecing? I'm tempted to try it, but afraid I may be sorry.

Yes that is what I used and make your stitch smaller and crease the paper on the seam lines first and it was ok.

I have in a pinch - shorten your stitch to pierce the paper more like a tear off stub.

Tried it, hated it. Tried a bunch of different papers, finally found vellum, which works very well for me. It's easy to print on, I can see through it, and it tears away easily, especially if you iron it. Ironing seems to make it kind of brittle.

Having said that, I will also say that I no longer sew through the paper. I use the folding technique where you fold on the sewing line and stitch right next to it. Since the vellum is semi-opaque, I can see the line and exactly where I'm folding. I use a dab of glue stick to hold the paper to the fabric.

The fold technique works really well with freezer paper. Ironing it makes it stick to the fabric.

I use it all of the time. I receive a monthly notice on colored copy paper. I reuse the back of that and i find that easier to use/see with the fold back PP method that I prefer

I use white dollar store tissue paper. No need to remove it, it completely dissolves when the quilt is washed.

Cari

I use it all the time ... just do like everyone suggested and shorten you stitch length! And don't forget to "fix" your seam at the beginning and end LOL I forgot a couple of times ... pain in the butt when your stitches come out when you tear off the paper!

That's all I ever use. Instead of folding on the stitch lines, I lightly score then with a the tip of my seam ripper using a ruler to keep my scoring straight. The paper pulls away very nicely.

I use it all the time as well. I do shorten the stitch length but don't both with scoring or folding or anything else. So far, no problems.

Most any paper will do but after using every type even the made for paper piecing paper, like Peckish, I only use lightweight translucent vellum. It it super easy to tear away fast and is flexible. Saves me frustration and the dread of removing the paper. That is more important to me then saving a few dollars. It goes through the printer just like copy paper.

I've been paper piecing for 15+years and have always used plain old cheap copy paper. I shorten my stitch length and the paper tears away no problem. I never spend money on specialty papers. Sometimes I use cheap (99 cents a yard) muslin from Joanne's for foundations so I don't have to deal with removing paper.

I've used it a lot. I just buy the cheapest paper they have because its thinner and run it thru my printer or copier. Short stitches and folding the paper helps if you have trouble.

I have heard that people have bought the old fashioned tablets at the Dollar Store. The paper is rough, more like a newsprint, then they cut it down to be the size of copy paper and run it through their printers. I bought the Carol Doak newspaper style from Hobby Lobby and that can get pricey. I do like it a lot.

I have PP'd with copy paper and I found it to be a little thick and sturdy for me. Plus I didn't think to backstitch when I started and ended a seam and had issues with my seams coming undone. I have read that some people dampen the seams and that helps the copy paper tear away easier. I have not tried that.

I use copy paper all the time. I try to get the cheapest so it is thinner than your better copy paper.

Yeah I tried the freezer paper first but decided I preferred the vellum. Freezer paper isn't opaque like vellum, and doesn't seem to stick as well as a dab of glue stick.

I use newsprint paper that I buy at the art and teachers supply store. Comes 500 to a pack and works real well.

I like the vellum type paper and buy it on a roll at an office supply store in the drafting department. It is less expensive that way. I also use it to draw designs to quilt with. It tears off so nicely and leaves very little 'whiskers'. I use masking tape made into a ring (sticky side out) to get them off.

Thanks everyone for your help. I have my fabric cut, and I'm ready to try it!

Yes, I've done it. Be sure to have your stitch length at a 1.4 or 1.5 and be careful when tearing the paper off.

I have but prefer newsprint.

I used to think I was saving money and time using plain copy paper, but I always ended up tearing the stitching out when removing paper, especially if I used Aurifil thread. I bought myself a package of Carol Doak's foundation paper and have been happy as can be ever since. It tears out easily and the package I bought has lasted forever. Well worth the pennies it cost!

I love the accuracy of using paper piecing. I use printer paper that is printed on one side rather than throwing it away. I don't use it for very small pieces, it is harder to remove.

I use newspaper weight paper. I bought a package on Amazon for less than 10.00. I think it will last forever and it is thin enough that it tears easily.

I use it too and other than being a bit tough to remove it works very well for me and it is always on hand.

I have used regular copy paper in a pinch. I find it harder to remove and it sometimes pulls my stitches out. I do like vellum the best but it can get pricey. I have used the cheap drawing paper tablets made for kids. I get it at the dollar store. It is an off white color, like newsprint. Depending on what tablet you find sometimes I have to trim it to fit in the copier. I keep my old rotary blades just for things like this.

I agree with SewingSuz. I use the thinnest, cheapest typing paper I can find.

I used to use it until I found newsprint paper on Amazon that is less expensive, tears away easier.

I find copy paper a bit too heavy for PP. I use newsprint that I purchase from the dollar store that comes in pads. It tears off really easily. Newsprint pads are much cheaper than copy paper.

I've practiced both with copy paper and newsprint.
With very small stitch length, they both tear pretty easy (newsprint is slightly easier).
However, the newsprint is way cheaper.
Also, don't forget to use up your old telephone book pages for paper piecing.

I use newspaper print all the time for pp. When Michael's has it on sale 50% off, or use a coupon at joann's. I either buy the normal 8 1/2 x 11 (approx, i think it is a bit bigger because I usually use paper trimmer to trim down), or I buy the large 18" x ?? tablet and can then get 2 sheets for pp out of each sheet in tablet.

news paper works great I bought mine at staples you will have to cut it to fit the printer like I said it works great is not expensive and easy to cut and use

That is all I have used, xerox paper or note book paper either lined or grid.

I tried copy paper too. I also hated it. Too hard to remove, even when I shortened the stitch. But then the blocks I made had 18 seams each. Now I only use onion skin paper. I have only been able to find it at Papermillstore.com. It comes in 8 1/2 X11 and also 25 x 38", if you had something really big to make!

That will work, but a trip to the dollar store can get you a pad of newsprint that is much less expensive and easier to remove.

Yes, I almost always use regular copy paper. Just be sure to use a size #14 needle (it makes bigger holes) and close up your stitches a little. I just crease the paper and remove, no problem.