paper piecing questions
 

I am confused about paper piecing. I understand that sewing on the paper is to make something more accurate. Now I have been told to make one copy cut all my little peices and label with the numbers and then chain piece. Not having
tried either method,which is best for a beginner? Or more important which will look good and not drive me crazy in the process.?
Chrissy B

I love paperpiecing and it is worth learning to do. I believe the best, most simple method is anything Carol Doak has written or taught. Start simple and once you get the idea down you can create some amazing blocks or quilts. Lots of free patterns on the internet. Hope you give it a try.

I just asked this yesterday too. Got some really good advise. There's also a pattern in moda bakeshop I ran across this am that explains it well and on what I call a beginner project. Think I was aiming too high to begin with. I'm trying that one today....when I tear myself a way from this board!
http://www.modabakeshop.com/2012/01/...uilt.html#more

In this case it seems like you're being instructed to use the pieces in more of a template fashion rather than traditional pp'ing. Make sure you add seam allowances to all of your (fabric) pieces if you're going to continue with this method.

thanks for this link. the tip i love that is on there is to use glue stick for the first piece. i've been using a pin and the head of the pin sometimes gets in the way.

i had started a thread about my first paper piecing http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...g-t180996.html. one member, bearpawquilter, put me on to this document http://www.quiltworx.com/pdfs/founda...perpiecing.pdf which explains the fold back method. i really love to do it this way!

oh, and if your eyes are like mine, i print my pp pattern on pale blue or green paper to contrast with the fabric i am using :)

Chrissy.

I love to p/p it is easy and can be confusing and sometimes believe me you will have to take it out because you put it in upside down. lol
just start with something easy. google free paper piece patterns. I don't always cut my small pieces first. but do them as I go. You will love it once you get use to it. when done you can dampen the paper to remove it. I just tear it off and use tweezers to remove the peaces in the seams sometimes. Remember to use small stitches, that will help it to tear off and to not pull out the stitches when removing the paper.
Any questions fee free to contact me in a private message.
Dawn in Waco

I too print my PP patterns on coloured paper!

I know a lot of people recommend the glue sticks, though I'm hesitant for fear of a residue that might damage. When I want to hold a piece in place, such as the first piece, then I tack it down with a few machine running/basting/long stitches. I do the same if I have a larger piece later, to hold it in place to stay nice and flat as I join the next piece.

Helpful for bandaids is a roll of painters tape. Most times my paper stays in tact thru to the end of the job, but sometimes (particular if I've had to do some frog stitching) they do want to fall off.

Rather than marking the colours on with a pencil or pen, I use coloured highlighters. Quicker and easier recognized than having to remember if B means Blue? Beige? Black? Brown? ... or Bl means Blue? Black? etc.

I keep my stitches as small as my machine goes (1.0 on Janome) and the paper comes off easy enough at the end with little tugging and without water. The only paper I remove during the PP process is the fold back of a seam that would get buried as next pieces are added.

I tried paper piecing the traditional way of sewing thru the paper, etc and did not like it. I found it very time consuming and then struggling with removing the paper. I use this method and I love it. http://www.twiddletails.com/store/in...age=page&id=21 I am working on a Dear Jane which involves alot of paper piecing and I'm very happy with the results. Hope you find a method you like.

So many methods on paper piecing. I found Carol Doaks method to be the easiest. One tip .. for your first try cut peices bigger than what is recomended. Until you get the "flip" it is just easier to cut the overage than to not have enough to cover the area and have a seam allowance. It will frustrate the heck out of you if you come up short and have to take out tiny stitches .

Here's the same turn back method with easy pieces. It uses Freezer paper so the templates can be used over & over.
http://www.twiddletails.com/store/in...age=page&id=21

I use this method, too. The greatest advantage besides no tearing off paper is that the pieces stay put where they're supposed to be, thanks to the freezer paper!

Thank you so very much for all of your input. I think with twiddletails I might have a chance of liking this. I will keep you posted on how my progress is going. I think monday I try it out. Thank you again for every ones help!

I learned paper piecing the traditional way by sewing through the paper and then picking the paper out when I was done and it got so aggravating, I HATED paper piecing and refused to do it anymore. Then, I discovered the freezer paper method and I'll never go back to regular paper. Just too easy...

Advice when doing any block any method the first time. Do one block to make sure you understand all the instructions. Then do 2 or 3 to make sure your chain piecing is accurate and you understand the process. Then and only then, cut more and chain piece a bunch together.

This is from experience. The pattern could be wrong or you could make one bad mistake and, if you have not tested first, you can waste a lot of material and time.