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I'm a relative newbie with Paper Piecing .... and have come to the point of some questions
??Sewing Machine Needles?? ... do you switch to a different size and/or type the PPing? or go with what you would normally use for the same fabric without paper? ??Rotary Blades?? ... go dull quickly when cutting thru the paper when trimming seam and edges. Any tips and hints? I'm quickly coming to the decision that I should keep one rotary for PPing and one for regular fabric sans paper. ??Others?? ... While we're here, please feel free to add other tips and tricks you have discovered that help you achieve more success at PPing! Thanks everyone ... and looking forward to all the great ideas that I'm sure will come! :) |
what I have learned, if your doing several of the same pattern, to do space one on all of the papers and remember to leave the 1/4 inch on all sides then add peice 2 to all then stop and sew. like an asembly line seemed to work well for me. i always just used my sissors until i got to the end and then trimmed the sides. everyone has a different way.
good luck |
In the class I took, we used a 90 needle and a shorter stitch length to make the paper pull out easier. The shorter stitch length pierces the paper and literally cuts it as you sew. Have a lot less problems when it comes to paper removal.
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I don't do very much PP, but I do have a rotary cutter just for that purpose. One of my mother's strict rules was to not use the "good" scissors for cutting paper, and I still do that, even when cutting out coupons, magazine articles, etc. I keep scissors in several rooms of the house just for paper.
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http://www.quiltingboard.com/virtual...jsp?vsnum=1005
Check out the section for paper piecing for a wide variety of help and pictures. You can subscribe to this section also. |
thanks for the link, moonwork. i keep forgetting that we have that resource
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Good thread. Great info! I'll be watching. Thanks! :)
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Im a Carol Doak follower and one thing I heard from her years ago and now know it to be true is that paper does not ruin blades. The paper may leave residue and can be wiped off occasionally, but does not dull blades. I use my Gingher rotary blade and have yet to change it out after over a year of fabric and paper cutting. The reason I always kept my good scissors away from the family was because they wanted them to cut things other than paper i.e. Wire, wood, rocks, etc.
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I recently took a class that involved pp'ing. I must be a slow learner because so many people had blocks done, plural, and I didn't have one complete block done. One more UFO
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Get yourself a 1/4 edge ruler...Never had a problemm with blades dulling on paper...use 1.5 stitch length and I use reg copy paper...
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Originally Posted by hobbykat1955
Get yourself a 1/4 edge ruler...Never had a problemm with blades dulling on paper...use 1.5 stitch length and I use reg copy paper...
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I like to crease the foundations on all the lines. It helps me with fabric placement and weakens the paper making it easier to remove.
I also use washable glue to hold down piece #1 and will also use it to temporarily hold pieces while I flip & sew if I'm having trouble with them slipping. I also prefer to remove the outside seam allowance on the foundation paper of blocks that have more than 2 sections. It's too much of a bugger to remove it when it gets sewn into the seams and it's very hard to sew through on blocks that come together in the center. I prefer to use my dulled 12 & 14 needles for paper piecing. Gives them one more use before going to needle heaven. |
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I hope others benefit from them too!
Interesting the different thoughts re the effects of paper on rotary blades and scissors. I too was raised that we had sewing scissors ...... and scissors for paper etc. And NEVER did we dare to use scissors on wire, as someone suggested! I have been going with a very short stitch ... 1.0 !! I have an "add a 1/4" ruler, though I don't like it .... too small for my big fingers to hold in place and then slice with the rotary. YIKES! Therefore, I find I only use it when drawing on 1/4" markings! Instead I prefer a full size ruler or square, which also helps hold the whole section of the block in place when I trim. To hold pieces in place, I will add a few basting stitches. Then they're easily removed. I haven't tried the glues .... what brand of washable glues do you use? |
I've been working on a PP project, and having trouble with getting the paper bits out of points. Is there a better paper than what you usually use in a copier?
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I've used tracing paper when I hand drew my pattern, but I think it should work in your printer if it's cut to the right size to fit in the paper tray. I think it tears away easier than reg. copy paper.
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I use a size 14 needle when PP and have a 1/4" seam allowance. If going smaller, I did one where the pieces were very small, I switched to a Microtex needle 80/12 and 1/8" seam allowances. I still used a 1.5 stitch length. As far as using your rotary cutter, I think it's a good idea to switch out your blade after each project is done. With PP, you use your cutter a lot more than you think, one time for each piece you sew on, not including the cutting of your strips or pieces in the beginning and then to square up your block before sewing the blocks together.
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Originally Posted by fireworkslover
I use a size 14 needle when PP and have a 1/4" seam allowance. If going smaller, I did one where the pieces were very small, I switched to a Microtex needle 80/12 and 1/8" seam allowances. I still used a 1.5 stitch length. As far as using your rotary cutter, I think it's a good idea to switch out your blade after each project is done. With PP, you use your cutter a lot more than you think, one time for each piece you sew on, not including the cutting of your strips or pieces in the beginning and then to square up your block before sewing the blocks together.
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Originally Posted by QuiltE
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I hope others benefit from them too!
Interesting the different thoughts re the effects of paper on rotary blades and scissors. I too was raised that we had sewing scissors ...... and scissors for paper etc. And NEVER did we dare to use scissors on wire, as someone suggested! I have been going with a very short stitch ... 1.0 !! I have an "add a 1/4" ruler, though I don't like it .... too small for my big fingers to hold in place and then slice with the rotary. YIKES! Therefore, I find I only use it when drawing on 1/4" markings! Instead I prefer a full size ruler or square, which also helps hold the whole section of the block in place when I trim. When using the Add A Quarter ruler, are you placing a postcard on the stitching line then butting the lip of the ruler on the edge of the card. You might be more comfortable with the same AAQ ruler in the 12" size. To hold pieces in place, I will add a few basting stitches. Then they're easily removed. I haven't tried the glues .... what brand of washable glues do you use? |
They do have Washaway PPing sheets...at Joann's...
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I also use tracing paper put through the printer and microtex needle 12
Gale |
I like to use freezer paper. That way the fabric sticks to the backing as I am sewing. It tears pretty easy, too.
Sue |
Originally Posted by lindasidlow
When using the Add A Quarter ruler, are you placing a postcard on the stitching line then butting the lip of the ruler on the edge of the card. You might be more comfortable with the same AAQ ruler in the 12" size.
I have the 12" ruler ... and no, I don't really find it any better than the 6" one! |
I use whatever washable glue stick is cheapest at the time.
I prefer to use newsprint or Big Chief tablet paper as it will run through the printer without jamming but the easiest peeling paper I ever used was the old typewriter paper. It's hard to find it now, though. Thin copy paper is as close as you can get to it now. I still haven't tried the removable freezer paper type. Still on my to-do list. I just eyeball my seam allowance, fold back the paper and trim with embroidery scissors after every piece. |
Check out a book by Cheryl Malkowski, "Blocks to Diamonds". She's come up w/ a way to use freezer paper and not have to remove the paper after you stitch because you don't sew thru the paper. You stitch w/a threadless needle first thru all your patterns on the sew line, press pattern to fabric,then fold on the perforated line and sew next to the fold. It works so slick!
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Originally Posted by QuiltE
Originally Posted by lindasidlow
When using the Add A Quarter ruler, are you placing a postcard on the stitching line then butting the lip of the ruler on the edge of the card. You might be more comfortable with the same AAQ ruler in the 12" size.
I dont like the 12" either, just thought you might find it easier to use. I dont know how anyone does PP without the postcard and the ruler. Thats the way I learned from Carol Doak and never tried anything else as successful. I teach her methods in classes with great results. |
Originally Posted by lindasidlow
Originally Posted by QuiltE
Originally Posted by lindasidlow
When using the Add A Quarter ruler, are you placing a postcard on the stitching line then butting the lip of the ruler on the edge of the card. You might be more comfortable with the same AAQ ruler in the 12" size.
I agree...love those rulers have both the 6 and 12 and use them whenever I PP |
I use the 75/11 neeedles so the holes are small and perforated...also use a ruler that was designed by the quilter who taught the class at the Mancuso Quilt festival -George Sciliano
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