"Permanent" Paper Foundation Blocks?
 

What happens if you complete a bed quilt, bind and wash without removing the paper foundation? Is it a total disaster?

I do not use paper foundations (I use muslin because I'm too lazy to rip all the paper off) but would like to see if anyone wants to tell me from their own experience, OR from "a friend's." :rolleyes:

I would guess that it kind of balls up inside the quilt, but I don't know for sure.

Years ago when the paper was left in the quilt, those quilts were not washed frequently, if ever, so that paper remained pretty much intact, and also that was used as a kind of insulation against cold, or just because there was nothing else available. At least that is what I have read.......now however, with hot water, agitating, spinning, machine drying, I don't think that paper would hold up very well....and the crunching is not something we would be willing to put up with.... Jmho

I would guess it really depends on the thickness of the paper. The paper pieces I've seen used for hexies is about cardstock weight - I can't imagine that would turn out well in a washer; I'd expect it to get wadded up.

I've heard of people piecing on phone book paper, though, and that's probably thin enough that it'd disintegrate to the point where you wouldn't really notice it; maybe the occasional ball or ridge.

Either way I don't think I'd recommend it!

I think it would not be a great idea. I used phone book pages and they come out very easily.

Sorry. I have always used cheap paper and set my stitches small so it usually rips out easily. I remove the pater during my sit down watching TV time with a trash can near by. I would think it would make a mess otherwise, why would instructions in the pattern say to remove it??

me too, MQ2. I enjoy pulling it apart while i sit, rock, and view TV at the end of the day ;-)

Make a test piece and toss in the wash. Nothing complex just a basic unit , sandwiched and quilted. That way you will know for sure what you can expect.

The paper over time and with use & laundering breaks down and becomes globs.

Of course if you have vast financial resources and don't want to tear the paper off ... you could use wash away stabilizer.

When I made my crazy quilt with a light weight muslin I was surprised how heavy the finished quilt was.

Now ... I use the smaller stitches, finer paper, & then tear it out. That's why I love regular piecing.

The paper used today is not like it use to be. I think it will separate and be little balls dried to the fabric.
I have started to use Stable Stuff. You leave it in and when washed turns to a very thin layer of poly, not enough to add thickness. Walmart sells a wash a way stabilizer and I bought a 25 yard bolt of it when it was on clearance price of $1 per yard. Always keep an eye out for clearance prices on items you don't think you will ever use.

My guess is that it would be the same as when you wash a shirt or pair of pants with a Kleenex tissue still in the pocket: shredded, matted, hard chunks that stick to the fabric.

They also have some type that wash away so If I was going to do one like that I would use a wash away kind similar to a stabilizer

If the paper is not water soluble I would not recommend it. Have you ever left paper in your pockets and washed it? Not pretty.

A shop near me sells this stuff. It is preprinted sheets for several different patterns. It stays in the quilt.

http://farmlandquilting.net/stable-piecing/

DebraK and MQ2-- Just make sure you get all the pieces in the trash can before you go to bed, or the cat will think you left it there just for her. Ask me how I know.

I stitch the lines before I sew.... no thread.... so it makes it easy to fold back when I'm lining up the pieces of fabric and easy to remove the paper. I know that is an extra step but it saves so much when it comes time to remove the paper that it's worth it to me.

years ago ladies would leave the paper in because it would add an extra layer of warmth.

That's paper piecing. Foundation piecing is just the paper foundation, no pattern needed. Mostly is is used for string quilting or English paper piecing. Foundation usually needs a backing of some kind to keep the strips and pieces anchored. Not stitching on the paper would defeat the purpose.

What about Ricky Tim's stable stuff? It can stay in the quilt and softens when washed.

That's what I've been using Stable Stuff. I order it from Ricky Tims website. It is sold by the 3 yard bundle or by sheets of 50. I decided if I'm going to sew on paper I'm not going to use something that makes extra work for myself just because it's cheap or free.

I don't think that leaving foundation papers in a quilt is a good idea once the top is completed because of a myriad of possible problems. I haven't done much paper piecing lately, but when I do, I usually sit and tear out the paper while watching TV at night, as it's sort of a mindless effort to do so. I just wouldn't want to take the chance of problems that could arise from leaving the paper in.

Ok, Now I have done lots of quilts with the paper left in...from newspaper to tissue paper. It does not act like a bit of Kleenex left in the pocket. It does not wad up. It just sort of melts into the batting and IS NOT AT ALL NOTICEABLE.
Good gracious if you are at all concerned then just make a sample up and wash it. No need to buy an expensive product when old phone books are still available. Take it from someone who's first quilt was a crazy quilt pieced on newspaper, washed in wringer washer and still won a ribbon at the county fair.

There is wash-away paper available.

I care too much for my pipes and septic system to try that.

That is what I do. I can stitch a stack of the papers at one time. Use the one from the back of the stack first as they are stacked because of the stitching. I know that doesn't make sense but it would if you would do this and look at it. :)

I use calculator tape or paper piecing paper but set my stitches very tiny and it pulls away easy. Hate removing it but I would not leave it in. That's my opinion.

Once upon a time in a faraway place, I used the disolvable fuseable paper for a baby quilt. You are supposed to wash it out when you are done. Duh, I think they mean before you quilt it and bind it. I had these horrible Gobs of what seemed to me like paper mache glue. It was a disaster. Took nearly 6 washes and I was still not sure it was all out of there. I would NEVER forget to take off paper from paper piecing after that.

Anyone know if the Ricky Tims Stable STuff can be used in a printer for printing paper piecing patterns?

I love PP but totally hate tearing the papers off after the blocks are done. My cure to this problem was to use a thin interfacing as my foundation. It can be left in and does not add bulk to your quilts. I think it is on sale right now at Joann's for 49 cents a yard. I buy it by the bolt when it is on sale.

The best tool for removing that pesky paper is called grandchildren :D. Seriously, their little fingers are perfect sized and once you teach them to not pull from the edges let 'em at it. Nothing makes them happier than helping grammy quilt.

Or use freezer paper instead and not stitch thru the paper in the first place. You stitch right next to the folded over freezer paper (folded on the stitch line). When the block is done, you gently peel the freezer paper off and use it again for the next block.

I know there has been a lot of talk on here about oldtimers leaving the paper on when quilting. I come from a long line of quilters. I've never heard anyone say that any of the quilters left the paper on. For me that is just to much work to risk leaving the paper on. It's not that hard to remove it.

I prefer to tear paper off. If I plan to leave it in I would not use paper but another thin material like specially designed thin fabric with blocks printed on it or a similar thin fabric or interfacing. I find leaving it in does add weight. If you do use paper set you stitches very small. I found this the most help full. Also every tiny little piece doesn't need to be pulled out. It does not have to be perfectly paper free on the back to be perfect on the front. I also read that using a light mist spray of water before tearing away paper helps.