I am doing a Judy Niemeyer paper pieced pattern at the moment on my Janome 7700 and am using a open toe accufeed walking foot. I have the stitch length set at 1.50 which is what is recommended on the pattern and am also using batik fabric. The fabric does look just a little wrinked when I have sewn it (possible because of the smaller stitch length) but I press on top of the seam first with a dry iron which gets the wrinkles out. I then flip the fabric open and press again.

I see that you mention that you are using less tension on the project. This webpage talks about tension and needles. http://thesewingcorner.blogspot.com/...e-tension.html Now, they aren't addressing anything about paper piecing, but loosening or tightening the tension should work the same way whether you are sewing clothes or quilts.

I am looking forward to seeing what actually made the difference for you.

I changed the paper that the pattern was on, and copied the blocks onto some Carol Daok paper for piecing. I put in an 11 needle, I put the tension back to auto, but I decreased the foot pressure a little. I left the stitch length at 1.5, but wonder if it could be a little bigger. It's much better now though.

There is a place in your book or should be about this problem, I don't know where to find it though. There is an adjustment that can be made to your machine.

Someone posted this week about pp without sewing on papers. Don't know how to,post a link sorry.

I would guess that the combination of the open toe presser foot and maybe pressure is causing the problem. I use newsprint for almost everything but when I paper piece I use my straight stitch needle plate and my 1/4 inch foot. I never use the open toe foot because it does not provide enough stability. News print is flimsy and needs the "hold down" that a regular foot gives it. If you are using the open toe foot because of visibility then switch to a clear foot - My guess is that you will be much happier with the results.

Are the puckers just showing up with the paper on or when the paper comes off?
If they are showing up with the paper on, what does it look like when you take the paper off?
If the puckers are showing up after your paper is off, it might be that you are pulling and not tearing the paper off. I know that my first PP was a problem, because I was not getting the paper folded and creased enough to tear and I was pulling.

I paper piece all the time and I use Carol Doak's paper and my Janome likes a 1.8 stitch length.

The previous post was on June 9 : Under Links and resources

• Great technique - no tear paper piecing -- by OhCanada

http://www.freequiltpatterns.info/fr...by-beverly.htm

This happened to me and I found my top thread wrapped around the spool spindle under the top thread, but could your bobbin tension be too tight?