Tighter stitches are recommended for paper piecing but I hate removing the paper. It's messy and tedious. I've done it with no foundation. Just make the block bigger and square it up. Of course, this wouldn't work for a real precise design but for utility quilts it works great for me.

I use telephone or similar lite paper. I don't cut the block to correct size until after I remove papers......also smaller stitches...and before I tear, I run the point of a pin lightly across the stitches..seems to help break apart the fibers of the paper and less stress on thread....along with holding the stitch line with opposing thumb as you tear....moving it as you tear. It may sound like a lot of concentrated work, but when you do it enough, it just becomes "part of the process"--- at least for me, it does.

Stitch a 1/8 seam around before you tear off the paper. I sew mine into rows first. Then sew around entire row and then tear off paper.

Thanks for all the great advice! I'm going to have to play around with Cari's disappearing tissue paper idea. That sounds so easy.

most foundation piecing works better if you shorten your stitch length, I use about 1.5 when paper piecing. Another trick I learned not long ago, lay a ruler next to (almost on) the line you tearing, it keeps the fabric and stitches in place while you are pulling on the paper...

I do freezer paper fold bk pp'ing that u use over and over without sewing on the paper.

wow I never thought of that, I have been using telephone book paper. I'll have to try tissue paper. thanks for the suggestion

Shorter stitches stay tighter at the edges, and also make it easier to tear off the paper.
I am currently using squares cut from an old phone book. They tear nicely with short stitches, but I mightn't trust the ink if I were sewing light or white fabrics.

I use parchment paper that I picked up at the dollar store and use a 1.8 stitch length.

I always stitch 1/8" around any edge whether it be a block or border that has a lot of seams ending there. It holds everything together and the stitching is hidden in the seam allowance.
As for paper I use inexpensive newsprint that I get off Amazon but it is available other places as well.