I have a quilt with a six-inch white border. My experience with any type of medium to mark fabric that claims to be "washable" is not good. I was wondering about putting the design I want to quilt on paper, putting that on my quilt and sewing through it.

My questions are: is there a special paper I need to use? Can I use a spray adhesive to anchor it, or should I pin it?

Thanks!

Sounds like you would be able to use freezer paper like you would when machine appliquing but I'm sure others can explain this better than I can.

There are several papers that are good for this. You will find them at your LQS. I use regular paper and make my stitches small to make it easy to peel off. Also, I have heard of people using the paper sold at the dollar store. It is lower quality and peels easy. I use pins to hold it in place.

I find that blue washable marking pens wash out perfectly well, but the trick is not to use heat after is marked, and make sure you mark after the fabric is cold.

Maria

I would use regular paper too...or newsprint. I buy the roll ends very inexpensively...They are 4ft tall and last FOREVER :D:D:D Check with your local newspaper :wink:

golden threads makes a paper just for quilting thru that pulls from the stitches with ease.

i've also used sulky water soluble stabilizer for quilting. just trace the quilt pattern onto the stabilizer and either pin or baste spray it onto the quilt top.

quilt as normal and then when your done remove the stabilizer and any little bits left behind will just come out in the wash when you wash the quilt.

if you don't plan to wash it then just wet all the little pieces and they will dissolve away.

I use exam table paper from the Medical Supply Store. A roll lasts forever and is inexpensive. It's sort of "crepe paper like" so holds to the fabric without a lot of slipping until you pin it in place (that was as clear as mud); it removes easily, too. I've also had trouble with blue "removable" marking pens and I don't heat set them. Maybe we got a bad batch. Exam table paper is also easy to trace designs because you can see through it.

I save that brown paper with the instructions from the batting that its rolled with that works pretty well too. I just pin it down.
I'm no expert at it though. I've just tried it a few times on smaller tablerunners.

I've used printer paper, the paper for paper piecing, marking pens and newsprint. I prefer the newsprint. I can get a roll from the local newspaper for about $4 and it lasts a long time. I have to cut it to fit in my printer for printing paper piecing patterns. It's a lot cheaper to do some of the work myself.

I find the smaller stitches work better, no matter what paper I use. I use temporary spray glue to put it on the quilt and I do small sections at a time. If there are lots of turns in the design or lots of crossing of previous lines I pin as well.

I have used Glad 'Press N Seal'. Marked it with a blue washable pen or ever a very thin sharpie. Place it on the fabric and it 'sticks'--quilt using short stitches and then use tweezers to gently tear away. Any small pieces will release with a spritz of water. I do this with my domestic machine as well as with a longarm machine.

Pam thanks for posting this I'm getting some really good ideas from everyone. Thanks everyone for the ideas. :thumbup:

I have had good luck with just regular printer paper. A couple of years ago I designed a complicated spiral to use in a snail's trail quilt. I took it to a copier and had enough copies made to do the whole quilt. The trick was, I wadded the paper up really tightly, smoothed it out and did that again. It broke the paper down enough to make it easily removed after quilting and wetting it.

I never would have thought of that but it makes sense. Oh the things I learn on this forum.

Lots of great ideas!!! I have not tried anything with paper so far, just normal cut and sew. Maybe I will get adventurous some day....and now I have plenty of tips to do so! Thanks ladies.

i typically buy the golden threads paper & sulky super solvy from from jhittles online.

its a mom/pop type operation that has some really great prices, the service is awesome, and they are both as sweet as a peach - whenever i can i order from them.

every now and again they have a special that if you phone in your order they send you a surprise goodie bag with the order.

the last time i did this, i got 2 packages of machine needles, 2 packages of hand quilting needles, fusible velcro, a nice seam ripper, etc.

Alrighty then, I will try this first. I already have my pattern drawn out on regular printer paper. I have a couple of test patterns that didn't make the cut, so I will make a little quilt sandwich and give it a test drive.

Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful tips!