Do you have trick for removing paper from you PP. Thanks

Tweezers, spritzing it with a little water. Using bad language helps sometimes.

Tell me about the bad language!!! I pulled paper off last week. ARG!! Makes me not want to do PP...

Thanks, I was afraid there was not an easy way. I just finished PP a J. Niemeyer. Love how the quilt looks, so perfect, but taking that paper off, @#@@

when you want to tear paper off a seam, use the fingers on your left hand to steady the seam stitching while you tear the paper. move left hand down as you go. it helps stabilize the stitches.

remember once you have all that paper off you get to pick it alllllll up some how i manage to get alot on the floor.

Are you using the tiniest stitch you can? I also find it helpful if I fold it before I begin to tear and also cheap, cheap paper!

I sit directly in front of a large trashcan and manage to get most of it in :lol:

I use lightweight vellum and it removes so much easier then paper. I won't use paper if I have a lot of blocks to make, it wastes too much time getting all the paper bits off and picked up. I like the printable stiff stuff that you don't tear out and turns to thin fabric when washed, forgot the name, I'll have to look on the package. Why use paper when it's a chore to remove? There are many options.

I find the Golden Threads paper much easier to remove....

I put masking tape over all the paper. The paper sticks to the tape and come off in almost one piece. It doesn't seem to hurt the stitches.

I think you're supposed to hold your tongue just so....

the last works wonders. LOL

I run the backside of my seam ripper along the stitched lines, fold the paper back & gently tear. Any bits & pieces left are removed with tweezers.

I remove the little bits as I am sewing the block seams together. IF my fabric pieces are all dark enough :wink: I have just left the littly tiny ones in the seam lines :D:D:D

use light weight stabiliser and leave it in ??

Finished my first project a few weeks ago - used the fold and tear and needle nosed pliers for the small bits. Wasn't too bad but it was only a wall hanging.

Sew on the lines of the paper without thread first, then stitch your fabric on using a very small stitch, the paper will come away so easy! :thumbup:

my hubby tells people who don't quilt that there is a
"4 letter word vocabulary for quilters"

Hove you ever used it??????

needle choice and thread also play a big part, try using microtex 70/10 sharps and 60wt thread.

I love PP but am cheap - lol.

1. I use plain copy paper
2. I shorten my stitch length so it is tiny
3. Use either the back of a seam ripper or "that purple thang" rubbed gently down the seam on the paper side to rip the paper apart at the seam. I use my Long narrow tweezers that came with my serger for pulling the paper off.
4. For tiny pieces that do not have a long seam - I use a moist Qtip and rub it down the seam on the paper side - that generally softens the paper under the stitches and the paper pulls apart perfectly - with, I may add, no pressure on the seam or the pieced fabric

Recently, I have been gravitating to the second method mostly. If I am doing lots of blocks - I moisten two and when I get done with the second one, the first one is ready. You kind of have to play around with how wet the Qtip needs to be - different papers have different absorption rates. Just moisten the stitches and stitch line!!

It helps if you can 'recruite volunteers' to help :-D They can be bribed with food (pizza & chocolate works well.) This is how I got help taking the paper off of a queen size pineapple quilt.

It's like giving birth...and then we have another! I just made a hummingbird, I sprinkled it with water, used tweezers, pin, and worked over a large bath towel, when finally finished I shook the towel in a large trash bag, so much easier than cleaning the floor! Now I'll start another one!!!!

That bad language thing works everytime for me, lol, especially when I keep pricking my fingers with needles, lol...Rats, OUCH, WOW!, darn. Those are a few of my choice words

I use regular bond paper used for copying....and using a tiny stitch, the paper comes right off for the most part. Tweezers get out the rest!!!

I like the bath towel idea - I just usually work over the trash and always have pieces on the floor.

I saw on the internet that someone once told me she used a tracing wheel to run along the stitch lines. She said it added alot of extra hold in the paper without damaging the fabric as the little spokes on the tracing wheel are thicker than a needle and the paper pieces are alot easier to remove. I'm making my first quilt which is a hand stitched paper piece hexagon quilt and my paper pieces are only held in using a large basting stitch so I haven't had the opportunity to try this. I thought I'd share with you all. Let me know if anyone tries it and it works.

I never would have thought of that! LOL Good one!

I started using USED fabric softener sheets that I traced my pattern on and I just leave it in.
Works like a charm especially if you need to rip the seams for some reason it will not break away.

I use very small stitches which works fine for removing. However, it's pure hell if you have to unsew.

I tear as I go....makes for the end job not so bad..also, I don't tweeze the tiny bits out. Really, they melt away in the washer, so I don't worry about it. If they don't come out with a good shake and hand brushing..they just stay. I also sit outside in the porch swing when I can to remove paper. I don't have to sweep the floor that way either. Can you tell how lazy I am??

i use used fabric dryer sheets to paper piece on and then i dont remove them . i cut freezer paper the size of computer printer paper and iron fabric dryer sheets to it and print pattern on it. let ink dry and remove from paper and use for paper piecing it is so much easier than removing paper

I have used a lint brush after ripping the large pieces away. It works well.

Don'tcha just love the tips and tricks we learn on this forum? I never thought about masking tape, but I'll sure use it from now on. Thanks!

When I did paper piecing I did what gramajo does, works like a charm for me. Do not do that method anymore--learned my lesson and moved on.

Tweezers or a pick to start the paper to be removed on water as it makes a mess with the paper when it gets wet.

I like the end results of PP so much that I grin the whole time I'm tearing off the paper.

I do alot of paper piecing, hubby bought me 16 pound paper and it tears of great. And it is alot cheaper that way also.
Have a Blessed day
Ellen

I have looked and looked for lighter weight paper. Can you tell us where he found it?

I have been saving my fabric dryer sheet for backing instead of the paper, but just read on another forum that you shouldn't use them because they are highly inflammable. Has anyone else used these and how do they hold up after several washings of the quilt? At this time, I just use regular copy paper. Hubby helps tear them off, on these humid hot days, he's looking for something to do inside the house.