Hi yall

My friend go me a free roll of the exam table paper u see at the doctors office...the paper you sit on. Ha ha.
I have decided to use it to sew my strips onto!!! It tears really easy and I wont have to buy any muslin!

Whats your favorite "foundation" method? I love and welcome new ideas. I especially love them if it is something that saves me MONEY!
Have a great day...please comment :-)

I am currently using used dryer sheets. It doesn't need to be removed. It becomes part of the quilt without adding noticeable weight to the quilt.

I use .. used copy paper. One side is still free from print, so I just use a small stich , and it comes off just fine.

I use paper foundations for my string blocks - just plain printer paper; easy to cut to 8 1/2" blocks or leave full size for neat looking rectangular string blocks. Where I live we don't need the extra layer of muslin for warmth so I don't waste money on foundation fabric!

Old phone book pages if it's just for scraps. Sometimes I use erasable typing paper if the pattern is very intricate. Most of the times, I just use plain copy paper. Edit: I forgot about parchment paper. Great stuff!

My Mom told me she used newspaper "in the olden days". I think it would bleed ink onto the fabrics. I have used printer paper. Doctors exam paper would be really good because it would tear easier. But I like the idea of recycling something that has already served it's purpose elsewhere. I;m thinking used doctor office paper would NOT be good. Eeeewww.

Hopefully QuiltSage this is UNUSED exam table paper LOL! I've always used this for paper piecing and also for tracing quilting patterns. You can sew right thru it and it tears off easily. I like the kind that has a "crepe paper" feel to it. You can get a roll pretty cheaply at any medical supply store.

I have recently started using dryer sheets more regularly, and like the idea of using them for scrappy foundations. I try not to throw away anything that could be re-purposed (hence my house sometimes looks like a recycle bin LOL).

I'm stitching on adding machine roll! 3" wide using scraps! There was a Topic on this by Sue Fish! She has made fantastic quilts using this method!

I got along well with phone book pages for the string quilts I made. I am trying to live more frugally and recycle what is free. I have a few phone books put back, it wouldn't surprise me if they quit putting phone books out soon.

I use regular old tracing paper for paper piecing. It's light enough to sew on and real easy to tear away.

OH MY GEE.....what a marvelous brilliant awesome idea.
(running to grab the dryer sheets now!!!!!!!!) THANK YOU for that idea. How clever is THAT?????? I love it!!

I also love everyone's ideas....and YES my paper is new exam paper! LOL
Im an RN so I know better. lol
I just think the dryer sheet idea is great.....where did you learn that tip or does your brain just come up with great ideas???
Will the phone book paper print (black) bleed onto you fabric?????
Thanks so much!

So looks like I will be using paper and dryer sheets, to see which works best. Gonna take a LONG time.....this quilt....as its gonna be for my king size bed.

Don't forget coffee filters for nice round shapes. They tear easily too, at least mine do. I got 160 for $1 at the dollar store.

You can go to your local newspaper and buy a partial roll of newsprint. Very economical.

So far, I only use it for scrap quilts, but I haven't noticed any ink transfer. If it does, it washes out. Probably would not want to use a whole lot of lighter colors just in case.

LOL...i wish they made square filters...i dont sew round stuff ha ha

I hope you are joking there! Fill the circle, make it square. Using coffee filters is awesome.

Thank you for asking this question. I have never paperpieceded before and Im thinking about doing it. I was wondering about the paper too. :)

Thanks, Ladies, for all the clever ideas for foundation papers. I do lots of paper piecing and my pattern is printed out on the paper, so I do purchase the stuff from my local quilt shop. Is there a better way that will still go through my printer?

Do you leave the filters in then? They don't fall apart later?

Grammy

you tear it off
they said tighten your stitch length and use a 14or 15 needle and the paper will come off very easy.

Ohhhhhhh I seee what your talking about.
Im gonna cover the filter anyway and square my strip set up anyway after Im finished with them.....(all 150 of them!!!)

GREAT idea.
GREAT GREAT IDEA--------this forum is awesome!

Love chatting with yall!!!!
Is there a show N tell forum????

In my browsing one morning, I came across a quilters blog (did I save the URL? no)and she was experimenting using flattened coffee filters. I've been trying the same with my scraps and am really impressed at the variety and colorfulness of each circular block. I think I may applique the circle blocks on some black fabric to pop out the colors.

Well my buddy here said that she uses the filters for a base but the end result can be square....in my case.....

it doesnt have to be circular.
Im gonna try it out right now...then pick up a pack of filters today if I like it!

Happy MONDAY!!!
and Happy Stitching

Laurie

In my closet, I have a large roll of paper (originally it was for the grandkids to color on but they have outgrown that phase) I had never thought of using it in quilting - but guess what it's purpose is now - and I'll bet it will get used up, finally

I use the sheets of packing paper that sometimes come in the fabric boxes that I order. It's newsprint and after I iron it, works well!

Love reading all your ideas....and the coffee filter idea sounds great! Will have to give that a try!

That's what I'm using now. I bought two rolls when I was getting ready to move and used it for wrapping. As I unpacked I stacked the pieces of paper....then when I was ready to PP I just pressed the paper and was off to the races. BTW, I learned that newsprint comes in different weights....one of my rolls was much heavier and stiffer than the other.

I use newspaper. Don't have trouble with it bleeding. And you can cut really big squares out of it.
Annette

I use paper towels, Telephone book pages and newspaper that has no color print. With all 3, just spray lightly with water and all just slips off. I like the dryer sheet idea, but since I don't use them. I use large size wash and wipes for my face. I'm Wash them out after I clean my face and have a 13 x 9 pallet for scrap quilting.

Isn't this board just grand?

I have used Bounty paper towels, the one with 11 inch square sheets, you don't need to take the paper out either, they stay inside the quilt, makes a nice heavy quilt too. Bounty is tougher than some other paper towles, and don't tear/wad up after being washed, works great. The crazy quilt that is in my avatar is made on Bounty towels...

I like this idea. I had stopped using dryer sheets when I actually thought about it and realized they don't break down in the landfill. Now I only use liquid fabric softener. I like your recycling idea. Thank you for another recycle idea.

now that is a great idea!

If I don t have any scrap muslin laying around, I use an old sheet, but I have a friend that goes to the newspaper to get unprinted paper. It comes on a big roll and it tears easily.

So you use filter for like dresden plates and fans and things like that?

Also, if you cut this newsprint into 8 1/2" x 11" sheets, you can feed it through your printer to print your foundation patterns.
But I still hate tearing off the paper, so I use batiste, which is lighter weight than muslin. I f you put freezer paper on the back, you can run it through the printer also. Doesn't matter if it isn't color-fast. You only need the pattern until the block is finished. There isn't enough ink to cause a problem with bleeding.

See my post a little higher up. You can iron freezer paper to the back of muslin, batiste, or most any fabric, and then feed it through the printer. Newsprint will go through the printer fine as is. Running coffee filters or old dryer sheets through the printer might be a bit more tricky!

me too
also on a slightly wider roll of paper that Staples sells; it's yellow and I don't remember what it's for - just remember the puzzled look on the saleskid's face when I said I wanted to sew on it.

I remember reading somewhere that there's some reason to not use dryer sheets - can't recall why though.