penski

I am teaching myself how to paper piece blocks for a quilt , I have watched videos and read books about this , and have made my first block , it is a star , it turned out great, as i was ripping the paper of of the fabric I noticed some of the stitches came undone so i went back and renforced them , now on my next patter that i am making the directions say to take the bobbin and thread out of my machine and to "sew" over all the lines on the pattern piece first before using it ? because i didnt do it on the first pattern is that the reason some of my stitches came undone? i am using copy paper for my patterns, other than this problem i had , i am starting to enjoy paper piecing !!!

charsuewilson

Use a shorter stitch length. Instead of 12 stitches/inch, use 15 stitches per inch.

Scissor Queen

Did you shorten your stitch length? I shorten mine down to about 1.5.

Geri B

along with shortening your stitch length, before you rip that paper take the point of a pin and run in into that stitching line....it will help to tear that paper...then tear into the block not yanking away........gently is the word of the day.....It might be adviseable to look into either specific paper piecing paper-C Doak has a block of 100 I think, for less that $10, or someone suggested blank newsprint paper cut down to size vellum is usually too expensive at the office supply store, maybe on line might be a good place to find a thinner paper....I am sure someone here has the answer

nativetexan

yes shorter stitch length and stitch out into the seam allowance too. then always place your thumb nail on the stitches as you tear the paper away. move your finger down and tear, and so on. it helps keep the stitching safe from the tension of the tearing away of the paper.

QuiltE

I use regular printer paper .... shorten my stitch length as short as it will go to 1.0

I have no problems taking the papers off and with no pieces of paper sticking in under the stitching ... or the stitching pulling apart.

If I am doing an intricate block where the pieces are small or it is handles lots, sometimes the paper falls off too soon. Then I bandaid it back in place using painters tape that I can sew over, and press with a hot iron, without a problem

Peckish

I fold along the stitching line, then stitch right next to it. Then I don't have to tear anything.

nycquilter

I stitch on the line with a very short stitch. Then, I try to sit outside and tear the paper off--I live in the country and figure it is not littering. I fold the paper on the stitched line before ripping. I rarely have a problem.

Bearpawquilter

I saw a suggestion on here somewhere to go to a medical supply store and get a roll of exam table paper or get a roll of blank newsprint paper. I have used regular printer paper but it is harder to tear away. All the tips here are very good ones. Sometimes just folding the paper back against the stitches breaks the fibers enough to help. Are you using a thin straight edge (template plastic) and an add-a-quarter ruler? Essentials! N

SouthPStitches

I don't have a lot of experience with a paper piecing, but read recently somewhere if you stitch along the entire pattern first without thread or bobbin, it will perforate it, making it much easier to remove the paper later. Can't say I've tried it, but just passing this along for conversation's sake.