Foundation paper piecing idea
 

A while ago I read a post where someone suggested perforating their foundation papers along the sew lines without any thread in their machine. They said it made the paper easier to tear away after they had completed their piecing. I can't for the life of me find the post so was hoping this query might "reach" the original poster.

My question is....if you have already perforated your sew line, when you sew your fabric pieces along that same line, doesn't the paper start to fall away as it is already perforated and your actual sewing may elongate the perforations more?

The usual reason for perforating on the lines is for folding the paper back, then sewing next to the fold. With this method you can re-use the paper and no need to print many patterns. I know there are proper instructions for doing this - somewhere on the net.

If you prefer to sew through the paper, use smaller stitches to make tearing easier.

I do not use that method but I think that Gay is correct. If you do sew through the paper, the smaller stitch makes the removal much easier and you are less likely to distort the seam. But what makes removal a snap, take a moistened Qtip (damp - not soaking wet) and run it down the stitch line on the paper side. The perforations in the paper under the stitches suck up the water from the Qtip and within a few seconds the paper has softened and the pieces come off with a gentle tug!!

As to the question about falling apart, I guess it would depend on your paper. I use the cheap copy paper and have at times needed to enlist "Jack the Ripper". The second stitching does not cause the paper to fall away ... but the third one (don't ask my how I know this - lol) does make the paper under the seam weak and somewhat fall apart. The good news is that there is usually more paper around it so you do not have to worry too much.

I'm getting ready to finish my diamond Logcabin quilt, a pattern by one of our own here. I decided to use brown wrapping paper for the template, made my lines where I want to change each fabric and since the template is so huge.....it goes around the entire quilt body, I decided to make only one template, split it into 3 sections and I sewed on the sewing lines without thread so I can use the other side for the reverse sections I'll need. I'll fold at the sewing line so I won't need to tear any paper off when done.

I use this method when Freezer Paper foundation piecing. And Gay is correct, I do not sew through the paper but fold it back and sew next to it. Here is a blog with pretty good instructions of how it is done. I love doing it this way as I can reuse the patter about 6 times before it quits adhereing to the fabric. https://denversews.com/2014/03/07/fo...freezer-paper/

You are correct, that you run the risk of the pattern falling apart if you perforate a traditional PP pattern. I have had that happen when I had to unsew a seam and the piece just fell off. Luckily I had completed my resewn seam.

I paper piece a lot. I sew on the paper and remove it later. I use a tracing wheel to run along the seams and the paper will be much easy to remove. I use a regular seam length as the thread will hold the paper in the seam and it's much easier to remove without tearing the paper if I make a mistake. If the paper does tear I use removable tape, it doesn't stick to the needle.

Fortunately I first learned the fold and stitch method for PP and am so glad I did! Anybody who has not tried it, please do!!

And you can iron the top inch of the FP to printer paper and print the pattern on the FP! so easy to take the FP off fabric or paper.

Thankyou everyone.

I was watching the Cottage Treasures YouTube video of them making the Elephant Abstractions quilt. They had a great tip at the end of the piecing. Two people stood at opposite corners and tugged the quilt. You could hear the paper popping, they switched corners and then did it side to side. They commented that it made it much easier to remove the paper after doing this. This tip may not work on smaller blocks, but for a whole quilt top it was great.

Tugging the block or quilt after paper piecing to pop the paper has been taught in every paper piecing class I've been to. It works great. I go to a lot of paper piecing classes even though I know how. I always learn a new tip or new product to try.