For string quilts I take the pages from old phone books & cut them to the size of the block I am making. The paper is easy to tear away & its free. For more tedious paper piecing projects I like to use white tissue paper. I buy it at the Dollar Store from the gift wrap section. Its time consuming to trace onto the paper.....but so easy to see through so that you aren't guessing at or missing sewing lines. It is sturdier than you would think. When it's time to tear the paper away there is very little tugging on your stitches it comes off easily.