The problem with newspaper is the ink. It will come off on the fabric. Someone suggested using old phone book pages but I haven't tried it yet. I have just discovered an old box of typing paper (no copy paper, but the old thin crinkly typing paper) and it went through my printer just fine. It tears wonderfully easily, now just have to find a source!! Be sure you are using really really small stitches, too. I go down to 18 on my Janome. The tight stitches help it not tear out so easily.