ADKer

does the paper dull your needles? i'm thinking about trying pp for my next quilt (when i get the first done!) but worry about going through needles. . .

quilt_mommy_2001

nor'easter & ADKer - I think parchment would work fine! I might even have to try that, to save myself a few bucks! :)

I haven't really noticed much difference in how fast I go through my needles when paper piecing. I use inexpensive universals, and I generally change the needle for each project...unless say I made something really small. But between large projects I'll switch. If yo'ure really concerned about though, say you use really nice expensive needles, there is a quilter who's method might help you. Her name is Judy Mathieson, she was just recently on Simply Quilts, and even has a web site, she uses freezer paper. She does everything the same, exept she folds the paper back on the drawn seam line, and sews right next to it, so she never has to sew through the paper at all, (or rip it for that matter, and I believe that's the reason she started doing it that way).

amma

I use copy paper and also newsprint. I purchased the newsprint from my local newspaper. It was pretty inexpensive, but each newspaper charges different prices for the roll ends.
I can run it through my printer or cut it larger and hand trace bigger blocks without having to piece the paper together too. I also use it for other projects besides quilting.

DonnaRae

I usually use newspaper unprinted. But I got lucky at a yard sale and found two case of typewriter paper and the lady sold it to me for a quarter a case. It is very light maybe even lighter the newspaper. I think anypaper that is thin and light will work. The heavier the paper the harder to tear out. And I also heard about freezer paper but have not tried it yet.

ADKer

i have tracing paper so i'll try that. infact, i might try it out on a few blocks for the quilt i'm working on now (i'm having a hell of a time getting squares to line up the way I want).

i don't think my needles are anything fancy--what ever came with the machine! (first machine, first project with it).

DonnaRae

Tracing paper will work great! :D

DonnaRae

Great, the first thing I had to do after reading this was go to google Judy Mathieson. Great way to PP. Never heard of it before. Here is site with the direcitons. Good instruction with lots of good pictures. I will post this in links also. Good one. Thanks for the info :!:

http://www.zianet.com/breynold/nf/nf22nm.html

quilt_mommy_2001

DonnaRae - hey, thanks for your site too! I bookmarked it...I thought that was a pretty nifty trick, isn't it? If you get time, you'll have to check out this quilt she made, Bristol Stars, I LOVE IT!!! Some day, when I have more space and less child-interference lol*, I would love to attmpt to make something like it.

http://www.members.aol.com/QuiltsbyJudy2/Bristol.html

DonnaRae

OMG, that quilt is amazing. And look at the awards she has won with it. I wonder if she will ever sale it. Not that I would ever have the money to buy it. Just thinking of how much it would sale for. It is absolutely amazing! Just to be able to do something like that. Oh the dreams :? Thanks for all the leads quilting mommy!

gmp505

I have had a lot of success using Papers For Foundation Piecing that is put out by That Patchwork Place. It comes in a pacakge of 100 sheets, and I paid around $9.00 for it. The printer prints perfectly on it, you can iron over it and the ink doesn't smudge and the paper doesn't wrinkle up, and it folds easily. The computer or typewriter paper works o.k, but it can be hard to remove.
Carol Doak's paper is also very good. And if anyone has any questions about paper piecing you should go to her website. She has a ton of information, free patterns, and a store where she sells the supplies. She also has an excellent DVD to learn how to paper piece. Her website is www.caroldoak.com.

Grace