Tuesday, April 21, 2009

New project in the works

Started working on a new project tonight. These are paper pieced. I won't claim to be very expert at it but I keep trying. I like this flower as it is very pointy! I want to do some type of runner/tabletopper with it.

If you do paper piece, I could use your advice. What do you print the pattern onto? I have been using computer paper, but wish it was thinner. I know there are other products out there that are made for this. I also know that some people trace each one. I really don't want to do that. Anyone want to share what they use? Please?

15 comments:

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

That Patchwork Place used to sell newsprint in 8.5" x 11" sheets in a package for paper piecing. The other one that I use is the old erasable typing paper that was kind of like onionskin. It is crisp and tears away easily. A similar one is lightwieght velum paper.

Betsy said...

Jean I use the foundation paper that is sold at Joanns. I believe they are like 4.99 and I wait for a 50%off sale to get them.
They go in the printer and work much better than the thick computer sheets.
Also, as an educator you should get their discount card which entitles you to another 15%off.

Pat said...

I have a friend who gets the deli sheets of waxed-paper-like consistency at the bargain stores (like BJ's, Costco, etc.) and she puts them through her printer and uses them as the foundation for her paper piecing. I still use the computer paper....although it is harder to get the paper off at the end than the paper made specifically for paper piecing. Be sure you use a very SMALL stitch as the tighter and smaller your stitches are, the more likely the paper will become nearly perforated and the easier it will be to tear off at the end.

Purple and Paisley said...

pages from an old phonebook! the paper is super thin and you can cut the pages to fit your printer...plus it's free - usually lots of old phonebooks lying around and they have tons of pages...

Susan said...

I was fortunate enough to be able to take a class from Carol Doak back in July. She gave us all a sample of her foundation paper to try and it's wonderful! I won't use anything else now. It's a little pricey (about $10 for 100 sheets), but well worth the cost. It holds up to the stitching, but tears away easily and doesn't leave little bits of paper in the seams.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

The best paper piecing tutorial ever is on Anina's blog at twiddletails dot blogspot dot com.
I follow it exactly and put the freezer paper through my printer - no tracing and no tearing off the paper. It's awesome. You can even reuse the freezer paper a few times!

Barb said...

I love the flowers, and all the advice above.

Vivian said...

The precision of paper piecing is addicting. I wish I did more of it. This is going to be a lovely project. I learned a lot from the comments you got.

Cathy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cathy said...

Jean, that is a very cool pattern, can't wait to see it done. I would love to know how to do paper piecing. I guess I need to just try it.

dee said...

I like that pattern very much. Carol Doak's cd is responsible for several of my quilts looking a lot more professional. I'm working on one right now with American Jane fabrics. I use computer paper just because it's right there when I start printing but a friend of mine got a roll of the paper they use on exam tables in the Drs office. Medical supply houses have it. Works great!

Maggi said...

I do like this new project. All the advice you have been given about what paper to use is really useful too.

Julianne said...

I do not do a lot of paper piecing, because I do not like removeing the paper. To bad they don't make a product that washes away.

Kerri said...

love the blocks! can't wait to see more!!

holly said...

What great blocks. You got some great advice too. I will have to remember it for when I want to try paper piecing.