toverly

If you have a Dollar Tree close by, my favorite paper piecing paper is using on of their doodle pads from the school supply area. They are 9 x12 so I rotary cut them down to 8 1/2 x 11. Works great. But sometimes the printer wants to pull more than one page thru. So I just print one page at a time.

Honchey

Hi Jan, I ordered thread from connecting threads for the first time and my machines as well as me find no problem with them. It's 50 wt and thinner than the c&c thread that I've been using and I like it very much... I like the different shades of one color very much... I also use the doodle pads & cut them down...

For anyone wanting to practice on simple blocks sign up at Quiltpro.com they have a free block of the day every day.. costs you nothing and they are very cute..Today's block is a simple 4" xmas tree... sign up you'll be glad you did.

Sophie, I tried Epping on one of the blocks from Laurie's second book and it was a nightmare..the block had diamonds in it and I thought this is going to be a breeze because I've done several projects using the EPP method. the seams after removing the paper stretched to much and I had to re-enforce them with machine stitching..I felt it was a wasted effort...it might have turned out differently if I chose a another block than the one I did..

carriem

Just a note on Connecting Threads thread...I love the price, however my machine (Janome) didn't like it very much. It might have just been me or the fabrics I was sewing with for that particular quilt (I haven't tried it again). ***I am not saying don't try it, but I am saying don't buy lots of colors until you have tried it (or any new brand of thread) out on your machine.*** I use Aurifil 50wt (orange spool) for pp'ing with no problems.

For papers, I just use cheap copy paper and a stitch length of 1.5 and don't have any trouble getting the papers off.

Honchey

Hi Carrie, don't you find the copy paper difficult to maneuver or bend? maybe because my fingers are arthritic with some bumps it finds the copy paper hard..Yes, I agree with the thread...the guuterman? thread is recommended with the Viking machines and my Vikings don't agree with that...Every machine has it's own favorites..isn't that weird???

oksewglad

When I do PP, I like to use tracing paper, also in a larger size like the doodle paper. I have a worn rotary cutter with a dull blade reserved for paper cutting. Gutteman thread does not work well in my Bernina. I don't mind PP as much as tearing off the paper...

janRN

OK do you put the tracing paper thru your printer? I have an old printer and it "eats" the doodle pads and even the Carol Doak paper. I've used tracing paper when I hand trace a pattern. I also find my fabric kind of slips on doodle paper but not on copy paper.

I have another suggestion for new ppers to make it easier. (Please, please don't think I'm trying to come off as some kind of expert; I pp a lot and have learned some tricks thru trial and error and from other pp and just want to share). The thing that made pp easiest for me is the Add-a-Quarter ruler. It's a 12" ruler with a raised lip at the quarter inch line. After pressing a seam and folding back the paper, the lip of the ruler butts against the paper fold and you cut a perfect 1/4" seam allowance. I used to use my 6" square up ruler but I'd have to hunt for the 1/4" line, line it up, hold it steady and then cut. The Add-a-quarter ruler eliminates those steps and I haven't cut the seam allowance off since I started using it. It's less than $10 at Joanne's and about any LQS--I love mine so much I bought a second one just in case I break one. Again, NOT an expert--just have learned a lot from my mistakes so maybe I can help someone else avoid those!

oksewglad

Yeah Jan, I do run it through the printer, and yes once in a while will take two sheets at a time, but doesn't eat it. I have a relatively new printer as I do through printers about every 3 years because to our business.

If someone doesn't want to use the add a quarter ruler--which is a great idea BTW--a 6 x 1 inch ruler works pretty good, too--it's what I use because I don't want to PP anymore than I have, too. LOL not news to the FWS and FWPC crowd......

huskyquilter

I practiced last night and made a hunter's star. I tried this out and really like it. It's expensive, but for blocks this tiny I might use it. I like that it's see through, but i will probably switch to freezer paper since it's so much cheaper. Has anyone tried parchment paper? This paper feels a little like cooking parchment paper, its stiff but see through so it makes it super easy to tear off... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o01_s00

Here's my practice star:

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CookyIN

Husky, your star is beautiful!

Jan, that add-a-1/4 ruler is great! I'm thinking of using the add-an-1/8 instead for at least some of these blocks due to the size and amount of pieces. Thinking less bulk.

toverly

huskyquilter, I have practiced on a few also. I think I am figuring out that I really like the use of the solids. I was hoping to avoid purchasing, since I have a few 30's already. But, in the small block, I am really liking the rest on the eyes of solids. So it's off to LQS tomorrow for solids. Which I will be in luck if they go on sale in July. Keeping my fingers crossed.