Monday, April 28, 2008

Paper/Foundation Piecing Advice

I have used foundation paper to accurately piece some curving flying geese. This is my first experience with the stuff. I am supposed to tear it away, right?? It seems to be loosening the seams when I do this because I have not back stitched. Help!!!

5 comments:

Nancy said...

Don't tear off the paper until the piece is sewn to another piece, otherwise it will loosen the seams.

jovaliquilts said...

I have only done a little paper piecing, so hopefully someone who knows more than I do will comment. My understanding is that you sew edge to edge but not into the seam allowance, so you need to backstitch or otherwise lock the stitches. You also use a small stitch length to make it easier to tear out the papers. I wonder if you could put the pieces back under the needle and stitch over the ends of the seams to lock them? Good luck! It sounds so frustrating!

Anonymous said...

There is a couple ways to do this, you can stitch with much smaller stitches than normal and this perforates the paper more making it easier to remove. You can just mist (alittle) water on paper let it soften a minute and remove. Or (which is alittle late now) use disolveable paper from Jo-Anns (no tearing or pulling involved!) But, they are $10.00 for 10 sheets the size of printer paper. Not so bad for miniature but bigger makes them too costly. (I use the coupon with these)since its done I think all you can do is dampen the paper, and reinforce some of the seams if you can get to them.

Tami @ Lemon Tree Tales said...

I used very tiny little stitches and then held the quilted piece against the table while gently pulling away the paper. For the most part the paper pulled away without problems. I used tweezers to pick away the remaining little straggler bits.

Julie said...

I use a smaller stitch length too. I also fold the paper back at the seam and crease it well with a bone folder. Finally, the tip of my finger on top of the stiches when I start tearing the paper. One, or a cmbination of all three of these things has helped with this problem.