Foundation Piecing Help

Hi Folks - I'm looking for advice/recommendations from any of you who do foundation piecing as to what you use as your "foundation"? I'm talking mainly about removable paper foundations rather than fabric ones in this instance.

I would like ones which are easy to tear out, easy to trace designs onto etc AND not too expensive. I saw on a web site from an American quilter called Bonnie Hunter(?) that she uses what she calls "deli paper" - bought on a roll in her American Costco shop. Do you know what the equivalent would be over here?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Love Margaret xx

Is that not the same as Freezer paper?

Liz x

Hi Liz - I wondered about that but wasn't sure. Is freezer paper what you use?

Love Margaret xx

Hi Margaret,

I use ordinary photocopy paper, the sort you use with your printer. The very thin one, 80gsm.

Irene x

The thin photocopier paper is best, The freezer paper would be too thick and expensive.

Di

Thin photo copier paper sounds good. I was originally shown with freezer paper, but often use stich and tear now, but is more expensive. I like to have a paper you can see through as it helps to line up etc.

I didn't like the freezer paper for it.

Irene, Di and Jill - thank you all for your advice - i'll have a look for the thin copy paper when I go into the "city" on Friday and let you know how it goes when I get back to my machine - not too long in the future, I hope!!! I wonder what the American quilter was actually talking about?? She was very enthusiastic about it. If anyone feels like it, you can find her on QUILTVILLE QUIPS etc

Love Margaret xx

Edited By Winnie the B.O.L.B on 22/05/2012 23:06:46

I have read that unprinted newspaper is very good to use for foundation piecing - its the sort you get your fish and chips wrapped in - but I haven't tried it. You could cut it up into A4 sheets and print straight onto it. Is this what is meant by deli paper ?

You are talking of Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville, she is pretty amazing and has lots of free patterns on her site for all to share.

She is where I got the idea of 'stripping' all my odd bits of fabrics. I have tons of the things now due to Bonnie.

Also do you know the tricjk of copying the patterns???

Don't go tracing them all, stack a pile of papers together put the printed one on the top, remove the thread from the top and bobbin of your machine, then 'sew' on all the lines and you have your copies all done for you, the holes also make it easier to remove when finished. all you have to do is put the numbers on. but I guess you could FMQ them on if you wished...

I am full of useless info like this.

jan

PS keep all your old needles for this purpose cos the paper will blunt them anyway.

Thanks for that not at all useless info Jan. Haven't actually done any paper piecing for ages but if I do I will try to remember that tip.

Is "stripping" just cutting everything into strips for future use?