Getting off the paper!

Carol Doak advises waiting to remove the paper until after the borders are on. To remove the paper, grasp each block at opposite corners and give it a snap. That should loosen things up so you can begin the removal process. The process of folding back the paper and sewing on all those seams with the small stitches should ahve semi-perforated the paper already. Except for the most stubborn intersections and/or small bits, you should not need a tool. My most recent removals have been in front of the tv or during sit and sew. Removal is mindless so do it while something interesting is going on. Good luck!

Did you shorten the stitch length when you were sewing your seams? If so, your paper should be pretty well perforated. I find that if you fold it back and forth, you can "wear" the holes so it tears easily. If you need to get it started at a seam line, pinch the fabric tightly in your fingers so when you pull the first bits of paper away, you don't pull open the seam. Sometimes you may need to "hold" the fabric as you slide down the seam. It should come pretty easily -- just always be sure you don't tear open your stitches. You may need to use a tweezers to get some of the small bits of paper out of some of the nooks and crannies.

Good luck!

yup, Helen, snap'em on the diagonal as Mary posted. then for those final bits lay a damp cloth over the paper to dampen it, pulls out much easier on those tiny stubborn bits. all that after you've added the border tho, eh. have fun and do show us pix when finished. dinnertime here, jeanne

I use the back of the stitch ripper 'hook' and a ruler to score the paper exactly on the sewing lines. I press fairly hard. After starting this, I have never had another problem. A few quick tugs on the diagonal (as already mentioned), after the scoring, makes most pieces come out whole and with no effort. I do use small tweezers for intersections. . In message , hmharris writes

those pointy nose tweezers help too for the little nasty stubborn bits.

Thanks for all of your help. I gave it a snap but held it on the square instead of the diagonal so it was a little harder to get off. But all in all it wasn't too bad. I may try that scoring idea next with the seam ripper next time.

Thanks again.

Helen

also: start with the last piece you sewed on and work backwards to #1 it will make removal a breeze :-)

Don't sweat the small stuff! The teensy last scrap of paper that looks so horrible wedged under a seam intersection will not be visible at all after the piece is finished. Paper = cellulose (pretty much) and cotton = cellulose, so tell your anal evil twin to take a break! Roberta in D

"Sharon Harper" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:4653eb81$0$21548$ snipped-for-privacy@news.optusnet.com.au...

Thanks!!! Will try it.

We can't help ourselves - lol. You should see the size of the tweezers for those people with big honkers!!!