help paper piecing

do you mean, put the blocks together in a row? pinning usually helps. sometimes starch or sizing helps. but no steam. amy in CNY

ouch! the steam may be the problem. I am piecing my blocks into a quilt but seem to have a lot of stretch in places. I will try the spay starch on some and see, also will kill the steam setting on my iron. thank you ruby

It's too late for this quilt, but next time consider putting the blocks together before removing the paper. That is how we did it in the class I had from Carol Doak.

Julia in MN

I was thinking more or less the same thing...except perhaps remove the paper around the perimeter of the block so it isn't sewn into the seam. Once all the edges are stabilized then it's ok to remove the inner paper.

Allison

I always draw mine without the outer seam allowance. So, the paper can be kept in; but there is no paper to sew together. Just cut a quarter of an inch away from the last piece of paper to get the right size. .

Too late now, but Carol Doak recommends keeping the paper on until the blocks are joined. Her paper has a little give and allows you to "ease" when needed. She also recommends machine basting each matching point or seam first so that you can check to be sure it's right -- then sew right over the basting with your regular stitch. THEN you remove the paper.

S>I made some paper pieced blocks and am very pleased with how they turned

Carole D. - Retired and loving it in the foothills of NW Georgia

My quilts, crafts, QIs, and more -

You've had lots of good advice. I'm just going to add that when I paper piece I try to sew so that the straight of grain is on the outside edges. If I can do that then I remove the paper. If that's not possible and the outside edge is on the bias then I leave the paper on until I'm finished sewing the seam. ~*~ Jeri