Reader Questions________

Re: ARROWS ON PATTERN
I am going to make a red hat t-towel for a friend but am wondering what is meant by the arrows on the pattern. Can you pls. advise! Thanks!--Lois

Two arrowheads pointing at each other on the pattern indicate where two seams meet. So, when you sew the sections back together, pin these two points together before sewing. If you look at the drawing of the finished pattern, you can see why you'd want those spots to meet.

Re: PHOTOCOPY TRANSFER OF INK
I xeroxed the angel pattern, and then noticed two things: The ink of the xerox got onto the piece. I didn't notice it on the fabric itself, just the thread. Do you have any suggestions, other than try to copy it with a lighter ink?--Marion

Photocopied and laser printed patterns will transfer ink when heated with the iron. To help prevent ink transfer, try ironing the pattern print-side down onto scrap paper or scrap fabric before using. Then, while working, run your iron across some scrap material to help clean it before pressing white or light fabrics on the right side of your project.

NOTE: Printed patterns taken straight from the package will not transfer ink when ironed. However, do not wet patterns in an attempt to remove the paper from a finished project without first testing for possible ink running. Some inks used are not waterproof.

Re: WHEN TO REMOVE PAPER
Do you have any recommendations of when to remove the paper? I had a bit of trouble where the sewing lines converged and I had very small triangles! Also, when sewing pieces together, like the six pieces of the snowflakes, I ended up removing the pieces on the inner points before sewing. Otherwise I tended to pull on fabric with my tweezers! I didn't notice a real difference in accuracy, as long as I was careful to include enough fabric for a 1/4 inch seam.--Marion

Personally, I almost always remove paper when I am all done with the project. I will
remove some pieces as I go, if I no longer need them for their edges (after the seams between sections have been sewn). You could remove paper before sections have been sewn together if you draw around the edges of the sections in order to preserve the seamline.
     When I remove the paper, I use a seam ripper to loosen the edges of paper and those little triangles you mentioned (without touching the stitching), and I try not to pull on the stitching too much. If the little triangle is really resistant, I leave it! I figure it will come out in the wash, as I wash all my pieces. I'd only make a special effort if it is clearly in a spot where quilting needs to be done.

Re: WHEN TO REMOVE PAPER
My question is how do you deal with the bulk of the seams? Any suggestion? --KAREN

There are two ways I deal with bulk in the seam allowances:
1) When joining sections together that seem bulky or do not want to lay flat, I press these seams open.
2) When sewing fabric onto a paper pattern piece, I often cut these paper-pieced seams with smaller seam allowances, 3/16" to 1/8" when the pieces get smaller and/or closer together. This cuts down on the amount of fabric in the area. Note: This assumes that you are using scissors to trim these seams. Recently it has been pointed out to me that some people rely on rulers to trim their seams--ALL their seams. If this is you, you may wish to reconsider using a ruler for the paper-pieced seams, as it is very slow. Cutting paper-pieced seams a little narrower will not hurt anything, especially if you are making a wallhanging. If you are making a quilt to be used on a bed and some stress will be applied to the fabric, I would use your best judgment as to how small a seam allowance you can leave.
     The only place a 1/4" seam allowance is required is around the outside of each pattern piece, so the sections can be joined together. Continue using your ruler when trimming sections for joining.
     The bulky seams in detailed paper piecing is an excellent reason to learn how to machine quilt!