Zarah wrote:
Personally, I don't think that the blade of this seam ripper is as sharp as the Clover or Bernina seam rippers.

This is my most favorite seam ripper. I like the really sharp blade and the handle is comfortable to hold. http://www.clover-usa.com/product/0/482%2BW/_/Seam_RipperWhite_Plastic

I looked at this ripper recently and found the top has the texture of a fabric eraser so I tried my fabric eraser to pull the threads after ripping a seam, and the fabric eraser worked like a charm so now I have a second use for my fabric eraser with my Clover seam ripper. I'm confident a fabric eraser would work on paper piecing bits as well. I'll try it next time I do paper piecing. Of course, if I were in the market for a new seam ripper, I would consider this new gadget--convenient to have a two-for-one.

Thanks Margo. I have never seen this one before. Is it better that the one from Clover?

http://www.heirloomcreations.net/shop/seam-fix-seam-ripper/

SuperJudy wrote: Can you post a picture of it, please? Inquiring minds want to know!

That seam ripper was my only quilting purchase in Alaska and it works GREAT!!

BethMI

Those new seam rippers that are currently in all the shops (the one with the ribbed rubber cover) are perfect
for picking up the last crumbs when you remove the paper from your project. Sorry, can't remember the
name or the brand, but it's a seam ripper with a pen-like cap.

Ladywingnut wrote:

Dittit ditto

I have been using Elmer's glue & a hot iron for just about all of my quilting/sewing projects when I normaly would have used pins. I think I am much more accurate with glue.

Well said, Annis! I wish we had a "like" button!!

I use templates because that's the only way it will work with my method of paper piecing which to me is as fast or even faster than Carol's as long as I'm making multiples of the same block. If every block was different it would probably be faster to do it Carol's way. Also I don't like using chunks of fabric, I like to keep the pieces on grain, and I prefer not to waste fabric. Do whatever works best for you or for the project you're working on.

By using templates there can be much less waste, and you can control the grain of the fabric. For instance in the units we are making for month 1, using templates either for paper piecing or using the templates as instructed with the Striplate Piecing method in the pattern, we are able to assure that the outside edges of all the units have straight of grain fabric instead of bias edges.

It just makes a more stable unit.

I've been looking at more pp patterns lately and notice that they use the templates to cut the fabric out. What is the advantage of this method over Carol Doaks where she cuts rectangles or squares of fabric that fit the area? The only advantage I can see is if you have a limited amount of fabric as there may be less waste but Carols method is so much faster.

Thanks
Elsie D

Thank you Margo,
What a great tip. I have used glue on my bindings and could not find a fine tip for the glue.
No matter how hard you try, it is no easy to control the flow of glue out of the orange tip.
Off to the garage for my husbands pliers.