Typecast + Gemology — combining EPP + FPP

Rockstar, a modern quilt by Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill using Typecast letters block pattern and Marquis from Patchwork Lab: Gemology book.

Today is my stop on Patchwork Lab: Gemology book hop tour. Patchwork Lab: Gemology is a new book by Andrea Tsang Jackson of 3rd Story Workshop. To celebrate the launch of the book, I’m going to give you a peek of a quilt in progress, combining my Typecast English Paper Pieced letters with a Foundation Paper Pieced block from Andrea’s book. I’ll also explain the benefits of and differences between English Paper Piecing (EPP) and Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP). If you’ve tried one but not the other, I hope you’ll be inspired to explore.  And if you’ve never done either, you’re in luck! You have two new quilt piecing techniques to try out!

Last year as I was testing blocks for my Typecast English Paper Piecing pattern, I made letters spelling “Rockstar” with fabric from the Sunprint collection by Alison Glass.
Quilt blocks: letters made with Typecast English Paper Piecing pattern

These blocks sat unfinished in a stack for a while. Earlier this year, my friend Andrea shared with me her plans for her new Gemology book. My ears perked up… the blocks in her book were the perfect companion to my Rockstar blocks.

I selected the Marquise block, one of the nine foundation paper pieced blocks included in the book.
Marquis quilt block, made with pattern by Andrea Tsang Jackson
Quilt blocks: gemstones made with Foundation Paper Piecing combined with letters made with Typecast English Paper Piecing pattern by Whole Circle Studio
Quilt blocks: gemstones made with Foundation Paper Piecing combined with letters made with Typecast English Paper Piecing pattern by Whole Circle Studio
Rockstar, a modern quilt by Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill using Typecast letters block pattern and Marquis from Patchwork Lab: Gemology book.

I love combining techniques in quilts, especially machine piecing and hand piecing. I can work on the same quilt in different environments—machine piecing while I’m in my Studio and hand piecing while I’m traveling or watching television on the couch.

Again, for this quilt top, the Marquis blocks are machine pieced using Foundation Paper Piecing techniques and the Typecast letter blocks are hand pieced using English Paper Piecing techniques.

Not sure what the difference is between these two very different paper piecing techniques?

Here’s an overview:

English Paper Piecing (EPP) vs Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) comparison chart by Whole Circle Studio


Typecast, an English Paper Piecing (EPP) Pattern Make all 26 letters of the alphabet. Each block measures approximately 6” x 9”. This fully tested pattern guide contains detailed instructions, tips and diagrams to walk quilters through the variety of EPP straight line and curved piecing skills they will use while making Typecast blocks. Required English Paper Pieces and optional acrylic templates not included. Pattern by Whole Circle Studio

Be sure to check out Andrea’s book and Foundation Paper Piece your own gems!
Patchwork Lab: Gemology by Andrea Tsang Jackson

Go make something great,

What are the benefits of and differences between English Paper Piecing (EPP) and Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) when piecing a quilt top. Check out this blog post for a comparison in a chart. If you’ve tried one but not the other, I hope you’ll be inspired to explore.

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6 Comments

  1. Can your “Typecast” EPP pattern be scaled down (smaller)? I love the look of them, but they are kind of too big for my needs. Thanks! ~Diana K

    1. Hi Diana,
      Thanks for your inquiry! The Typecast EPP paper pieces only comes in the 9″ finished letter. That said, if you are comfortable doing so, you probably could photocopy to a reduced size on cover weight paper and cut out your own paper pieces. The pieces would be smaller so hand-stitching would be a bit more challenging, but not impossible.
      Thanks again,
      Sheri

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