marinerparent, I guess you could use a different paper piecing technique, but you will need the book for the block patterns. Hopefully the picture of the sampler quilt I posted helped answer some of your questions.
Fabric Galore, this is plain paper piecing on foundation papers. You don't have to make a patriotic quilt. The fabric choices are up to you. You could use fabrics from that era, civil war fabrics or even modern fabrics to update it! janRN may do hers in Christmas fabric. What fun!