It is a lot of work, I have to admit. But I love the whole process of quilting from the beginning to the end. I don't care about time (did I say I was retired? lol). I look forward to it on a daily basis if I don't get involved in anything else. I will work on this until it is finished and love every minute of it. I am also learning a heck of a lot as I work on it. I have already conjured up ideas of my own.
I suppose she had to make the pattern this way without seams or the packet would be huge. I had two copies made and left the orginal in tact. That is the map you see on the wall. The only draw back is that I have to look at the reverse side of the blocks in order to put them on the map.
I couldn't imagine doing this without a map to put the blocks on, it would be confusing then.
On some parts that I make a freeze paper tracing, I do put the seams. On the others, I just gauge the exta for the seams and use a ruler to cut later.