Got one row sewn together and the side strip. :) It took me about 3 hours yesterday morning and 3 hours in the evening. It's taking a long time to sew and press every row of blocks, with the center block seams pressed open, and then pressing open the seams between each row of blocks. Then pressing open on the side strips. All those points make too much bulk to press the seams one way.
I decided to add the two rows of end blocks to each row now instead of waiting until the rows are sew together. There's no reason to wait until then and wrestle with larger sections to do the ends.
I love how the ends look! All those different little pieces. I am half done with all of the wedge blocks to round out the circles but, now I have to do the 4-patch blocks too before sewing it all together.