Thank you all for your suggestions. I've tried most of the ideas here and still no love, so I un-stitched what I did manage to do and am drawing a new plan, featuring lots of SID. Several of my gifting plans have now been scrapped and it looks like I'll be waving my credit card at the Christmas tree this year.
On the bright side, most of holiday season 2012 is already pieced and I have a whole year to figure out how to finish it.
Thanks again for all of your help.