You can do it on a lightweight nonfusible interfacing that will stay in the block. The Peace Quilt with cranes can be done by hand this way. The design is transferred to the interfacing like you would do for fabric and then piece away. (
http://www.margaretrolfe.com/details.cfm?ID=7)
I am using paper since I have a machine, but the hand instructions are included with the pattern and are as simple as I wrote above.
I would go for it. I hand pieced a whole ocean wave quilt once. Loved just having to stitch on the line. Only supplies I needed to take with me were needle, thread, two pins, and scissors and of course the marked pieces.