I've read all these posts and I have one more suggestion from Fons and Porter. Their methode is to cut the size pieces first then it's just line them up nd pick up each size and sew around the block, for example for a 9 inch block start with two 1 1/2 inch squares then the next one will be a 2 1/2 inch x 1 1/2 inch rectangle on up to the 9 1/2 inch rectangle. I haven't tried it yet but it sounds clever. And they line their pieces up in a pizza box and they can carry it to wherever they will be sewing it.