Phew! Progress! I just finished sewing and pressing the last of the 8 strip sets that I made. I have a set of un-sewn strips in reserve for a 9th if I need it, and more fabric (put away) in case there's some kind of disaster and I need even more sets. Using the technique outlined in previous posts, I've noticed that there is no noticeable curving! So I think I'll be able to use all of the strip length.
If I get around to cutting and piecing some rows tomorrow, I'll be sure to post pictures.