the width of the strips are a personal choice- I just finished a top with 2" wide logs (1 1/2" finished) and it is pretty wonderful! I do cut my logs the length I need them to be- I've tried a few times to leave them long & cut them off as I went- I did not have great success with that method. my blocks were more consistent when I measured, cut then attached each log as I went- I did work on all 30 blocks at once- so I would add a log to each block, press, measure for the4 next log, cut 30 of them- go back to the sewing machine- it worked well & went faster for me than some other times I've made them.