It really depends on the pattern. I have learned that I do better giving myself reachable goals--like cut and piece 5 or 10 blocks--instead of doing all my cutting then all of piecing the individual units. I do have containers with 2 1/2 inch squares and HST's ready to go but they are for a couple of scrappy's and I cut and add to them on a random basis. I just finished the main components for a Swoon and since each block was a different colour, it made sense to do one block at a time.