It is a shock to the system, so sorry, but the Board has given all the right suggestions as usual. It's a great group so I hope you will become a contributor too!
For me, thanks for posting because I learned something new - DON'T cut it all up at once. I already knew about on-line updates, I would not use a pattern if the picture looks like something from EQ7, and I almost always test a block. Now of course I'm doing a complicated pattern, have already found errors in the cut directions and misprints in which fabric to put where, and it is a huge center star with a lot of pieced borders so I can't really do too much testing...I'll have to wing it. Maybe that will give me the motivation to try applique!
Welcome, and please keep posting!