I can feel your pain. I am doing the same thing with diamonds. I am pping them. much easier and "quicker" I have been working on the off and on for over a year. (ran out of fabric and took about 3 months to find it then got in a car accident and couldn't sew for about 6 months then couldn't sit and sew for more then 20 min at a time.) good luck it will look really really great when you are done.