Ah yes. I have this fear of finishing quilts.
I like the idea of doing it in stages but I would make one block first before spending a day cutting. That one block has frequently taught me a thing or two about how the rest of the project is going to go. The one time I didn't... I have a whole lot of expensive fabric cut up to make bear claw blocks that will never be used. Just didn't think it through and those pieces will never make two bear claw blocks that look the same. C'est le Vi.
tim in san jose