Fortunately, I used a trick early on. First, I cut out all the necessary parts and put them into different boxes. Then I made the first step - like sewing on the eyes - on all 48 elves. Then the noses. Then the mouths (they even had visible tongues, so it was a real pain). Then the hats. And so on. It gave me the feeling of accomplishment every time I finished a particular step - one I wouldn't have got, had I sew one elf a time completely.