Buy off the bolt! It is cheeper. and the girls will not be upset with you, that is why they are there! They will probly ask what your making and ask you to bring it in to show them when it's done. I have to travel 2 1/2 hr to reach my "LOCAL" Joanns, they know that when I walk through the door I will leave with a cart full. I am never in a hurry when I'm in a fabric shop so if I have a cart full of bolts and someone behind me only has one or two bolts I send them ahead, I'm not in a rush and usually don't have small children with me.