Thanks, call a...I've avoided projects like yours because I don't do much applique...this may be an alternative.
I stopped at LQS this week...brought home some FQ's and a 1/4 yard of 4 fabrics...I'm working on Christmas minis and needed some finish fabrics for my donated scraps, mostly HST'S...have 3 tops done and everything I need to finish them plus an old WIP...I refrained from yardage. Not only that when I drove my sis to travel departure, I bypassed 2 really nice LQS on the way home.....dodged that bullet....