Just to re-emphasize a few things....

IMO there is a cost savings but you also can be more versitile...e.g. I think the strips we buy are mostly rather large...talking width and thickness here...at least for what I want...you can cut your own to any size...pick a nice pelt with a soft thin hide.

As mentioned there are some neat pelts out there but also you can use a white and then custom dye your strips...or just patches...with Kool-Aid.

If your into cutting your own you can search out other pelts too..e.g. ...mink at the thrift store...squirrel...etc.

It's kind of fun too....