If you're shopping for fabric in person, you can look at and feel the cloth before buying it.

But if you're buying online, you can't do that. What information would you like fabric websites to make available, so that you can feel more confident about purchasing fabric online?

Is it thread count?

Or weight per square yard?

Or ... something else?

I think thread count would be easier for most to relate to

I would like to know if its a screen print. Knowing the weight is usefull as far as getting a feel for the shipping charges I always what to know the threshold for getting the cost per yard down on shipping. I never know if 5 yards is the threshold or is it 6 or 3.5 ( you get where I am going) Knowing the weight gives a bit of info for the thickness. Knowing the weight is a good starting place for comparative puposes. If one manufactures blender is significantly less weight ( 10 percent)than anothers , it would definately affect my buying decision.
As for thread count .. do all manufactures have the same guidlines as to how they count the threads? As in sheets some count two wrapped into a single , still as two, where as others count it as one. If they do all count threads the same it definately would make a difference. Particulary going into uncertain times with costs escallating , its important to know how the products are changing , and how to measure the product quality. It would be very reassuring to know that the $$$ paid is for the quality I expect.

the thing about thread count is...it may have a very high thread count and be very thin see through fabric- the thread count does not dictate the weight or drape of the fabric. so i would prefer to know if it is lightweight-shirtings type fabric, medium weight- quilting cottons, or heavy weight- denim's and corduroys.

What we really need is "Feel-A-Vision". :lol:

Maybe this will help some of you:

http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...ng-fabric.html

Read a bit down for the answer for thread count...all in all the entire article is very interesting. Course it's her opinion and we all have our own but I do tend to think as she does.

Also if any of you have the book "That Perfect Stitch" by Roxanne McElroy you can learn a lot about fabrics and how the thread counts, weaves all interplay in a quality quilting fabric. She believes that the 75 thread count is better for hand quilting although 60 thread count is also fine but anything lower is not preferable. These are all of her personal choices and she was an internationally famous hand quilter as is her daughter, Dierda. This particular book has helped me so much because it can be applied to machine quilting as well. There is a wealth of informaton in it and I refer to it all the time. Since the book came out there have been many changes in the quilting world as far as products available but using the information she provides it is fairly easy to determine what she would choose and advise today.

Course there are many books, articles and opinions on this subject. I have my particular preferences as everyone else has theirs. Hopes this helps :-D

Ok! Feel-A-Free-to-invent-it!! :-)

Oh how I wish I could.....maybe one of the "hackers" or "virus" creators would be so kind as to make something so useful.

Weight. Thread count is useless unless you also know the details of ply in each thread, twist, etc. and have the ability to translate that information into what is relevant to your particular buying criteria.