I don't have a LQS near me, so JoAnn's and online quilt stores are my source for fabrics. I tend to judge the fabric by it's "feel", which is nearly impossible to explain in this forum. Mainly, if you look at a fabric, hold it under your hand and you see your hand clearly, put it back. I make family reunion quilts every 2 years and family members send fabric in the color I've chosen for that year. They seem to have gotten better at picking out their fabrics, so it's not the problem it used to be, but occasionally I get a "klunker" and that fabric I will use but very sparingly in the quilt.