I agree with those who have found JoAnn fabrics to be a lesser quality -- thicker, stiffer as a general rule. My local LQS went out of business, and since then I've only shopped on line. I can't say that I've noticed the designer fabrics getting thinner. What I do notice is that the fabrics from different manufacturers, and even different designers within a manufacturer, have different qualities -- some are thinner and silkier, some get a flannely feeling after washing, some fray more than others. I've wondered who specifies the parameters for manufacturing, and all of the factors that lead to a particular fabric's various qualities.