For me there was - and still is - a learning curve - about what works well and what is a waste of time and money.
I think the original question was to try to shorten that curve - to save both time and expense.
I consider myself an experienced buyer of quilting type cottons, but I've just recently purchased items that didn't work out for the project I was working on. Drat!
I really don't think there is a major shortcut around experience.
If you can, go to quilt shows and look at what the quilters used in their quilts. One can't go touching the quilts bare-handed, but one can get some good ideas about what the fabrics are like.