Yes, cotton prices have gone up - and then went down again - at least a little bit. But the trend is up (30 cents per pound over the past year (2009-2010). Since a yard of quilting cotton usually weighs about 4-6 oz and to allow for some waste as the cotton is processed, the price increase means a 10-15 cents per yard increase. The roof is not falling in, but increasing like everything else.