I don"t limit myself to just looking at quilting cottons. You can find some lovely cottonsd in the fashion sections too. I have yet to go into a LQS, have shopped online. That is so easy, but you can never be positive if you will be happy until it arrives. I have bought nice cottons at Wal Mart, and at Hancocks, but I avoid the ones that feel too thin. But then again, cotton shrinks, and some of those thin, loosely woven cottons get better feeling after they have been washed and a little starch added before cutting. I like to take a hunk of fabric and rub it between my thumbs, hard! You can tell a lot by doing that.