Quilt shop quality fabric have a minimum thread count of 60 vertical threads by 60 horizontal threads per inch of fabric. Often the thread count is much higher. Higher thread counts mean a tighter weave, and that makes the fabric feel silkier, wear longer, and show a sharper image when printed. Inexpensive fabrics with lower thread counts feel coarser, don’t print as well, and wear out faster than higher-quality fabrics.
Read more at Suite101: Quilt Fabric Shopper's Guide to Fabric Quality: Are Premium Quilting Fabrics Really Worth the Extra Cost?
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