We recently moved to our area six months ago and I have found that our thrift stores don't have much in the way of fabric. In SoCal there was one store I loved to go to because I could find pieces that were yards and yards. I would buy it if I thought I might have a use for it in the near future and the price was good. Up in NorCal I find the pieces too small for much of anything other than a scrappy (of which I'm not a big fan to put together 'cause I like "order") and the prices are sometimes quite outrageous. Sometimes I find great bargains on zippers but most of the time those are priced too high as well ($1.39 for a 7" zipper that was "donated"). So, I guess even though I am picky, the stores have helped me be even more picky. I always forget to look at the sheets for backing fabric.