one can look up "fabric weave" for info -
most fabrics are created by weaving or by knitting -
within those two categories are many fibers, densities, and patterns -
some knits are very stretchy, some have no stretch
some wovens have more stretch than others - generally there is more stretch on the crosswise grain than the lengthwise grain - and the bias has the most give
my preferences for quilting are: must be washable, must be stable (that means that it holds it's shape), and that the weights for a surface (top or backing) be approximately the same
even within a relatively narrow group - such as flannel - there are tremendous variations in quality -
what is "best"? depends on what you are planning to do with it -
100% cotton flannel is notorious for shrinking - and if it's the flimsier sort, use wider seam allowances - the 1/4 inch seam is too apt to pull out -