I don't use flannel for quilts, but I love flannel sheets..and you are not imagining it...the quality across the board has sunk to a new low...I used to buy the QVC Northern nights sheets..this year the set we got was so thin it was more like a brushed cotton than a flannel...and it pilled the first wash...we NEVER had those sheets pill....so...no more QVC sheets..I sent them back!