If I am looking for a specific fabric I start with the most exact info I have, such a pattern number or collection name, etc. If I get no hits, I broaden the result by using less specific info, such as just the designer, or manufacturer. If I still don't find it, then I can get very braod, like ' Asian or Floral'. Sometimes this gives me too many results, but the side benifit is I find other lovely fabrics I like & end up buying them. In turn, I then search for coordinates of the 'new' fabrics I have just found... As such is the genesis of a fabric lover - collecter - hoarder
I've been know to check 50+ pages of Google resuts.... thereby skipping sleeping some nights.
Sometimes, I just surf through a category such as holiday or floral or border, depending on what I'm in the mood for. Just love fabric!