I buy fabric where ever I can find it. There are 4 walmarts within a 20 mile range of me. Only one of them still has fabric. Our Joanns is usually pretty trashy. They have begun to carry a better line of quilting fabric for a much higher price. I have to travel close to an hour to hit any real quilt shops. I usually drop a hunk of money on those trips. What fabric I buy depends on who and what the quilt is for. With things that I will be handquilting it is all about feel. If I am going to be constantly touching something for weeks it has to be nice. Items that I am whipping up for home dec or charity quilts will be done entirely on the machine. While I look for a close weave and durability for those items only one side of them has to be pleasing to the touch. Wallhangings might even be made of non washable materials.