Our local (rural) Wal Mart always had fabric, and now have some some in the $7.95 yard range that is just great, soft, thick and tightly woven, and they have a lot of nice material that is not as expensive. If sewing/quilting for show or heirloom, would just be careful. Have some material I got for $1.00 a yard, made a chair cover and 6-8 years ago and many 100's of washings later, they get washed at least 1-2 a week as dogs make a mess of them, the material, not cotton I am sure, but cotton poly is great.Luckly I bought enough to make two new ones soon, and they will last for as many years. Just feel fabric and see what it feels like. I have ordered some material and it is thinner than I would like (pannels) so I will put iron on interfacing behind and use that way. As someone one said, years ago they used what they had and made do. A lesson many would do well to remember today.