Quilt guilds are usually ecstatic when a man joins, and they're a great source of information, examples, classes, etc. Quilt fabric doesn't have a high thread count (somewhere around 70, higher for batiks) but it shouldn't be thin or stiff. If you look at sites online that sell quilting fabric you will see lots of major manufacturers and designers represented. Even Walmart and JoAnn's carry some decent fabric, along with a lot more that is of lesser quality. If you go in to JoAnn's and handle the fabric in different parts of the store (and look at the difference in prices) you will soon be able to recognize better quality by how it feels. JoAnn's is also a good place to buy quilting tools, but be sure to shop when you can use a coupon or when the item is on sale. Then go to a LQS and you will find that almost all of the fabrics feel like the best ones at JoAnn's. These quilt shop quality fabrics can be purchased online as well.