Patrice - I agree - I have also noticed that the quality of fabrics seems to have declined even from the best local quilt shop. I"ve been buying more than needed to allow for the shrinkage so that I don't come up short and have gotten back into the "pre wash" habit even though I hate the process.
Roberta - So sorry to hear about your napkin mess - very frustrating!
There are some cotton fabrics that feel like silk almost like a sateen but the price is extremely high and the jury is still out on the durability/longevity of these - have seen reviews saying that they are pretty and soft for about a year and then they start to shred.