Glad I read this thread! I thought it was just me. The last few years have been getting worse...every time I let new fabric(quilts and clothing) touch my skin, I get a nasty, itchy rash where it has touched me. I have to be very cautious even carrying fabric to the laundry room, so it doesn't touch me. I never used to be this way, I could grab a bundle of cloth and be fine..so it must be something they're adding to the fabrics.
I thought of fire retardant, but it's not in quilt fabric. Dyes..I doubt everyone uses the same formulas. Sizing? Do all fabrics have it in there? I doubt it. Whatever it is, I hate it!