This is an older thread but it is always an issue. I really like the Missing Fabrics website,
http://www.missingfabrics.com/
I've been helping connect people with their fabrics since it started.
I see a lot of people there lately especially looking for decor/upholstery fabric. That's often harder to find than quilting fabric since the runs are often proprietary and made solely for the manufacturer. Still, you just never know...
And then a lot of people simply want to make an exact duplicate of a quilt featured in a magazine a year or two ago. Good luck on finding those, especially on multiple large pieces of yardage. There comes a point where you have to say good-bye to the idea of finding the exact fabric and recognize that all you need is a small scale blue print or whatever.
Even when fabric is reprinted in multiple years, often the color way changes or metallics are added/removed, or other changes are made.
Fabric is part of the fashion industry and the tones change from year to year. Many of us can easily date some colors, like the soft peach, sage, and dusty rose/blues of the early 80s.
When you find fabric you like -- buy it! I mostly make scrap or charm quilts so I can buy small pieces. But for some I up that to 3 yards. I have a friend and she pretty much never buys less than 3 yards of anything, for her it's 6 yards if she likes it.
PS: The Board is being wonky. To get your post to show, type it and copy it before you hit "Post Quick Reply". Then immediately edit the post and paste in your copy.