My first quilts was for my husband. I bought the focus fabric at LQS and other fabric at chain store, I didn't know about quality then. After a few years of use, the chain store fabric is falling apart but focus fabric is still good. Can't make a heirloom from that.

I still prefer name brand fabrics and will buy them now for anything that will get a lot of use as I know they will hold up better. That said, there are some good fabrics and bad at any store. But it seems that they put a lot of sizing and starch in cheaper fabric to make them seem better than they are.