I prefer the quilt shop materials, but have found material at JoAnn's and WalMart ok to work with also. Some of their's is very nice. I love Thimbleberries colors. I like Eleanor Burns colors too. I'm not a fan of batiks on a bolt, but love them in a quilt - odd, I know, but... my friends (quilting ones) just go with me on that and make me use batiks from time to time!! :)