I'm an over analyzer and perfectionist, too, so I know what you are going through. I spend hours each day on the internet researching various quilting topics. Hours that could be spent quilting. LOL

I think the others are just trying to make sure that you stay focused on working on the quilt rather than stressing about whether it will last for 100 years. As you know, us over analyzers can wear ourselves out with the thinking and planning and then when it comes to actually doing the work, we are over it and on to the next thing. Keep your focus on finding a fabric and pattern that your mom would like, make the quilt, and the rest will sort itself out.

It is going to be great no matter what you do!

I absolutely love Art Gallerys fabric. Every piece I have ever gotten felt wonderful, if they had the pattern of fabric I liked I would not hesitate to use their fabrics. I live in No TX so we are in Moda land! A lot of the shops around have several different manufacturers but almost none have Art Gallery fabrics. When I want those I normally order online

Each bolt of fabric out there will feel a bit different from the next, so it is up to you to decide what feels the best. But remember that there are no hard and fast rules to quilting....you don't always have to use just cotton thread.....you don't always have to use the most expensive fabrics you can buy....you don't always have to prewash....etc, etc....there are no quilting police!

Interesting discussion...on my bed right now is a queen sized quilt I sewed years ago from leftover fabrics some made in the 80's (all 2.5" squares). I see a couple of Moda fabrics and Fabriquilt but the majority are Cranston..VIP as it was the most available fabric at the time. I quilted it in 2006 and has been used everyday since. The colors are fading even the Modas...some a little more than others. I spot a couple of really poor "wally" type squares and they show the most wear. No frayed fabrics yet. If the quilt is to be used it won't last forever, better fabrics will last longer.
Just my 2¢ worth...the responses are spot on...

I have been quilting for about 5 years now and since I live in a rural area - I don't have choices in where to shop - I mostly shop online - I have fallen in love with Moda fabrics and love the quality also, I love Art Gallery fabrics too. I must say that each of the "name" brand fabrics have good qualities. I just received a fabric from Cotton and Steel and it was labeled a "Cotton Lawn" and it is super soft - it was slightly higher cost - but I had a coupon and free shipping so it wasn't so bad. I have not been disappointed with any of the Moda, Art Gallery, Free Spirit, or other name brand manufacturers "print" fabric collections - I do believe that Art Gallery had the softest solid fabric collections. If you have access to fabric stores - I would go out and check them out in person - otherwise I believe you should choose based on what you like (pattern, etc) and most likely if its name brand - you will be happy. Also, be sure to check the store where you order from - see what there return policy is if you are not satisfied. Good luck.

I think you and I are very similar!

Ha...how spooky to have stumbled on this thread this evening. I have just come home after spending about 3 hours driving between the 2 local fabric shops looking for fabric for some new quilts I want to start and am exhausted and thoroughly fed up. Most of the fabric, whilst having the "perfect" colours and shades for what I want to do felt awful to the touch. They were either coarse, or thin, or dull when looked at "close up". Both these shops are big chain giants and it seems that more and more these days I am going to them and coming home empty handed and irritated. There are 2 new P&Q stores that have opened "almost" locally to me and whilst their fabrics are double the cost I can see that I am going to be using them from now on. It just makes it harder to budget and afford. :( But the last thing I want to do is put the time effort and love into these quilts only to be disappointed with the end product. I already have to accept the whoopsies I do in my quilting and that's quite enough for my little ego to cope with without anything else!:)

YES! But my experience was last summer (2014) when they first rolled out. Again during the winter of 2014-15. The first I bought at a quilt shop. VERY DISAPPOINTED! It was thin, thin, thin. Thought I'd try again for another quilt and found it to be a tad thicker, but so stinkin' stretchy! It will take me awhile to ever buy that again. I, personally, would not buy it for any project until the quality improves.

I, too, like Benartex, RJR, and In the Beginning along with Connecting Threads. Susan Winget fabrics are nice and I've bought those at Joanne's.

To audition fabric that I"m seriou about buying, I hold it up to the light and look through one layer of fabric. If I see a lot of light shining through, it's not for me. Sounds weird, but after you do it a few times, you get the idea. I like fabric that has a medium to tight weave. Just me.

I suspect that the dyeing process has something to do with the feel of the fabric. How many colors are in the fabric, etc.

Wow if I had to go thru all those configurations, I would have never made the first quilt. I'm not too sure being a perfectionist is where I would start with in quilting. Quilting should be fun and relaxing.