What is the differene in 100% quilt fabric at $8-$12 per yard and 100% cotton fabric at $3-$5 per yard?

$3 to $7 per yard to spend on more fabric? LOL Sorry, couldn't resist!

It's the thread count.

Maybe thread count per square inch.

Usually the quality of the fabric. You just have to look it over good. I have found some very nice fabric for $3 to $5 a yard.

you know I have alway wondered the same. expecially when the material at 3 different stores look the same.. :roll: :oops: never thought about the thread count though. :roll: hmmm will have to check it out. thank you for asking the question.

Love your response. I'm a newbie and don't want to buy expensive fabric on my beginning quilts. Maybe with more experience with fabric and quilting I will be able to tell the difference, now I only see a price difference.

Quality, all the way around. Better base material, better original engravings, better artwork, better dyes, better printing quality control, better finishing. Higher priced fabric will generally have a better "hand" as well.

Not to say you can't find some older and overstock high-quality material at low prices, but the factors above usually determine what the starting prices for fabrics are.

Is there thread count somewhere on the bolt? Also, the higher the thread count the thinner or thicker the fabric?

FEEL the fabric, obviously not all 100% cotton is created equal and if you feel it, you'll quickly notice the difference. Also, if it feels rough, it will probably still be rough after washing.

Those really expensive Egyptian cotton sheets, which feel like soft butter against your skin, are expensive because of the thread count.

And if you hold fabric up and really look at it, often you can see how tightly, or loosely, the threads are woven.