I have found that whenever I bought flannel at JoAnn's, it was a narrower width than flannel I bought anywhere else.
I don't shop JoAnn's for quilt fabric but only for notions and fabrics that I will use for something that I don't care much if it holds up.

I just found that out for myself...had to do some very inventive piecing to finish my border...

I remember that, too. The first time I purchased a fabric that was more than 36" wide, I thought it was a huge bonus! I still have patterns that give yardage for 36" fabric. Wow, I guess I really am getting old! Hahaha

I am old enough to remember when fabric was 36". Then it went to 42, then 44. Looks like it is going the other way now. Not all mfg. went to 44 though.

A couple of years ago, at a quilt shop I worked in, we noticed some MODA fabric was only 40 inches wide. I had heard other brands were going to the shorter width too. I guess it is like sugar, we use to get 5 lbs now we get barly 4 lbs with the price the same. Remember to use the new width when you calculate the fabric requirements.

I think we're all going to have to carry a tape measurer from now on! Humm, just thought, I'm going to a quilt show today....I'm going to stick the tape measurer in my pocketbook NOW!
Thanks for making me think!

That is sneaky..or is it sneeky??? ....whatever, you know what I mean. It is like the cans in the grocery store. The can is exactly the same size, but instead of getting 16 ounces that we were use to, only maybe 14 ounces are in the same size can....they got us, one way or another.....

I sometimes check the bolt sizes guess now I may be more concious

All well said, folks! On the plus side, I went to a new to me LQS out in Hadley MI to get a Strip Tube ruler that no one else around me had. Of course, when I got there I just "had to" look around. Imagine my surprise when I saw a bolt end marked with a price of $4.50!! Even though I don't have a specific purpose for that fabric yet, I had to buy what was left, a little more than 2 yds.! I mean, how could I not get it? By the time I was done browsing, I had spent more than $100 when I just went there to get a ruler for under $15! Will I return? OH YES! I was met by the friendliest bunch of ladies--both staff AND customers--I have met in a long time! One small class was just finishing up, and they were happy to show what they had done. Another few ladies came in to get fabrics to finish projects; another class would be starting shortly. All told, I felt like I had just walked into a happy little diner for quilters!! Sure, it's a 45 minute drive from my house, but I will definitely be going back to Elaine's Quilty Too in Hadley.
Thanks to all for the feedback. And I am definitely in the age group who remembers when the fabric standard width was 36"! LOL! You all made me feel like a kid again. :-)