Good idea too is to start with a smaller project... like Potholders and Table Runners and Mug Rugs or Tote bags . You said you are new to sewing. This way you can work on the Skills for Pieceing the Quilt Squares, binding, Choosing Colors... ( pot holders need the nicer heavier Cottons..) and Mug rugs are easy to make and Quilt by machine.. Tote bags can have pieced Quilt Squares on the sides as part of the Design ... Table Runners can be made almost any size and all of these make nice Gifts.. as you are learning about sewing and Quilting... Table runners are good projects for hand Quilting if you choose... I have gotten some really nice fabric on sale at Connecting Threads, Keepsake Quilting, and I have found OK fabrics at Joann and Walmart. Local Quilt shop moved and rest of any fabric stores are about 1 hr away... Just depends on what you are looking for... and what you are using it for... Good Luck and Have Fun...

I use the fingers test, if it feels smooth, it is tightly woven and good, if it feels rough, it is loosely woven and leave it on the shelf. Ordering online, I have often bought at Thousands of bolts, Fabric. com and several closeout sites that carry premium fabric. I order select fabrics from Hobby Lobby often and it is very good fabric.

Fabshophop is a "shop hop" of online fabric stores. You have to register, then each month you get a list of links to participating shops. Click on the links to visit the stores, then find and click on the bunny icon to indicate you visited. Try to visit as many stores as possible because there are prizes, some directly from the stores. http://www.fabshophop.com/

If you Google "Quilt fabric stores Houston", you will come up with several that are inside or just outside the loop. Here is one. I haven't been there, but it looks interesting. http://www.teatimequilting.com/

If you're like me, Sunday is the only day I can shop, and there are only two shops that I know of that are open on Sundays -- Quilter's Emporium in Stafford and Pinwheels & Posies in Dickinson.

Also, Google Houston Quilt Guilds. You will meet quilters at all skill levels, and, depending on the guild, you will get to hear local to nationally known teachers. And most of them have workshops that you can take.

Also, the Houston International Quilt Festival is held here every year, and it's a lot of fun. You can go to the Quilts, Inc. website and download their catalogue. They have classes Monday thru Sunday of the Festival and the Quilt Show opens on Wednesday Preview night.

Once you understand "hand" (that's) how the fabric feels, you wwill be able to tell--most of the time--whether the fabric is worth the price. Don't ever judge by price alone or even by brand names. I have paid premium prices for some band name fabric that was wonky as could be when it was torn and the longer it sat after being cut, the more it raveled. And (drum roll, please) some of us occasionally use blends because they wear forever and never fade. froggyintexas

I have used all of the aboved on-line stores and never had a problem. I also use "Thousands of Bolts" and eQuilter. Always good fabric!

I buy most if not all of my fabric from Etsy.com. I stick with Moda and Robert Kaufman fabrics and have not been disappointed. I'm, also, what I consider a Newbie. Enjoy. :wave:

I buy most fabric at Walmarts and Hobby Lobby. I give most of my quilts away and it is goos quality. I go by the feel, I have not been unhappy with it. I only buy 100% cotton.
I have bought from a popular online store and their quality is good also. Last time I got a lot more than I wanted.Online says yards but it is cut at units and that was twice as much. Needless to say I will only buy from above sources. Colors are not the same as in person.
I only pay where the prices meet my money. Lots say to buy from local quilt shops but that is more than I want to spend. I don't see where it is any better quality.
I have made over 136 quilts.

Here I am, 79 years old and have learned to use my intuition and rely on my past experiences. You will gain confidence in your choices the more exposure you have to the subject. If you plan to enter your work in a competition, your fabric choices are as important as your techniques. Learn to judge by comparison. Study quilt magazines and online sites for well known designers and companies producing fabrics. They have a reputation to maintain.

Jeanne S. advice is 100%!

Best. Answer. Yet. :thumbup:

Jan in VA