Preponderance
 

Why isn’t fabric sold with thread count, especially now in the age of online shopping where one cannot feel and see?

Mayhaps if we all started asking sellers the question on each fabric we are considering for purchase, a lightbulb might go off that listing info will garner them more of the marketshare. I have hopes of us changing the industry in this area. Ahhh, dreaming.

Most quilting cottons are 60-70 thread count.

I don't know about thread count. I just stick to brands that I know

I shop by brands, too, but some of the vintage or reproduction fabric I shop for gives very little description and it would be helpful to know sometimes. I do email vendors to ask questions if it's for special project. You can often tell by the price per yard if it is quality. That's my 2 cents.

I buy very little online. Price doesn't impress me, I want to feel it.

I no longer drive so do not have access to the stores as often. All I know is the feel I like so I am finding the online shopping a challenge,

I don't worry about it because I buy my favorite brands, like Moda and Kaufman.

I can see that it would be helpful because I purchased a fabric at JoAnns last week for a kids' quilt and the fabric felt just fine. After I prewashed it, I could see through it.

The problem with specified thread count is that you do not know how thick or thin the threads are or, more importantly, how tightly they are twisted. Think about bedding sheets that do carry a thread count description. I think that shopping by brand name is the best option if you cannot see the fabric. It is not fool proof but is pretty reliable. You can go to JoAnn's and buy fabric that is quite nice (and carried higher prices) and some that is very poor (mostly cheap or cheaper). I recently wanted to see the quality of a new line from an online seller- I ordered a charm pack to find out. Several sellers have recently started to emphasize the base fabric they use to print their designs. I think that should be helpful to buyers.

quilterpurpledog has very good advice. You have to know the thread count, but also the condition of the thread, and fade qualities. Maybe in the future there will be standards on which we can rely.