When I buy fabric, I have to touch it. If it doesn't feel soft off the bolt, I don't think it will improve with washing and using. When I started, I was trying to buy cheaper fabs until I knew I was going to stick to quilting. Now I've gotten rid of all of it. If making an heirloom, you want it to hold up and be worth all your effort. I have bought from JoAnn, not from WM, but you have to be careful of the quality. Companies will print the same design on different qualities of greige goods, so you might think you are getting the same material, but you're not. There happens to be a store around here that sells mill ends, overstocks, etc. They have good fabrics for $5-$7 a yard. I can't trust myself in there!