My first quilt used light weight upholstery fabric that I found for $2.00 a yard. I wasn't sure that I would like quilting and I did not want to spend a bunch of money and then discover that I was never going to finish the project. but 15 years later here I am. I still buy what I can afford - although a lot of it is quilt store fabric - I also buy from Joann's. There is a quilt I made for my dad from lower grade fabric that has faded a lot but hey the quilt was to be used and it is. If I was going to make an heirloom quilt I would probably stick with quilt store fabric. However, for everything else I am more inserested in color, and design.