Actually, the price of cotton has gone down significantly in the last six months. (see
www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=cotton, or just check enter "raw cotton price" in your favorite search engine.
We had a Joann's superstore open here a couple of years ago, but they are not generally well staffed. If there is somebody at the cutting counter, there's not at the check out and vice-versa. I shop there for notions and batting, but not fabric. Our Walmart does not carry fabric other than pre-packaged. However, I have a couple of Mennonite stores locally that carry LQS fabric at much lower prices. Not LQS ambiance, but when I get the fabric home, it's the same fabric either way, lol. So I shop there, at LQS sales, or online.
To my way of thinking, many things count into frugality. The quality, my time, cost of gas, etc.