Were you using the Bulky Cycle?

The Bulky Cycle (on some models) uses a series of fills while agitating, so cycle time may be longer during water fill, depending on the load size. There may appear to be insufficient water to wash a bulky load, but the washer will continue to add water while its sensors monitor the load. It could take up to 10-12 minutes to completely fill.

This process also increases cleaning performance. The benefit in agitating while filling results in improved mechanical action for a wide variety of loads. The Bulky Cycle is recommended for a lot of different types of items (jackets, rugs, comforters, etc.), all of which have different optimal water levels for load motion, depending on load size. Executing agitation during fill improves the washer's ability to reach the optimal wash water level. During the Bulky Cycle, fill will occasionally pause in order for the washer to provide additional mechanical action at a variety of water levels.

For models with an agitator and Deep Water Wash Option:

Some agitator models have a Deep Water Wash and Auto Sensing options. If your model has this, you can set the Water Level knob to the Deep Water Wash setting, and the washer will fill to the maximum water level.