Quilt in a Day Forums

Does this mean that we're paying more for less?

You got that right, missmarcia!!!!! carol/kittyquilt

A lot of the 36" fabric was the thin wool we used to make skirts from in High School. The kind you lined I had mine for years.
Darlene

Back in the 60's I worked for a local chain of fabric stores and they had cotton 36" wide. In fact, I still have a couple pieces of that cotton in my stash closet.. Gradually more and more went to 45" especially the blends.. or 100% polyester. I now see a wide variety in the width of fabrics. But with most made overseas it's no wonder. Foreign made clothes are sized different (smaller) so why not fabric too.

Yep, you keep paying more and getting less, fabric, groceries,just about everything. Gas prices are lower right now but I'm not counting on them staying down. (sigh)

When I read someone say this was back in the 30s, I thought, gosh, I'm older than I thought. I learned to sew in about 1960 and all fabric (at least that I had access to) was 36. Almost all of the clothing/dry goods stores in our little town had some fabric, too.

I had this conversation on fabric width with a quilt shop owner. Not only are the companies narrowing the width, but the bolts used to have 15 yards, if I remember correctly. Anyway the gal told me she gets charged for 15, but when measuring it's 13-14 yds on a bolt. Rip off!!

I remember shopping for fabrics back in the 60's and early 70's (my mom and sister made some of my clothes). All the pattern envelopes listed yardage for 36" wide fabrics. Had to be careful to buy yardage based on the correct width!