Geez! the more I learn the more curious I become: fabric history.

Those unaware of the history of textiles often mistakenly presume that the first quilts were crazy-patched, made from dressmaking scraps or saved from worn-out garments.  In fact, quilts started as a luxury, available only to the well-off.  Fabric was expensive, and rather than being cut to fit the wearer, except for high-fashion clothing, garments were boxy in form, leaving very few scraps left over for quiltmaking.  Even among whites, until the 1840s few people had more than one or two changes of clothing, all of which had to be sewn by hand. 

                                                                      
from crazy quilt block:  Kitty and Me.  She does amazing work.