You are an inspiration to us all. Not spoiled by the vast choices we have here in the USA. Yes a more simpler life can avoid a lot of trouble and heartaches as well. However, it seems like you have adjusted and adapted to meeting your needs creativley.
I must admit that when my kids were young instead of buying them clothes, I would rummage thru piles of clothes garage sales for large size women's clothes and use that fabric. I hunted like mad for jeans to reuse the zippers and bought all kinds of shirts with buttons only to tear them off and reuse them on my kids "new clothes." I couldn't afford to buy my 5 kids new, so I became creative too. It worked and worked well for several years. I don't make clothes anymore; only quilts and table runners - stuff like that. But I know exactly how you are making it work for you too. In fact, when I first started quilting and didn't have much of any type of fabric, I found several linen table clothes at a garage sale and used them for backings. Worked very nicely and boy did that quilt have some heavy weight to it. My granddaughter loves that quilt and as of this posting she is asleep with it tonight.
Good luck and I hope you can get your hands on some of that cat fabric you really want.