I well remember fabric at Pennys, Wards and Anthoney's. My grandmother sewed for me and would re-make clothing from some worn out dressed or coats of my mom and aunts. My grandfather was in the Navy when he was young and was a sail maker and taught my grandmother to sew. He made and quilted first baby quilt and I still have it. (I'm 78) He also did beautiful hair pin lace with a real hair pin. Of course they were longer than we see today.