I like the way my mom describes it! Material is for clothing - Fabric is for quilts. I think it just puts it a higher plane.
Mom was a seamstress and bought material to make our clothes when we were kids and for herself. She made herself a quilted vest (which is now mine - all mine) that she made with fabric.
Maybe it is our location culture - Pop, soda, type of thing that was mentioned before.
And again, people go to the fabric shop to buy material for a new dress. Go figure!!!!! And one step further - where does yard goods fit in????? (I go to Treadle Yard Goods to buy fabric for my quilts). Edie