you wrote:
((For that matter, even quilts that were made of used clohing often have patches that are much smaller than one would assume the usable fabric accounted for. Which suggests that the maker was as interested in aesthetics as she was in utility; small patches waste an incredible amount of fabric and time compared to large patches))
from accounts from a great-great grandmother---itty bitty pieces were---not wasting ANY fabric when a worn out clothing item was---too worn to be used any longer---instead of cutting out what large pieces could be salvaged they used every itty bitty piece- if they could only get 1 more inch from that sleeve-they did not throw away the inch- they used it--
they were anything but wasteful...nothing was wasted- every piece was used- the larger pieces were at times given to the young girls learning to sew- other times the little pieces were given-
our family started (and is still) in cold climates- and yes- when warmth was needed they used as large of pieces as they could and got the utilitarian quilts done as quickly as need dictated- but they saved every little piece- and used them as they went along too.....
maybe sometime way back---victorian days or something some wasted fabric---but i doubt it- they were not taught to just throw stuff away -- like those of us now living in such a wasteful disposable society...they figured out ways to use everything.