I got this from a friend, and thought I'd share here. It's an article from Good Housekeeping originally printed April 17, 1886. One of the funny comments in the article is: "... the old custom of piecing quilts is becoming somewhat obsolete, and with the decline of the quilt piecing comes, of course, the decline of quilting parties. But there are still, in rural districts, some thrifty and very economical old and middle aged ladies who are zealous in the patchwork cause.".
Keep in mind the year this was written. By the way, the article was written by a man, of course. A clueless one.
The Happy Treadler
(who is not old and middle-aged, but would agree is thrifty)