When I began to sew garments, patterns would always list yardages required for 36", 45", sometimes 56" and 60". I have fabric from my aunt from the 1950's that is cotton and 36" wide. But does this mean that fat quarters will now regularly be 18x21? That would mess up quite a few fat quarter patterns, which have a cutting layout that utilizes almost every inch of the fabric. Another bolt reader here, so this was no surprise,but it may require pattern makers to list multiple yardage requirements.