At one time nearly all fabric was torn. The store would have a thing that was bolted to the edge of the counter and the fabric edge was pulled thru it and it measured and when the clerk got to the amount you wanted she pushed on it and it would cut a notch in the selvedge and then the clerk would tear it.
I even remember the sound that measuring thing made when my mom would buy fabric to make us dresses.
When did cotton become a delicate? Is it because most quilters didn't start out as clothing sewers?