I didn't take Home Ec either but I already knew how to cook & sew. I guess I'm a pack rat like my 84 year old daddy. He saves lots of stuff. He & mom taught me to be frugal. I can usually find some use for anything. I save those gallon ice cream tubs to stand my embroidery stablizer in when I'm working on stuff. Can't throw a pair of jeans away. I used my DSIL's old navy blue uniform shirts in a quilt They were 100% cotton & made some nice pieces. Didn't grow up poor but wasn't rich either. Mom was always telling us stories about WW II & how you had to save stuff & grease. She said in school they use to knit squares for blankets for the soldiers. They called it Knittin for Britian. Kids today don't know what it is like to have to do without. Granted there are some but most are pretty well off. I hope the day doesn't come where we are rationed again.