Australia and New Zealand pay a premium price on fabrics also similar to the high Swedish costs. My great grandmother by marriage was born in 1868 in Italy. She made quilts all her life but out of the fabric left over from clothing.. large family not much money lived through seriously tough times.. you didn't waste a thing so they made blankets (quilts) for the family when clothing was no longer good enough to pass down. My mom made them out of flour sacks she would embroider on them then make them into table clothes and blankets.