Years ago when the paper was left in the quilt, those quilts were not washed frequently, if ever, so that paper remained pretty much intact, and also that was used as a kind of insulation against cold, or just because there was nothing else available. At least that is what I have read.......now however, with hot water, agitating, spinning, machine drying, I don't think that paper would hold up very well....and the crunching is not something we would be willing to put up with.... Jmho