In our little town, we had an independent fabric store that sold all kinds of fabric. I didn't quilt then, but did sew a lot of my own clothes, including all my prom dresses. I spent a lot of pleasurable after-school time in there picking out chiffon, sequins, feather boas, satin, velvet, lace, for several years of formal dresses. My formals were always one-of-a-kind, you can be sure. I know they had quilting goods there, too, as I used calicos and prints for some of my dresses. This was in the mid 60s. And yes, the formaldehyde smell was overpowering. I think when the two elderly ladies who ran it passed away, it closed down.