I have several quilts made with cotton out of bolls that were picked and cleaned by hand. After seeds are pulled out, the cotton fibers are carded with paddles that have metal teeth. You'd rub the two paddles together with the cotton between them. The cotton then could be put into quilts. This is how my grandmother's age group probably made their quilts. I am 75 years old and I have actually seen them doing this. Aren't we lucky that we can go to the store or order batting now?