When I was growing up in the 50's and 60's, nothing went to waste. Old shirts had the buttons cut off for the button box then cut into squares for quilts. The little pieces that were left over were sewn end to end and my mom crocheted them into rugs. Old coats were taken apart and the best parts used for new coats and snowpants for little ones. The scraps were made into hot pads for the kitchen. My mom never threw anything away that might, by any stretch of the imagination, be useful. My sister and I can attest to that after cleaning out her house when she passed. But that's how people were who grew up during the depression were and are. In so many ways we would be better off being more like them. I will use every square inch I can, but I really don't want to give up fabric shopping!