Why is it when we quilt, we call it fabric and when we sew, we call it material?

I do/did.

Fabric sounds more sophisticated. And, everyone knows we are a classy bunch of ladies (and some gentlemen).

That brought a smile to my face. Thanks

I've wondered that, too. I've stopped and corrected myself a lot.

I DON'T KNOW! That is ture.

If you go to a store and ask for the material section, they look dumbfounded...if you ask for the fabric section, they give you directions.

I think now days there are so many different materials that are not fabric related. We have to be specific and say fabric. Lol :)

I always thought it was an age thing...My 83 year old mother always says material. Most of my "younger" friends say Fabric....

I never thought about it!

Fabric is only one kind of material. There is also wood, brick, insulation. Those are all material (for building-- can you tell I am married to a former contractor?) There is also landscaping material, roofing material, get it? Material is what you use to do a job, but it's not always fabric. Fabric, however, always means fabric. I never ask for material, as it's too general a term. If I mean fabric, I say fabric.

My MIL asked my husband to pick up something from the dry goods section of a store and he didn't know what she was talking about. That goes back even farther than material/fabric!

ditto that big time.

Material sounds like a thing and fabric sounds like something that is rich and inviting that makes you want to make something out of it :)

I guess I call it fabric because I go to the Fabric Shop, not the Material Shop!!

Very good explanation!!!

I used to say material but changed to fabric just because it's quicker & I always have alot to say about fabric......

Oh, Lord, my ex used to say, " did you buy more cloth today/what cloth are you using in that quilt?" Like nails on a blackboard to me!!

FABRIC for Pete's sake.....never *could* get that through to him, poor guy. :lol:

Jan in VA

I like that....me too.

Well, I will say I used to call it DRY GOODS DEPARTMENT. That was back in the days of T.G.&Y. and wooden floors in the store.

My mom calls it "goods". I always have to stop for a second and try to figure out what she means.

I call it both and try to convince my husband that I need this FABRIC since I only have MATERIAL at home, and vice versa. :mrgreen:

Does it work? LOL. I also have a daughter that calls fabric cloth.

I think the answer lies in how old one is & the local custom where we live.

i call it fabric my dh calls it material

I work for an auction company and when we write up an ad the other girls in the office don't sew AT ALL so they say material and I proof read and change it to fabric. My husband is a carpenter and he uses materials. So funny

Or maybe we could just call it CLOTH.

I'd rather be know as a "Fabric Girl" than a "Material Girl" :lol:

you say poTAYto, I say poTAHto - same difference

my mother always refered to fabric/material as cloth

My mother always called it "yard goods", not fabric or material.

times change, when I started piecing, it was called material,now the correct term seems to be fabric so I changed with the times, just because I am 78 doesnt mean I cant change or learn.lol

My mother always called it "yard goods, not fabric or material.

I like Kathy's reply.

quilters don't have time for LONG words! -FABRIC is shorter! LOL!!

Lol, I've said all three, fabric, material, and cloth. Its kinda like pop, soda, cola, and coke.

When I was young everyone bo't material. Not that I am old we buy fabric.

Growing up, my mom and I called it material.

that is great! may have to switch over!!!

I don't want to be a "material girl," so i use fabric.