Why is it always referred to as "fabric"? My mother always said "material". Is it old fashioned to call it material now-a-days?

my mother always called it cloth - figure it's ok however it is refered to - can still never have too much.

I think it depends on where you live. I always called it material until I started quilting then lots of people called it fabric so that's what I call it now.

Material can refer to just about anything from sheetrock to concrete. Fabric is specific.

When I was in highschool home ec. My teacher said, material was anything you used to construct with, ie. building material
lumber, nail, etc. Fabric was what you used to construct clothing, quilts, etc. My mother always said "material". I can't see that it matters. I interchange the words....just my thoughts.

A few years ago I asked my friend if she would like to go with me to a near by town for material...she being a die hard quilter thought I was going for lumber for my dh....
Imagine her surprise when she found out that we were going to a fabric sale and I had just called it material instead. I know better now....lol

we know what you mean whatever you say...and thats what counts lol

Thanks for the replies. I kinda thought it was b/c material can be anything...and I also thinks things change over time, I think more women called it material "back in the day". I'm training myself to say fabric now.

Regional differences

When I was growing up many years ago, it was material - I grew up on a farm, now it's fabric. Doesn't matter