The fabrics are used throughout the world to replicate and repair quilts or create a sense of era for living history museums. Krager's selection of fabrics has been used in television shows like "Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman," and many movies. At the moment, she is working with the producers of a new movie called, "Cold Mountain," about the Civil War starring Nicole Kidman at the moment.

"We try to act real calm when these people call," Krager said as one of her employees reported a phone call from Miramax Studios. "We get 10 to 15 e-mails a day."

The messages range from college students looking for fabrics for history projects to National Park Service employees in need of costumes for historical roles.

Krager buys most of her fabrics from other companies but she also recently produced her own line of prints called "Dargate Doubles." A few years ago she purchased an authenticated 1830s book of fabric samples she said may have been owned by a fabric salesman.

"A year ago January, a gentleman called me and said, 'Would you like to reproduce some of those prints?'" Krager said. "He was the broker between me as the designer and a firm in Japan who printed them."

Just two weeks ago, Krager received the first shipment of her reproductions. Some community members are making a quilt and an 1830s-style dress from one of the prints to celebrate the new line.

"I have been very particular about getting it exact," Krager said. "The 1830s, in dresses and fabrics, it was a very romantic time."

For Krager, recreating history is all part of the fun. As a graduate student at Montana State University in the history department, she brings enthusiasm and knowledge to her work. She graduated with a degree in medical technology in 1971 and worked in that field for many years before making a switch.

"I tell people I changed needles," she said.

Most of Krager's business is conducted on-line, but she also has a brick and mortar store called Patchworks tucked next to the Bozeman Creek on East Mendenhall Street. The store will go for a week without any customers walking in, but visits from regulars like Rose Toth are always appreciated.

"I didn't actually like reproduction fabrics to begin with," Toth said. "I've been quilting for 20 years. I used to use whatever the newest stuff was coming out. I suddenly discovered reproduction fabrics. They are cozy. They remind me of my childhood more than anything that's new."

Quilters alone probably couldn't support the business, because Toth said those who use reproduction fabrics are only a subset of the quilting community. But by supplying fabrics for historical purposes, Krager has created a prosperous business niche.

"It's very important when you are trying to set a scene to have exactly the right prints," said Margaret Woods, textiles curator at the Museum of the Rockies. "In the Tinsley House, we ask the volunteers who work their to use authentic fabrics."

The Tinsley House is used by the museum to show what life was like for homesteaders on the frontier. Woods said the costumes volunteers wear are worked in and worn out. They need authentic patterns and fabrics to create the frontier feeling.

"I used to have to send away for them, but now I can get them right here in town," Woods said. "Margo is very enterprising. She is interested in fabrics and their history."