In our school district the boys must take a 'home-ec' for 1/2 of the school year. These bags were part of the course for sewing. I remember my youngest son coming home and making them night after night for about a week. He wanted to make one for everyone in the family and beyond, also in every size he could. We used corn at that time but later switched to rice which I liked better....its been many years ago and we still have a few of them around.