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Darli 07-04-2010 10:53 AM

WOW! The find of feed sacks motivated me to join this forum.
Growing up, my sister and I had many dresses home sewn by our Mother.Sometime after our first years of wearing feedsack clothing, Mom went to work at Bemis Brothers Bag factory in St. Louis.( We lived just across the Mississippi River in rural St. Clair/Monroe counties in Illinois.)As time evolved I married and made my own two daughters and son clothing from feedsacks.Through Moms employment at Bemis I had a good source of bag 'seconds' for turning into clothing for all of us.(Also called flour sacks,as it was not uncommon for flour to come in 100# sacks in the days of big families.We had a family of eight and lived in the country--it was not as convenient to get to town as it is today!I am a thrift store shopper and would love to find a treasure as you did.Not sure about the holes, that is a new on for me. Thanks for the memories!

annieshane 07-04-2010 11:03 AM

You could also buy hog feed and other items in printed sacks. Some even had border prints that folks used for pillow cases. My father had a country store after he retired from the army. The farmers' wives would come by and tell Dad the fabrics they wanted. Daddy would pick those feeds in the desired fabrics from the stock on the truck when it came by the store.

I actually made a pink/white stripe summer suit from feed sacks. People thought I had bought the suit at the store. Some of the quality was quite good.

You have a sensational find in all your fabrics. The feed sacks are selling at very good prices. My sister in law has an internet business and sells the sacks all over the world.

Regarding the holes, I have never seen them close up because the bags were sewn with large thread chain stitch. You could just cut the thread at the beginning of the line at the top of the sack and pull the chain stitch out of the fabric.

Granny B 07-04-2010 11:22 AM

The feedbags are stitched with a heavy thread. The holes disappear after washing. I grew up in feed-sack clothes, kitchen towels pillow cases, etc. That's an unreal good deal that you found.

squeakie 07-04-2010 11:39 AM

oh i am so jealous, i can never find them!! enjoy them...

quilting librarian 07-04-2010 12:38 PM


Originally Posted by Darli
WOW! The find of feed sacks motivated me to join this forum.
Growing up, my sister and I had many dresses home sewn by our Mother.Sometime after our first years of wearing feedsack clothing, Mom went to work at Bemis Brothers Bag factory in St. Louis.( We lived just across the Mississippi River in rural St. Clair/Monroe counties in Illinois.)As time evolved I married and made my own two daughters and son clothing from feedsacks.Through Moms employment at Bemis I had a good source of bag 'seconds' for turning into clothing for all of us.(Also called flour sacks,as it was not uncommon for flour to come in 100# sacks in the days of big families.We had a family of eight and lived in the country--it was not as convenient to get to town as it is today!I am a thrift store shopper and would love to find a treasure as you did.Not sure about the holes, that is a new on for me. Thanks for the memories!

Welcome to the Quilting Board and thanks for sharing your story!

PJO 07-04-2010 12:46 PM

What a wonderful find!

QuiltMania 07-04-2010 12:57 PM


Originally Posted by BellaBoo
The holes are from the thick string that held the sack closed. My grandmother use to save the string.

My MIL gave me a crocheted bedspread made out of the string from the feedsacks. Someone had saved it, knotted all the little pieces together and made this beautiful bedspread. It needs a lot of repair but its beautiful.

quilt3311 07-04-2010 12:58 PM

Those are feed sacks. You have a fantastic find there. Rarely get to our thrift shop when they have fabric.

ByThePiece 07-04-2010 01:31 PM


Originally Posted by Halo
I still get my flour in the flour sacks & when I have enough built up I plan on making a quilt out of nothing but the flour sacks. I make sure I get a different color pattern each time I buy my flour. I am getting close to having enough for a quilt.
You are very lucky to get a hold of the feeds sack fabric.

Okay, Halo, we want to know where you are getting your sacks. Our flour comes in Paper!

sheilajstewart 07-04-2010 01:57 PM

Way to go Girl. I have six feed sacks that have been washed and they do not have holes in them. I did not see them before washing as my little old neighbour gave them to me.Hope that helps.


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