Printed feedsacks were popular from the 1920's through the 1950's era. This guide is not intended to give the history of the feedsack, rather offer a visual aid pointing out the main characteristics of feedsacks. If you have a piece of fabric, and think it may be a feedsack, this guide should help. Guides are limited to 10 pictures, so if you want to see more photos, I need to add another guide!

The type of feedsack pictured below was created for the housewife to make into pillowcases. The printing is only on the border. The balance of the piece is white cotton. This type of feedsack was made in many styles and colors, mostly in floral patterns. This style is fairly common and many can be found.

This style is a called a cheater feedsack. It was printed  to appear to be constructed of many pieces of fabric.

Feedsacks were printed in a phethora of styles. Here are a few examples of pieces we have sold in the past.

An intact feedsack is easy to identify by the fabric, and the heavy cotton chainstitched seam on one side as seen below.

An opened feedsack will always have the telltale pin holes from the chainstitched seam (unless the piece is cut down from the original size). Housewives were know to reuse the thread for crafts. The photo below demonstrates the pinholes. The seam holes will always be near the edge, 1/4 to 1/2 inch in from the edge of the fabric. There will be one seam on one side only.

Sometimes the pieces will have tracking from equipment errors during processing as seen below.

We have enlarged the photo below to show the most common weave of a feedsack. The plain weave fabric has a heavy denier yarn. It feels coarser than woven cottons of today.

Some feedsacks are made from fine percale, as they held flour, salt, etch and needed fine weaving to keep the product from sifting through. I personally do not see many of these intact. This type has a smooth crisp feel, made of fine denier cotton yarns.

Other key elements:

Feedsacks are only printed on one side.

The most common size found will measure 36" wide and 42 to 44" long.

Feedsacks are printed in vibrant colors that remain true after repeated washings.

Please let me know if this guide is helpful or if you wish for any additional information or topics.

Thanks!