THE HISTORY OF FEEDSACK FABRICS

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

The feedsack story starts in the early 1800's, when goods such as food staples, grain, seed, and animal feed were packed for transportation and storage in tins, boxes, and wooden barrels. This was not an ideal method of storage as tin would rust and the hand made boxes and barrels leaked and were damaged easily. They were bulky, heavy and difficult to transport. Manufacturers were anxious to find another method, but didn’t consider the cloth bags of homespun linen used by the farmer to store goods for use in the home because the hand sewn seams wouldn’t hold up in heavy use. This changed in 1846 with the invention of the stitching machine, which made it possible to sew double locking seams strong enough to hold the contents of a bag.

Feedbacks were initially made of heavy canvas, and were used to obtain flour, sugar, meal, grain, salt and feed from the mills. They were reusable, with the farmer bringing an empty sack stamped with his mark or brand to the mill to be filled. This changed when the North East mills began weaving inexpensive cotton fabric in the late 1800's. Feedsacks, or feedbags as they were known then, were initially printed on plain white cloth and in sizes that corresponded to barrel sizes. For example, a one barrel bag held 196 pounds of flour. A 1/8 barrel bag only held 24 pounds. The brand name of the flour was simply printed on the side of the bag.

FARM WIVES DISCOVER FEEDSACKS

The thrifty farm wife quickly discovered that this cotton bag was a great source of utilitarian fabric to be used for dish cloths, diapers, nightgowns and other household uses. Manufacturers decided to take advantage of this and started offering sacks in various prints and solid colors as a marketing ploy to create loyalty. It would take three identical sacks to make a dress, for example, and the farmer just might be induced to buy more that way.

It was not hard for the farmer to purchase his goods in feedsacks. The flour industry consumed the largest share of the feedsack market with more than 42 percent. Sugar was next with 17 percent followed by feed, seeds, rice, and fertilizer. These feedsacks came in different sizes, and the quality of the cloth varied with the item it carried. Sugar sacks, for example, were much finer in weave. By 1914, sacks came in 10, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 pound sizes, although
these sizes varied by manufacturer. President Roosevelt standardized sizes in 1937. A 50 pound feedsack measured 34 x 38 inches. A 100 pound sack measured 39 x 46.

THE FEEDSACK CRAZE TAKES OFF

Magazines and pattern companies began to take notice of feedsack popularity and published patterns to take advantage of the feedsack prints. Matching fabric and even matching wrapping paper was available, too.  Directions were given for using the strings from feedsacks in knitting and crocheting. A 1942 estimate showed that three million women and children of all income levels were wearing print feedbag garments.

Feedsacks were used to make: clothes,  toys,  underwear,  aprons, pillowcases,  diapers,  laundry bags,  curtains,  table cloths,  towels and dish cloths.   

Manufacturers began to compete with each other to provide attractive, useful bags. Some bags came ready for sewing with pre- printed patterns for dolls or aprons. Others were specifically printed for pillow cases or  curtains. Some sacks were printed as a series such as the 1935 Sea Island sugar doll series.

Many sacks had themes. Some of the more collectible sacks now are those with Walt Disney themes  such as Davy Crockett, Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland; movie themes such as Gone With the Wind;  comic book themes such as Buck Rogers; and nursery rhyme themes such as  Little BoPeep and  Humpty Dumpty.

By1941 there were 31 textile mills that manufactured bag goods.

THE FALL OF THE FEEDSACK

After WWII, technological innovations provided more sanitary and effective packaging made of heavy paper and plastic containers. It was cost effective, too. A cotton bag cost 32 cents to make, as opposed to 10 cents for the paper bag. By 1948 this new industry cornered more than half of the bag market and the cloth bag fell out of use, but not entirely.  

FEEDSACKS TODAY

Manufacturing of bags is limited today. Cloth bags are still
used in the Midwest, and certain Amish and Mennonite communities prefer flour and feed in plain and printed bags so they can be used for tea towels and other household needs. In some sections of the South some companies still distribute feed in textile bags.  Souvenir bags can be found in some tourist areas which have restored gristmills.  Some companies still make feedsack bags for special orders.

Vintage feedsacks may be found on the internet and Ebay, in flea markets and antique stores, and at estate sales and live auctions.

SELECTING FEEDSACKS

Ideally, bags should be in excellent condition, with no stains, holes, rust, mildew, tears or frays.  The more flaws it has, the less it's worth.  Check for spots and discolorations by holding the feedsack up to the light.

Look for visible stitching holes around the top edge of the fabric where the  bag was once sewn together.  This is often a good clue in discerning if the piece is a genuine feedsack.

ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS

If purchasing feedsacks with advertising on them, don't wash them, as the colors  will bleed and run.

As with any collectible, buy what you like, not just what is available.

Read good reference books on feedsacks and articles in quilting magazines about this subject.  Become familiar with popular styles and color trends for the different time periods.  The more knowledgeable you become, the more it will  benefit you when you are buying, collecting or selling your feedsacks.

I hope this guide on feedsack fabrics has been helpful to you.  If you feel it has, please be sure to vote yes on this guide.

HAPPY COLLECTING!!!