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Feed Sacks
Consider collecting feed sacks. They’re fun to look at, frameable, and available nationwide. With or without advertising, in a wide assortment of sizes, and in good condition, prices remain under $100 and even cheaper.
Introduced in the last half of the 19th century as a replacement for barrels, their real appeal began during the Great Depression, when penny-pinching housewives realized they had a ready source of cloth for use in their homes. Diapers, panties, slips, pajamas, dresses, shirts, blouses, and skirts made out of feed-sack cotton began to appear. Homes displayed recycled curtains, tablecloths, pillowcases, tea towels, and even washcloths.
Feed-sack companies knew a great marketing opportunity when they saw one: they soon began printing sacks with quilt squares, patterns for stuffed toys, and, most important, color floral and geometric designs. The latter became so popular with housewives that they traded among themselves in order to accumulate the three 100-pound feed sacks it took to make a woman’s dress. It wasn’t unusual for a farmer to appear at the general store to buy chicken feed armed with fabric swatches to match.
The use of these sacks for secondary purposes reached its peak in the 1940s. It’s estimated that in 1942, three million American women and children were dressed in garments made from printed feed sacks. One mill was making a thousand different color designs. Critic Feeds even included a free booklet in its 100-pound bag of hog concentrate: “100 Ways to Use Feed Bags for Household Uses.” As late as 1959, the American Cotton Council created a contest to promote stitching with cotton sacks.
Variations that affect the value of a feed sack include size, date of mill operation, date of bag manufacturer’s operation, condition of printing, subject matter of the graphic, and condition.
This was an unknown treasure. There's probably a few stories you have of finding an old feedsack in your basement, or in your grandmother's attic. Let us in on your coincidental story.
Introduced in the last half of the 19th century as a replacement for barrels, their real appeal began during the Great Depression, when penny-pinching housewives realized they had a ready source of cloth for use in their homes. Diapers, panties, slips, pajamas, dresses, shirts, blouses, and skirts made out of feed-sack cotton began to appear. Homes displayed recycled curtains, tablecloths, pillowcases, tea towels, and even washcloths.
Feed-sack companies knew a great marketing opportunity when they saw one: they soon began printing sacks with quilt squares, patterns for stuffed toys, and, most important, color floral and geometric designs. The latter became so popular with housewives that they traded among themselves in order to accumulate the three 100-pound feed sacks it took to make a woman’s dress. It wasn’t unusual for a farmer to appear at the general store to buy chicken feed armed with fabric swatches to match.
The use of these sacks for secondary purposes reached its peak in the 1940s. It’s estimated that in 1942, three million American women and children were dressed in garments made from printed feed sacks. One mill was making a thousand different color designs. Critic Feeds even included a free booklet in its 100-pound bag of hog concentrate: “100 Ways to Use Feed Bags for Household Uses.” As late as 1959, the American Cotton Council created a contest to promote stitching with cotton sacks.
Variations that affect the value of a feed sack include size, date of mill operation, date of bag manufacturer’s operation, condition of printing, subject matter of the graphic, and condition.
This was an unknown treasure. There's probably a few stories you have of finding an old feedsack in your basement, or in your grandmother's attic. Let us in on your coincidental story.
Latest page update: made by kjacobso
, May 24 2007, 2:42 PM EDT
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Edited by kjacobso
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Edited by kjacobso
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- complete history)
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