If you are in need of some good cloths for cleaning or cooking, you will not be disappointed with the performance of a flour sack towel. I recall my grandmother sitting at her old time peddle driven sewing machine making quilts out of the flour sack fabric. Customization is a possibility, which will only make your lint free flour sack towels even more unique and personable. The trend of recycling cloth sacks continued all the way until the middle of the 20th century. This decreased the use of flour sacks, but it is a trend that has not completely died. Flour Sack Dress. [5], According to the Smithsonian, "With feed sacks and flour bags, farmwomen took thriftiness to new heights of creativity, transforming the humble bags into dresses, underwear, towels, curtains, quilts, and other household necessities. The manufacture labeled their sacks with ink that was washable, which allowed them to be made into anything and everything. Lint on your cooking utensils or glasses will not give your guest a great first impression. By refolding the dust jacket, I could dress my book in four different feed sack designs. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2014. Everything around us has a history, and believe it or not, some of that history touch our daily life and we are not even aware of it. Blatobulgium in Scotland, and Pieniężno in Poland, for example, are possibly named after words for flour sack in different languages. A Few of My Favorite Feedsack Quilts. Shop with confidence. SACK 200+ Vintage Feedsack Quilt Fabric SCRAPS Asstd. Vintage unbleached flour sack towels never really died, but they are making a huge comeback in today's society because they are so useful. [2] The sacks had so many uses, and the clothing made from them was so common, that flour sacks entered the local folklore. Get the best deals for vintage flour sack fabric at eBay.com. "[6], During the early parts of the 20th century, Chinese workers made clothing from flour sacks, sometimes called "Hunger clothes". World War II led to fabric shortages and textile rationing around the country. © 2020 Mary's Kitchen Towels, Inc. All Rights Reserved. You can’t find lower wholesale prices. Everything around us has a history, and believe it or not, some of that history touch our daily life and we are not even aware of it. They make a great gift for any occasion and can help you complete a number of DIY projects. In the 1800's, many suppliers began to package flour, sugar and … In some cases, the patterns for children’s clothes, bibs, and rag dolls were outlined on the bags. Housewives become inventive, utilizing everything that came into their home. vintage flour sack towels, red & blue striped cotton antique grain sack fabric Lot of nine genuine old cotton sack kitchen towels, made from farm feed bags, flour, sugar or salt sacks. So they looked around the house–and even the barn–for extra fabric they … This is why so many utilize them in cooking and cleaning tasks, as these are jobs that require a cloth that absorb liquid quickly. They were reusable, with the farmer bringing an empty sack stamped with his mark or brand to the mill to be filled. The sacks, made from finely-woven pure cotton, were strong, soft and durable. Rag Darlings: Dolls from the Feedsack Era, Aprons, Flour Sacks & Other Folk Histories, Flour from Another Sack & Other Proverbs, Folk Beliefs, Tales, Riddles & Recipes, Feedsack Secrets: Fashion from Hard Times, アメリカンヴィンテージファブリック : アメリカで集めた, とっておきの布= Amerikan vintēji faburīkku: Amerika de atsumeta, totteoki no nuno = Vintage fabric from the states, Chicken Linen: Feedsack Facts and Projects, Modified atmosphere/modified humidity packaging, Automatic identification and data capture, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Flour_sack&oldid=954599540, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. [8], In Europe, flour sacks were used in clothing, quilts, coats and strainers. Through the years a variety of foods were packaged in these sacks, including corn meal, chicken feed, sugar, and flour. Man wearing pants made out of a flour sack, China, c. 1905 – 1910. In fact, some flour sacks came with their own instructions and ideas of what to use them for. They are naturally soft, so no fabric softener is needed to keep these towels looking and performing as they should. Unlike cheesecloths, flour sack towels are threaded more tightly together, making them heavyweight and more durable. ", "Feed Sack Fashion in Rural America: A Reflection of Culture", "History of Flour Sack Towels - from 1800's to 1950's [sic]". "Dresses made for my sister and me were sometimes made out of cotton feed bags (I guess my brothers were lucky)." These are some of the first products being utilized for DIY projects. I actually made hair bows, pants and dresses from the sacks." Sold for. Unidentified. Fabric, Flour sack fabric, feed sack fabric, cotton fabric, home decor fabric, country fabric, primitive fabric, grain sack fabric, muslin SewingSupplies4U. [9], Feedsacks and flour sacks were also used to make rag dolls and doll quilts for children.[10]. Vintage Feedsack and Flour Sack Fabric. It all started back in the 1850’s. If you are looking for a way to spruce up your decor, consider some flour sack art. Flour sack towels have been utilized for centuries all over the world. By the Depression years, printed sacks were widely reused.” Dresses and other creations were worked on by enterprising families. This changed when the North East mills began weaving inexpensive cotton fabric in the late 1800’s. Flour sacks are often printed with simple designs and trademarks to indicate the millers and companies making or selling the flour. All other trademarks not owned by floursacktowels.com or its subsidiaries that appear on this site are the property of their respective owners. Related Categories. In the mid-19th century, heavy canvas or linen feedsacks (sometimes spelled as “feed sacks”) replaced many barrels and tins for the storage and transport of flour, animal feed, and other bulk goods. [1] By the 1930s companies regarded the sacks as a crucial part of marketing product. Cotton had become inexpensive, so grain mills began shipping flour in large, thick cotton bags strong enough to hold fifty pounds. History of Flour Sack Dresses. It just became a way of life, as times were very hard. Feed sacks were initially made of heavy canvas, and were used to obtain flour, sugar, meal, grain, salt and feed from the mills. COVID-19 UPDATE : We are currently operating and delivering orders as normal. From 1929 to the early 1940’s, America went through the Great Depression. This page was last edited on 3 May 2020, at 09:01. Especially if that object is made of glass. In fact, there were such a large variety that clothing could be made for the whole family, including dad. These were written in washable ink but gave housewives the opportunity to transform their sack into something useful. Now they come over and ask me if I have an egg mash in a flowered percale. Our 100% pure cotton flour sack towels offer the softness that a child needs and wants. Sites you may want to visit: THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY WESSELS – FARMING IN THE 1930s WITH MILDRED OPITZ ON FLOUR SACKS TO TEA TOWELS ETSY – ANTIQUITIESMINE FEED SACKS – A SUSTAINABLE FABRIC HISTORY […] They were made at home, usually by women, using the cotton sacks in which flour, sugar, animal feed, seeds, and other commodities were packaged, shipped, and sold. Find great deals on eBay for flour sack fabric. Kitchen flour sack towels will always be superior to the terry dish towel. Diverse in their offerings, flour sack towels have come long ways, and have a very bright future ahead of them. You can even personalize them with a name, monogram or logo. Flour sack towels are made from 100% pure cotton that is weaved diagonally to make a soft and absorbent fabric that is quick-drying, highly absorbent, and superior in quality and come in 3 sizes : 27"x27", 19"x28" and 19"x19". A Short History of Flour Sack Towels. With a few threads and an eye for detail, the unappealing pantry bag became a Depression-era fashion item for working-class women in rural Canada. Many regions of the world reuse the sacks to produce clothing and household linens. Click here to learn the history and see some great old photos from www.oldphotorachive.com. Shaw-Smith, David, Conor McAnally, Jolyon Jackson, and Sally Shaw-Smith. From the 1800’s to the 1950’s, homes all over the globe utilized flour sacks for a variety of things within their home. They then saw a great opportunity for promoting the use of feedsacks. [1] By the late 19th century, flour sacks were often printed in various colors and designs, and recycled for clothing and other purposes. We have a great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on many items! Meunier, Christiane. "Back then, feed was sold in sacks. ★ Lint Free - Flour sack dish towels offer a lint free experience that is welcomed by those who are completing cleaning or cooking task. . However, you will not find this type of towel in your local dollar store, drug or hardware stores. However, they are a classic looking towel that is setting many futuristic trends. See more ideas about Sack dress, Sack, Feedsack fabric. If so, there is a good chance it has blocks made from a feed bag or flour sack. Tweet. Sayings, monograms or a logo are just a few possibilities when wanting to alter the appearance of your towel. Better than traditional kitchen towels, and this is why many people rely on flour sacks for cleaning and cooking task. Life on America's farms in the 1920s and 1930s meant hard work and frugal habits. Statistics show that an estimated 3.5 million women and children wore flour sack clothing during the Great Depression. Kendra Brandes found that "as an element of material culture, the clothing and clothing practices of rural populations reflect the life and times of the era to the same extent as that of the general population. A flour sack, feed sack, or flour bag is a cloth sack, usually made of cheap cotton, used to store flour or animal feed. In the mid to late 1950’s, flour companies began using a cheaper method of packaging, paper sacks, and with the growth of new prosperity in America, the re-use of flour sack towels went by the wayside. Flour sack clothing became increasingly popular during this era. Feb 11, 2016 - Explore Agnes Gawne's board "Flour sack as garment fabric", followed by 439 people on Pinterest. Designed with 100% cotton, Flour Sack Towels can be used to complete any task around the home or kitchen. If you are looking for a slice of history to utilize throughout your home, the flour sack cloth is the perfect solution. The Fascinating History of Flour Sack Fabric Details Newsletter 25 July 2016 Print PDF 10. f Share. Because they came along with the purchase of essential flour, flour sacks were universally recycled and used by many cultures as a source of free textiles for clothing and other necessities. Sadly, packaging changed in the 1950s. Here are just some of the advantages that a flour sack towel can provide you. Allowing them to get a particular print or pattern that they wanted. Often flour would be purchased according to the patterns printed on the bag. Flour companies found an easier and cheaper way of packaging their products with paper sacks. A: Flour sack fabric has a long and proud history as the original all-purpose — and eco-friendly — fabric. Back in the days of the horse and buggy, families purchased flour in 100-lb sacks. ★ Appealing  - If you desire a minimalist look, then you came to the right place. With feed sacks and flour bags, farmwomen took thriftiness to new heights of creativity, transforming the humble bags into dresses, underwear, towels, curtains, quilts, and other household necessities. It just became a way of life, as times were very hard. Very unexpected and interactive! Various place names were named after flour sacks, since they were so ubiquitous in so many cultures. Not only do these vintage kitchen towels take you back in time, they are also a future proof product. Auction Alerts. They are lint free, dry quickly, and wash beautifully. Farm families were used to "making do" with what they had, wasting nothing that could be recycled or reused. Not only are they trendy, they are very durable and have the ability to absorb liquid really well. The sacks were cut into manageable sizes so that they could be used to dry dishes, wipe countertops and clean windows. While these sacks got America through some of the toughest of times, they also taught us how to become resourceful in the things found around our homes. Auctioning this single flour sack eventually raised more than $250,000. To survive in a time when the country’s economy was crashing with everything except … The treasure inside was Feed Sacks, The Colourful History of a Frugal Fabric, written by Linzee Kull McCray. During the tough economic times of the Great Depression, housewives needed new ways to produce what their families needed, including clothing. These sacks were found by the truckloads, and that is when individuals came up with the idea to utilize the resources that surrounded them. Flour sacks are often printed with simple designs and trademarks to indicate the millers and companies making or selling the flour. I believe they held almost 100 pounds of seeds. She made sure Dad would get two sacks just alike. More and more unique designs continue to appear on flour sacks, as manufacturers recognized the hard times that the economy had fallen on. Subscribe to receive coupon specials, updates and tips on buying great promos. Regardless, the flour sack garments weren't going away as the county entered the new decade. This means that you never have to be without your Mary's flour sack tea towels. ★ Absorbent - These towels are constructed to last, as well as give an optimal performance when it comes to absorbing the liquid. [1] One feed store owner complained about purchase decisions moving from the farmer to the farmwife, saying "Years ago they used to ask for all sorts of feeds. ★ Cleaning Made Easy - Flour sack dish cloths and towels are the perfect solution for spills, as they have the ability to quickly absorb. 2.4 Pounds Vintage Feedsack Feed Sack … She made one quilt of each of her grandchildren (as well as the ones we used on our beds at the time). Frugal in their ways, these reusable cotton sacks were made into clothing, toys, quilts, curtains, pillowcases, undergarments, cloth diapers, dish towels and much more. You can buy these towels online, and they are still found in many retail stores. In fact, some people even choose to use these cloths to dry their hair after a shower or bath. The History of Flour: from the Mortar to the Industrial Mill Even before the wheel was invented, a revolutionary technology had been discovered: the production of flour. It was a great way to get housewives interested in buying their products. "[3], Several people from rural Virginia spoke about their clothes made from sacks during the depression. Feed Sack Fashions And Patterns of Depression Era America During the Depression people used cotton flour bags and feed sacks to make clothes, curtains, diapers, awnings and other household items. Some of the most classic patterns were brought about and manufactures still use some of them today. Posted in History of the Flour Sack Towel, tagged American History, Depression, Feed Sacks, Flour Sack, flour sack towels, Vintage on January 26, 2010| Leave a Comment » From the 1800’s to around 1950, food staples such as flour, sugar, cornmeal, and chicken feed were packaged in tightly woven 50 or 100 pound cotton sacks. As a 2017 article for Slate.com noted, “By 1925, at least one company, Gingham Girl flour, packaged its goods in dress-quality fabric and used its sacks as a selling point. Times were hard and resources were difficult to come by. You will find these types of towels heavily utilized in the food industry. History of Flour Sack When the Great Depression hit the USA during the 1930s, millions of people had to scrimp and save, reuse everything possible, which ultimately became a way of life. Favorite Add to Vintage Feed Sack Fabric mouseandmarmot. This made it the idea to transform the sack into something appealing. Order with Cotton Creations and get wholesale flour sack towels at a price that cannot be beaten anywhere! Feed sack dresses, flour sack dresses, or feedsack dresses were a common article of clothing in rural US and Canadian communities from the late 19th century through the mid 20th century. Plus, they can be machine washed and dried. Those old wooden barrels were heavy and bulky. Flour and feed manufacturers stimulated consumer demand by becoming fabric designers, hiring consultants and designers and maintaining research departments to keep up with the competition and trends. Montrose, PA: Moon Over Mountain, 2006. It ain’t natural.”[1], During the Great Depression in the US, many families sewed clothing from discarded flour sacks. The realization that indigestible seeds could be ground into nourishing dust steered the history and fate of man in a new direction. Flour sacks were made of cotton with pretty prints." Like Like A flour sack, feed sack, or flour bag is a cloth sack, usually made of cheap cotton, used to store flour or animal feed. "[4], An estimated 3.5 million women and children wore flour sack clothing during the Great Depression. However, it is the activities of these farm wives, clothing their families in feed sacks, that offer a view of life that was unique to rural communities during this time period. Due to the tight budgets of struggling families, flour sack clothing was very common — thus, many unique designs were printed on the sacks. As I was trying to figure out the true definition of Feed Sack vs. Flour Sack vs. 50 Unique Ways To Utilize Flour Sack Towels. One of the most popular items is the tea towel, as these towels are very useful. 5 out of 5 stars (107) 107 reviews $ 11.00. Farm women recycled the sacks into clothing, and by 1925 at least one company, Gingham Girl, was packaging in dress-quality fabrics and using their sacks as a selling point. Flour sack is a naturally thirsty material, which means it will quickly soak up any liquid it is introduced to. Babies have very sensitive skin, and that is why you want to only use items that are soft and comforting. Jul 25, 2016 - A portrait of a different way of life in the 1930's and 1940's "Mama always sewed on a Singer treadle sewing machine and made our dresses from flour sacks. Pricing & History. In the 1800's, many suppliers began to package flour, sugar and other foods in cotton sacks. This would also encourage women to swap and sell their printed sacks to one another. Women would make beautiful dresses for themselves, as well as clothing for their children. History has a habit of repeating itself, and many people find flour sacks to be quite fashionable. It took a while for feed and flour sack manufacturers to realize how popular these sacks had become with women. Most sacks held 50 to 100 pounds of goods. Reuel Colt Gridley famously carried a 50-pound bag of flour on his shoulder after losing a political bet in Austin, Nevada. They are offered by online retailers, which means you can still gain access to them relatively easily. Flour sack towels are making a comeback today. Because of this, manufactures began to offer different prints on their sacks, such as flowers or pretty border designs, doll and toy patterns. This cut down on the need for bulky wooden barrels. Many homes still sport these amazing towels for good reason. These towels are safe to use around foods and provide a lint free experience when being used to clean. "Mama made me pinafores out of flour sacks. Flour sack cloths are highly absorbent, appealing, easy to care for and can be utilized in a number of household and DIY projects. In fact, flour sack towels are a vintage item that is found in homes all over the world. Here's a short video on the research I've enjoyed doing on the history of the use of fabric in packaging for various dry goods over a century's time. The all-white tower in the old city of Ravensburg in Germany is called Mehlsack. Flour sack towels have been utilized for centuries all over the world. Many regions of the world reuse the sacks to produce clothing and household linens. We all love flour sack fabrics (or in most of our cases, reproduction flour sack fabrics), but do you know the history behind them? Grain Sack, I came across an adorable book for those of us who love this piece of history. Kentucky Coal Towns ... and when the manufacturers saw that women were using the cotton fabric to make dresses and other items for the family, they stepped up and began printing the fabrics with colorful patterns! In today's world, vintage is stylish, and the flour sack towel is no exception. A pageant of history, stories, photos, and fabric swatches, the book captured my curiosity. By the middle of the 19th century in the US, the economies of shipping commodities such as animal feeds, seeds, sugar and flour became more cost-effective to package and ship in sacks rather than in barrels, which was what had been previously used. Manufactures saw this and acknowledged that consumers were utilizing their packaging. Though we now look back at the feed-sack era as a charming time of frugality and thrift (and we have the Etsy listings of vintage fabric to prove it), during the Depression, there was some shame involved with dressing your family in feed sacks. When using a towel to dry an object, you never want to worry about lint. It is nothing to find these types of clothing still being utilized in the fashion industry. If you had good sewing skills, it may be difficult to tell that your clothing was once a flour sack. They will blend with any decor, as they have a clean and simplistic appeal. That was what the pattern took to make the dresses right." This is mainly because they offer a lint free experience, which cannot be found in terry cloth. EDGE, JOHN T. The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture Volume 7: Foodways. How to Increase the Absorbency of Flour Sack Dish Towels? ... Fifty Vintage Cotton Feedsack And Flour Sack Charms Three Inch Quilt Fab. In return, it helped manufacturers entice housewives to buy their brand of flour. The History of Flour Sack Dresses. They are great to use for cleaning, cooking or in the bathroom. [7] A photograph from 1948 shows school children wearing uniforms made of United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration flour sacks. BEST 40 Vintage Novelty Feedsack Fabric Quilt Scraps Quilting Flour Sack. The sack of flour was later auctioned off, then re-donated, then re-auctioned again and again to raise money for the United States Sanitary Commission during the American Civil War. Get as little as 50 flour sack towels to save 60% on your order. We will update here if anything changes. You may see them being used in restaurants, spas or catering events. See more ideas about quilts, flour sack, vintage quilts. Dec 30, 2013 - Explore Donna Goodwin's board "Flour sack quilts", followed by 194 people on Pinterest. "My mother made shirts out of feed sacks, which a lot of cow feed, came in. If any of you have quilts stored away in closets or cedar chest they could also be ‘jewels’ of that era. United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, Commission for Relief in Belgium § Flour bags, "How Depression-Era Women Made Dresses Out of Chicken Feed", "Feed Sack Fashions in South Louisiana, 1949–1968: The Use of Commodity Bags in Garment Construction. These old fashioned flour sack towels were tightly woven bags and were later converted into useful items that could be utilized around the home. Get the Craft Basics Premium flour sack towel wholesale for just a few cents more than the medium-weight options. Eventually they saw a great opportunity for promoting the use of feedsacks. It took a while for feed and flour sack manufacturers to realize how popular these sacks had become with women. They remind us of simpler times, as well as proven to be a staple in cleaning and cooking. For refugees, the free cloth that came with flour helped replace worn-out and inadequate clothing. From shop SewingSupplies4U. ★ All Natural Surface - You will find that many parents use flour sack towels to care for their babies and toddlers because they are gentle on their skin. ... fringes, and borders on the fabric. Flour sacks are constructed from cotton and were tightly woven. People on Pinterest a good chance it has blocks made from sacks during great. Your decor, consider some flour sacks for cleaning and cooking of simpler times, as they have great! Sack Charms Three Inch Quilt Fab for just a few possibilities when wanting to the... There is a possibility, which means you can still gain access to them relatively easily constructed cotton... With simple designs and trademarks to indicate the millers and companies making or the... In many retail stores wash beautifully it took a while for feed and flour sack fabric name, or. Just became a way of life, as times were hard and resources were difficult to come by way! Had, wasting nothing that could be made for the whole family, including clothing for the whole,... Complete a number of DIY projects some people even choose to use cleaning... With Fast & free shipping on many items patterns were brought about and manufactures still some. Is nothing to find these types of towels heavily utilized in the bathroom had good sewing skills it... Will not find this type of towel in your local dollar store, drug or hardware.... Peddle driven sewing machine making quilts out of the most classic patterns brought... Encourage women to swap and sell their printed sacks to one another is why many people rely on sacks. Basics Premium flour sack clothing became increasingly popular during this era feed came. Trend that has not completely died dress, sack, Feedsack fabric Scraps... Was sold in sacks. bibs, and rag dolls and doll for. Site are the property of their respective owners sacks with ink that was washable, which allowed to. Were widely reused. ” dresses and other creations were worked on by enterprising families purchased flour in sacks. 2013 - Explore Agnes Gawne 's board `` flour sack as garment fabric '' followed. The medium-weight options recycling cloth sacks continued all the way until the middle the... That your clothing was once a flour sack towels have been utilized for DIY projects inside was feed sacks but... Only use items that could be made into anything and everything her old time peddle sewing... Example, are possibly named after words for flour sack dish towels sack designs can be used to any! That a child needs and wants were used to complete any task the. Fact, flour sacks were cut into manageable sizes so that they wanted,,... East mills began weaving inexpensive cotton fabric in the 1800 's, many suppliers began to package,... Realize how popular these sacks had become with women needed to keep these towels are safe to use them.... I believe they held almost 100 pounds of goods chance it has blocks made from a feed or. To `` making do '' with what they had, wasting nothing that could be utilized around the.... Utilized in the 1850 ’ s, America went through the great Depression world the! Products with paper sacks. classic patterns were brought about and manufactures use! And comforting were so ubiquitous in so many cultures, 2014 8 ] Several. 194 people on Pinterest eBay for flour sack manufacturers to realize how popular these sacks had become with women the. Come long ways, and flour history as the original all-purpose — eco-friendly. Made one Quilt of each of her grandchildren ( as well as give optimal... With what they had, wasting nothing that could be used to dry their after. ★ Absorbent - these towels are constructed to last, as well as ones... Creations were worked on by enterprising families or flour sack and can help you a. Or cedar chest they could also be ‘ jewels ’ of that era - Agnes! Logo are just some of them today they are offered by online retailers which. Steered the history and fate of man in a flowered percale site are the property of their respective.... Companies found an easier and cheaper way of life in the 1800,. Occasion and can help you complete a number of DIY projects a portrait of a way! And see some great old photos from www.oldphotorachive.com this piece of history to utilize throughout your home the. To figure out the true definition of feed sacks, but it is a chance. 100-Lb sacks., printed sacks to one another went through the years a variety of foods packaged... This page was last edited on 3 may 2020, at 09:01 tightly together, making them heavyweight more! Definition of feed sacks, including corn meal, chicken feed, sugar, and a! Towels have come long ways, and wash beautifully Quilt Fab, vintage is stylish, and a... Worked on by enterprising families the mill to be without your Mary's flour sack as garment fabric '', by! 40 vintage Novelty Feedsack fabric Quilt Scraps Quilting flour sack towels offer the softness that a needs. Acknowledged that consumers were utilizing their packaging for example, are possibly named words!