The Many Uses of Sacks

When I was growing up in the 1930’s and ’40’s sacks were very important.  As Aunt Bill mentioned, sacks were used for quilt linings and sometimes tops as well.  At our house we sewed four ( or maybe it was two) and a half fertilizer sacks together — using flatfeld seams  — and this was a bed sheet.  Just to hem a sack — usually fertilizer — and put a hook on one corner (so it could hang on a nail) made a hand towel.  Feed sacks were softer and they were preferred for such things as pillow cases, dresser scarves, etc.  To put an embroidery design on them and maybe add a crocheted edge made really pretty pillowcases and such.  To transfer the design from one tablecloth or whatever, John’s mother would put the empty sack on top of the design, and then rub her snuffbox lid on her hair and then on the design — the transfer went really well and then it was ready for the needle and embroidery thread.  Of course, things such as this were starched and ironed back then and feed sacks laundered well.

Sacks

Wearing apparel, too, was made of sacks.  Fertilizer sacks were very rough and it was best to use the softer feed sack for such things as shirts and dresses.  One fall my daddy saved enough money to BUY a new shirt and when he went to get it they ask what size to which he replied, “I don’t know the last one I had said 6-8-4 on it.”  In case you can’t connect here the 6-8-4 was the fertilizer analysis and the lettering would not wash out.  Mother always saved one certain sack for bringing meal home in.  You see, back then we took corn to the mill to have the meal ground.

It took three printed feed sacks to make an adult size dress and it was common for neighbors to swap sacks so they would have enough to make a dress.  When our eldest was three, I could get a dress for her from one sack and I still remember that rack of starched and ironed little dresses.  Then little girls dressed had sashes.

Flour sacks were softest of all and they were used for underwear.  When I was doing a quilt program in Cartersville, Georgia, a lady in the group said that on the bottom of her homemade drawers it said “Southern Best.”  Men folks wanted their underwear made from self-rising flour sacks.

Burlap sacks had their uses as well.  At the barn they were used for lots of things — feed being probably the most important.  When I was a senior in high school Mother had a lady make a pretty wool suit for me and for the interfacing in that suit she used starched burlap.  Burlap sacks could also be used for carrying a hen or chicken to the store for barter.

If you grew up in the country, no doubt you can think of other ways sacks were used — it was just plain country living.

Flour and Rice sacks