Sometimes the bag was recycled from being filled with sugar, flour or grain to clothing, blankets and quilts, etc. This was during World War I when the bags were shipped to Belgium. These recycled objects were also beautifully embellished and sent back to the United States as a token of thanks and for fundraising projects.
The colors of these sacks were usually off-white, brown and perhaps a few other assorted colors. During the 1920's right on up to 1950, more then two dozen mills had produced textile bags with the fabrics that were popular with the American homemaker.
There were three cotton fabrics used for the sacks. High-count, premium quality cotton used for flour, sugar and salt to keep them from sifting out in the handling. They were the same quality that was used in cotton sheets. The print cottons had a lower thread count, and were the most popular for the use of dresses and bonnets. Now, the lowest grade, which was a low thread count, off-white cotton was called osnaberg. This grade was used for grains and seeds and often reused as feed sacks.
There were many different ways they labled the bags. One being that the band label was put around the middle and stitched into the side seams. The other was with paper labels, which was spot-pasted in the center of the bag with an easily dissolved paste. All washing instructions to remove the labels were always provided.
During the 1950's the National Cotton Council and the Textile Manufacturing Association were actively promoting feed sacks in sewing contests.
Feed sacks, as textiles are now collectibles. Printed feed sacks are highly sought out by quiltmakers globally.
Here are some categories on collectible bags:
. Bags printed with patterns for stuffed toys, such as rag dolls
. Bags printed with quilt blocks and embroidery patterns
. Convertible bags, with stitched-on ties, designed to open up into a ready-to-use garment
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