CREATIONS FROM FEED SACKS

"You wore feed sacks!" someone exclaimed when I mentioned that my first machine-sewing project was an apron made from feed sack fabric. My next was a drawstring skirt from another sack from the same fabric design.

Many of the fabrics my grandmother and aunt used for their sewing projects and for quilts during the 1940s came from feed sacks. My family bought their chicken and cattle feed in burlap and plain white sacks. So it was with fascination that I looked over the fabric from the sacks Nanny and Auntie acquired from their chicken feed.

Feed Sack Projects

I still have the drawstring skirt I made from one of these sacks for a 4-H project when I was 7-years old. It was an item I made to model in our 4-H dress review. It has a red background with small white flowers over all. For practice I'd previously stitched an apron from a feed sack.

I also have a quilt I helped my grandmother make when I was about 8-years old. It consists of a 4-patch design that we sewed together by hand. Many of the fabrics came from feed sacks. Although it's well used, I still treasure it for the memories it evokes.

Where to find Feed Sacks

My daughter and I have found these feed and flour sacks at yard sales and in antique shops. The prices generally are higher in the shops than the yard and garage sales. Sometimes if you purchase a box or batch of older fabric at an auction or estate sale, you'll discover some of this old fabric.

Also, when you go through family attics and storage areas, you may find there are feed sack fabrics there, as well as items made from these materials.

Family Recipes

PORK CHOP CASSEROLE – Place 3 lean pork chops in casserole; sprinkle over them 4 tablespoons raw rice, ½ sliced onion, salt and pepper as desired. Place 3 more lean chops over this; and sprinkle with another half an onion, salt and pepper and 1 finely chopped green pepper. Pour 1 large can stewed tomatoes over all.

Bake 1½ hour at 350 degrees F. If pork chops are not very learn, you may want to brown them lightly in a skillet first and drain off the excess fat before placing in casserole.

(c) Mary Emma Allen

(Mary Emma Allen researches and writes about family history from her New Hampshire home.)