Hoarder of Feed Sack Cloth!

I think I need a 12 step program I'm a hoarder of feedsack cloth/bags. If you have seen this cloth, or have some you may understand. I really, really want to make some quilts from this fabric, but I can't bring myself to cut it.

Feedsack cloth was produced beginning in the 1800s. The cloth comes as bags and you can still find it in tact. The bags held all sorts of consumer goods such as; sugar, salt, flour, grains, and feed for animals. They became popular to use with the advent of the sewing machine in the 1840s. The sewing machine produced a strong seam that would keep the bags from breaking at the seams as the goods were transported. Each bag is usually about a yard of fabric. After the goods in the bags were used up the consumer could either have the bag refilled or use the fabric to make clothing or quilts. Can you imagine how many farmers went looking for their bags, only to find their wives or daughters wearing or sleeping under them!


Quilts made from this fabric are so comfy and cozy. I only know this because my grandmother used feed sack cloth for her quilts and I loved sleeping under them. As the quilt ages and is washed it becomes softer and softer. There is a line of fabric out today, Aunt Grace, by Judy Rothermel for Marcus Brothers, that takes these patterns from the past and recreates them for our use today. (Since there are people like me that hoard them and you may not find them in the future) The Aunt Grace fabric patterns are generally from the 1930s and 40s. The feed sack cloth can have very subdued, pastel pattern or be very bright, bold and fun. I have about 500 bags that I've collected over the last 15 years. When I lived in Ohio I could find the bags just about everywhere and paid about $3.00 per bag. Since moving to Arizona I hardly ever find them. Recently I've seen them range from about $10 - $14 per bag.

I have this one that is very special. The pattern on the bag is Alice in Wonderland. I imagine that it is worth much more than $14. I haven't taken the time to research what these bags are really worth, especially this one. Since I want them for my own use I imagine that I won't ever entertain selling them. I can't even bring myself to cut them and make quilts --let alone sell them!

I have moved this fabric from home to home for years. You would laugh if you knew how many boxes they fill. And, I have laughed when movers have asked, "what in the world do you have in all of these boxes?"

It was a difficult decision on which pictures to show you...since they are all so beautiful and I wanted to share them all. If you ever come across any, you should grab it up and take it home immediately. But be careful...since you may become a feedsack hoarder like me.