THE FLOUR SACK

[Trip]

How well I remember those ol flour sacks, man where did time go?

 

 

 

 

Some of you are way too young to know about the FLOUR

SACKS, but some of you will remember. I hope ALL of you will enjoy

reading this very well-written article.

 

THE FLOUR SACK

 

 

IN THAT LONG AGO TIME WHEN THINGS WERE SAVED,

WHEN ROADS WERE GRAVELED AND BARRELS WERE STAVED,

WHEN WORN-OUT CLOTHING WAS USED AS RAGS,

AND THERE WERE NO PLASTIC WRAP OR BAGS,

AND THE WELL AND THE PUMP WERE WAY OUT BACK,

A VERSATILE ITEM, WAS THE FLOUR SACK.

 

PILLSBURY'S BEST, MOTHER'S AND GOLD MEDAL, TOO

STAMPED THEIR NAMES PROUDLY IN PURPLE AND BLUE.

 

THE STRING SEWN ON TOP WAS PULLED AND KEPT;

THE FLOUR EMPTIED AND SPILLS WERE SWEPT.

THE BAG WAS FOLDED AND STORED IN A SACK

THAT DURABLE, PRACTICAL FLOUR SACK.

 

THE SACK COULD BE FILLED WITH FEATHERS AND DOWN,

FOR A PILLOW, OR T'WOULD MAKE A NICE SLEEPING GOWN.

IT COULD CARRY A BOOK AND BE A SCHOOL BAG,

OR BECOME A MAIL SACK SLUNG OVER A NAG.

IT MADE A VERY CONVENIENT PACK,

THAT ADAPTABLE, COTTON FLOUR SACK.

 

BLEACHED AND SEWN, IT WAS DUTIFULLY WORN

AS BIBS, DIAPERS, OR KERCHIEF ADORNED.

IT WAS MADE INTO SKIRTS, BLOUSES AND SLIPS.

AND MOM BRAIDED RUGS FROM ONE HUNDRED STRIPS

SHE MADE RUFFLED CURTAINS FOR THE HOUSE OR SHACK,

FROM THAT HUMBLE BUT TREASURED FLOUR SACK!

 

AS A STRAINER FOR MILK OR APPLE JUICE,

TO WAVE MEN IN, IT WAS A VERY GOOD USE,

AS A SLING FOR A SPRAINED WRIST OR A BREAK,

TO HELP MOTHER ROLL UP A JELLY CAKE,

AS A WINDOW SHADE OR TO STUFF A CRACK,

WE USED A STURDY, COMMON FLOUR SACK!

 

AS DISH TOWELS, EMBROIDERED OR NOT,

THEY COVERED UP DOUGH, HELPED PASS PANS SO HOT,

TIED UP DISHES FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED,

AND FOR MEN OUT IN THE FIELD TO SEED.

THEY DRIED DISHES FROM PAN, NOT RACK

THAT ABSORBENT, HANDY FLOUR SACK!

 

WE POLISHED AND CLEANED STOVE AND TABLE,

SCOURED AND SCRUBBED FROM CELLAR TO GABLE,

WE DUSTED THE BUREAU AND OAK BED POST,

MADE COSTUMES FOR OCTOBER (A SCARY GHOST)

AND A PARACHUTE FOR A CAT NAMED JACK.

FROM THAT LOWLY, USEFUL OLD FLOUR SACK!

 

SO NOW MY FRIENDS, WHEN THEY ASK YOU

AS CURIOUS YOUNGSTERS OFTEN DO,

'BEFORE PLASTIC WRAP, ELMER'S GLUE

AND PAPER TOWELS, WHAT DID YOU DO?'

TELL THEM LOUDLY AND WITH PRIDE DON'T LACK,

'GRANDMOTHER HAD THAT WONDERFUL FLOUR SACK!'

 

[SandyinHouston]

How well I remember those ol flour sacks, man where did time go?

 

Trip, I can remember making shirts out of flour sacks in my hippy days in the 60's & 70's. Our sacks came from Mexico because they were no longer easily found in the USA. Those shirts were the most comfortable and durable clothing I've ever owned. What a treasure it would be to run across a stack of those old flour sacks in my attic!

[Annarchy]

Thanks Trip for the memory way back machine. We always had clothes made from our flour sacks.

 

 

 

[OINK]

I used to find them for a dollar at flea markets and such. They're hard to come by now. *sigh*

[Jasminegirl]

Such memories! My Mom use to make us shifts and many other uses out of them. Those were the simple days. Loved the memories Trip!

[Snowmom]

 

Oh yes, I remember having a skirt made from a colored flour sack, years and years ago.

 

I haven't seen a colored flour sack in about that long ago time either. But, you can buy flour sacks for dishtowels at Sams and most dime stores now.

 

so much for this reminder.

 

 

[SueC]

I have friends who own a health shop. They always have empty flour sacks, and I was able to obtain a dozen. I would love to get some more. Must be time I visited them.

[lovinthislife]

thank you so much for posting this. I remember the flour sacks. But when I was growing up our sacks were made of burlap. My grandma had a bunch of the old feed sacks. She used to make my mom and aunt clothes from them. When she died, I got a couple of her feed sacks. I'm making a grandmother's flower garden quilt out of them. I was able to buy some replica feed sack material to use with the originals. My son and I were staying the night with Grandma and Grandpa, I ran out of diapers and Grandma went and got me a feed sack to use. My son was crawling around with bright red lettering across his backside. It was so cute. Thanks again, Gail

[ol'momma]

Believe it or not I was able to still buy flour in cloth sacks up until about 8 years ago. Unfortunately the manager of the supermarket quit ordering it in 'cause he said they only had one customer for it (me) I made DD a darling little dress and pinefore out of a couple of them when she wasn't even walking yet.

You might be able to still get flour in cloth sacks at natural foods stores if you don't mind paying a bit more...

 

[Crazy4Canning]

The Winco near us still sells a type of flour in flour sacks - lovely prints. It has a mexican label, and the price is a bit more.

[Rezgirl]

I still buy flour in cloth sacks. Cortez Milling Co. in Colorado. They are in the process of building a website, but here's a link to a pic. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecornmush/833722168/

[ROSARYCHAPLET]

finally!!! i found this article. i just spent an hour looking for this article.