Seed bags were made out of attractive print material

While reading to a group of elementary school children, I came across a passage in a Depression-era book about baby clothes made from seed sacks. I asked the children what they imagined those clothes looked like, and the consensus was that they were made from burlap.

During a recent visit to the Hull History Museum, Dixie Ward showed me feed bag cloth loaned to the museum by her aunt, Pat Likes. Dixie said that cloth manufacturers made the bags in attractive patters, so that women could use the fabric to make clothes for their children. Dixie said with times hard, everyone made due with what they had.

I was proud to be able to share this visual with the children. May it will help you - like it did for me - bring this vision to life.