My Grandma raised me during the depression, way back on a hard scrabble farm. All of my clothes were made from feed sacks, and I think that also included panties and "princess slips" which if I remember correctly, were more or less rectangles with neck and arm holes. All were starched and ironed, even ankle socks. At that time little girls didn't wear pants, as it was
considered unladylike. Now I rarely ever wear a dress!

My favorite that I can still remember was a chicken feed sack with little red feathers on it. When Grandma and I went to town, it was my job to carry the feed sack to be matched, ironed and carefully draped over my arm. When we got to the feed store, Grandma would chat with other women who were there for the same reason, and don't think long lasting feuds didn't start when one woman deliberately grabbed a feed sack that was the last one there, from a pattern she KNEW darn well an enemy wanted!!!
While Grandma was busy in front, other kids and I would go back to the little dusty store room and try to find a matching feed sack that held whatever kind of feed we needed, and if there were actually TWO of the same, then we would help each other drag the two together and sit on them to keep other kids away from MY future dresses!! Grandma would have the feed man mark it as hers, and she would contact one of her sons to pick them up and take them home for us. One uncle had a car and the sound of that OOGAA horn coming up the little driveway was music to our ears. it sputtered and banged but still made it up to the house.
Thanks for taking me back so far in my history...sure does bring back the memories.

Lovely story

Ramona, what a lovely story. I felt like I was in the feed store with you!
Me, I'm of the hippie era, so much gaberdine, denim,maybe seersucker?! But I did learn to sew on a treadle machine which was my grandmother's who gave it to my Mum....boy that was fun! Like learning to type on a manual typewriter!
Maureen

Ramona, I absolutely love your "real life" story. Thank you so much for sharing it. It was very easy to visualize everything you said. :-D

Melody

Late fifty's model here but I know my Gma had dresses from then kept them put up

Loved it Ramona! My mom grew up on a Michigan farm in the 30s plenty of clothes and household items made from feedsacks for her, the aunts and my grandma. My grandpa was an auctioneer as well as a farmer. Love her stories!

Sorry I didn't check in til the last of the 60's........

As I am reading this, I am quilting a quilt for my mom made from pieces that her mom cut out, but G'ma never finished her quilt before dying in 1945. My mom was only 7.

Years ago I showed my mom these pieces, but she didn't remember any of them. She was only 7 when her mother passed away.

My mom has 2 brothers left - and I am hoping that they can share some stories about where these different pieces came from and the memories attached to them.

I showed up in 1960.

I'm from the mid-forties. I'll ask my Mom when I call her tomorrow if she has any 30's stories. Having grown up during the depression as the oldest daughter (a few older brothers)in a family of 12, I'm pretty sure she must have had feed sack something or other. :)