The complete guide to grain sack fabric and grain sack pillows. Includes where to buy, how to launder safely, and how to use grain sacks in your decor.
When I first began my love affair with antique grain sack fabric, it was as someone who thought it was out of reach…surely it was too expensive, and hard to find. I would see random pictures of grain sacks, or a grain sack upholstered chair, and just sigh. It took me a while to figure out why I was so drawn to them. Grain sacks had a purpose and consequently, they had a history all their own.
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The History of Grain Sack Fabric
If I close my eyes, I can see a woman with rough and worn hands, sitting in her farmhouse. She is stitching her family’s grain sacks by hand, and her only light is from the fireplace. These sacks were instrumental in getting her family’s grain to the mill. The grain sack fabric she sewed is called hemp, and it comes in rolls that are around twenty inches wide. Some families personalized their grain sacks by using a custom stripe design woven into the hemp. These stripes were predominately blue or red. Many families embroidered their initials on the grain sack fabric so their sacks were easily identified.
Grain Sacks + Home Decor
Antique grain sacks are a popular design trend, often repurposed for home decor in a variety of ways, including upholstery, pillows, table runners, and other textile furnishings. Their versatile fabric complements many decorating styles, from Farmhouse and Cottage to French Country, Shabby Chic, and even Boho. You don’t need to sew to incorporate antique grain sacks into your decor. They can be used as table runners, draped over blanket ladders or accent chairs, or even repurposed as upholstery fabric. Their width is often perfect for covering the seat or back of a dining chair. As your collection grows, stacked grain sacks make a charming display on shelves, blanket chests, or small stools.
How To Prepare Grain Sacks For Sewing
Before sewing, I wash each grain sack with detergent, add fabric softener to the rinse cycle, and dry it completely to soften the fabric and prevent shrinkage. If needed, I pick out the side seams to maximize the material, sometimes finding bits of grain tucked in the corners—a small reminder of the past. I never feel sad cutting vintage fabric; instead, I see it as giving it a second life. No longer used for their original purpose, these sacks are revived with love and care, transformed into something beautiful instead of sitting forgotten in an attic or barn.
Sewing Pillows
When sewing with grain sacks, take your time and plan carefully before cutting to make the most of each piece. I measure multiple times and determine the best way to use the fabric, aiming to have both sides of a pillow made from grain sack whenever possible. If there’s not enough, I opt for vintage fabric on the back, never new material and only as a last resort. I also prefer making pillows in pairs, and using a different fabric on the back can help achieve that while creating reversible pillows…an easy way to get two looks in one.
Hunting For Grain Sacks
Ten years ago, I began to sew textile furnishings for my Etsy shop, and I knew I had to include items made from grain sacks. My goal was to obtain grain sacks easily, and at a decent price. I knew this would be a challenge, but I was determined. The easiest place to find them is on sites like eBay and Etsy. (I’ll link to my sources at the end.) I have never found any grain sack fabric or actual sacks at the antique malls in my area. If you are really lucky, and enjoy the hunt, you might find them at large antique shows or antique shops in larger cities.
If you are a traveler, grain sack fabric can be found in the flea markets of France and other European countries like Poland, Sweden, and Austria. I promise, grain sack fabric is out there…you just have to look. All it takes is Google and time spent online searching.
Where To Buy Antique Grain Sacks
As with many vintage treasures, the price of grain sacks has risen over time, with larger sizes, embroidered initials, and rare colors like yellow or green commanding a premium. Occasionally, rolls of unused hemp surface, offering a rare opportunity to work with pristine material. I’ve only ever purchased one roll, but the excitement of unwrapping it, knowing it had been preserved for decades, was truly unforgettable. Whether repurposed for pillows, upholstery, or simple decorative accents, grain sacks bring history and character into the home, making them a worthwhile investment for those who appreciate their timeless charm.
If you love the character of antique grain sacks, you might also enjoy a few other simple, timeworn touches around the home. My collection of dough bowl ideas shows easy ways to style these rustic pieces for everyday use, and these simple ways to use mason jars offer even more inspiration for adding charm with items you may already have. You can also explore my full collection of farmhouse style ideas for understated, lived-in spaces that feel warm, personal, and timeless.
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Hello,
Really enjoy your blog and your classic taste. I was very interested in your grain/feed sack article especially and was able to pull some of my own out. Do you have a contact that may be able to tell me the value of some? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Hi Jennifer…no I really don’t. You can look on Etsy and eBay to see if there is anything similar…and find an approximate value that way. The sacks on Etsy that are from European shops are almost always more expensive than the American sellers. Enjoy your grain sacks!
Thank you for this lovely post. I thought of my grandmother, who repurposed grain sacks as clothing and linens for her family many years ago. Your posts add beauty and grace to life and I look forward to each one.
Ann, how handy you are! Lovely photos. The chair backs are especially fun.
I was fortunate to have my maternal grandfather give me a huge stack of grain sacks when I was just a teenager. Over the years I have used them for cross-stitch projects and one special one for a pillow cover. The pillow cover has the “Fulton Seamless” label printed on it, my father’s family name. I forgot just how many I had left until I recently reorganized my sewing room. I see some new projects in the near future using them.
thanks for that – really wonderful information. Regarding the pre-washing of these grain sacks do you suggest air drying or using the dryer ?? I’m afraid that they may shrink a lot.
Thanks.
I dry my grain sacks all the way in the dryer. They may shrink a little but not very much. I hope this helps!
Anne,
I enjoy your blog very much. We seem to be on the “same page” in so many ways. I recently read your thoughts about celebrating holidays. You’ve renewed my spirit! My grandsons and I have shared hundreds of hours creating together and I was a bit sad that they are growing up and our time together is more limited. You made me realize that even though time is changing things, we should still hold on to the “fun” of holidays.
Thanks!
That is a great article!!! Thank you for the tips and your sources.
So interesting, a glance into the past. I love the time worn items no longer used today. Loved your article and we need to save or refurbis our history.
grain sack ribbon link is dead.
Thank you so much for letting me know…it’s fixed now!
Ann,
You are such a treasure! I enjoy receiving your posts! You inspire me to try new things & stir my creativity. What a gift you are! Please keep sharing your knowledge & talent!
Blessings