In the 1930’s and 1940’s, many women had tight budgets with families to raise. Keeping them all fed and clothed was no small feat. It sounds like a familiar story for many of today’s families.

Some differences between then and now include the advent of fast and frozen foods which didn’t exist in the 30’s, also ready-to-wear clothes (that we rely on now) were very expensive 90 years ago. Cooking and sewing were valuable and needed skills in the 30’s and 40’s. Grain mills put their flour and meal in fabric sacks. What better use of them than to make needed clothing when empty?

When the flour manufacturers became aware that the sacks were serving double duty, they began to print designs on them. Today, many fabric companies sell reproductions of those patterns.

Read and see more pictures in this article from the Greenville Gazette.