Fabric Focus: Decorate With Grain Sacks for Quick Farmhouse Style
Vintage and reproduction grain sack material creates thick, durable upholstery for sofas, chairs, pillows and more
Karen Egly-Thompson
June 2, 2015
Houzz Contributor
With its homespun allure and slub-like texture, grain sack material is a favorite among designers and homeowners looking to add a bit of farmhouse decor. You’ve probably seen it on throw pillows or even upholstery, with perhaps a colorful stripe woven through its length or a vintage advertisement printed on it. But don’t think your home needs to fully embrace a rural lifestyle to take on some grain sack accessories. The material works just as well in contemporary spaces to add that touch of country appeal. Here’s how decorating with grain sacks can lift your home decor.
Source of the Material
Vintage European grain sacks. Much of the grain sack fabric used in decor today is actually vintage 19th-century European grain sacks that have been repurposed. Traditional grain sacks are long and skinny, about 19 inches wide and 48 inches long. No surprise, these hefty sacks were made for transporting grain to market.
Antique European grain sacks were typically handwoven from hemp, which is strong and inherently pest resistant. Grain sack fabric varies in color, from off-white to tan and gray. European sacks are quite thick and usually have demarcation markings — usually a stripe or series of stripes sewn into the fabric. These markings are frequently embroidered or stenciled. Like lobster buoys and livestock branding, they visually signify the farm from which the grain sacks originated. The identifying markings allowed for the bags to be returned to the owner once the grain was deposited.
Vintage European grain sacks. Much of the grain sack fabric used in decor today is actually vintage 19th-century European grain sacks that have been repurposed. Traditional grain sacks are long and skinny, about 19 inches wide and 48 inches long. No surprise, these hefty sacks were made for transporting grain to market.
Antique European grain sacks were typically handwoven from hemp, which is strong and inherently pest resistant. Grain sack fabric varies in color, from off-white to tan and gray. European sacks are quite thick and usually have demarcation markings — usually a stripe or series of stripes sewn into the fabric. These markings are frequently embroidered or stenciled. Like lobster buoys and livestock branding, they visually signify the farm from which the grain sacks originated. The identifying markings allowed for the bags to be returned to the owner once the grain was deposited.
Antique German grain sacks. German grain sacks are considered the paragon, because they’re a bit softer than their European counterparts and also rare, because many didn’t survive World War II.
German bags are usually stenciled in a tar-based black paint with the name of the farm, owner and date. Many of them also have a number on the bag face for inventory purposes, from 1 to 99. The sack shown here has been framed and made into artwork.
German bags are usually stenciled in a tar-based black paint with the name of the farm, owner and date. Many of them also have a number on the bag face for inventory purposes, from 1 to 99. The sack shown here has been framed and made into artwork.
While grain sacks are the focus of this story, it’s important to be aware of some closely related cousins.
American feed sacks. American sacks were made for a number of products, like flour, sugar and seeds, and are often called feed sacks versus grain sacks. They are usually made out of tightly woven cotton and can vary in thickness.
The bright, graphic imagery on the cotton sacks is usually printed on and can be prone to bleeding or fading when washed.
American feed sacks. American sacks were made for a number of products, like flour, sugar and seeds, and are often called feed sacks versus grain sacks. They are usually made out of tightly woven cotton and can vary in thickness.
The bright, graphic imagery on the cotton sacks is usually printed on and can be prone to bleeding or fading when washed.
Burlap sacks. Bags made of burlap, also known as hessian, were also used for product transport, especially coffee. However, burlap is loosely woven and made of jute or sisal. While far too scratchy to be comfortably used against the skin, it makes for a fetching ottoman cover. You’ll sometimes find chair backs upholstered in burlap too.
How to Decorate With Grain Sacks
Body pillows. Because of the long, narrow shape of the sacks, a lot of people make an entire sack into a body-sized lumbar pillow, like the example shown here. A tie is made to close off the open end.
This is a pillow you want to really sink into, so if you’re going this route, look for a squishy pillow insert with some breathing room around it. You don’t want it to look like a stuffed-sausage casing. A down-blend insert is ideal. These larger sack-sized pillows have a delightfully unkempt, casual appearance.
Body pillows. Because of the long, narrow shape of the sacks, a lot of people make an entire sack into a body-sized lumbar pillow, like the example shown here. A tie is made to close off the open end.
This is a pillow you want to really sink into, so if you’re going this route, look for a squishy pillow insert with some breathing room around it. You don’t want it to look like a stuffed-sausage casing. A down-blend insert is ideal. These larger sack-sized pillows have a delightfully unkempt, casual appearance.
Decorative pillows. If neat is more your style, grain and feed sacks work well for smaller throw pillows. To add more interest, consider playing with the stripe placement in the center as well as askew, like this example.
Shop for similar pillows
Shop for similar pillows
Sink skirts. A grain sack is the perfect size for making a center-split sink skirt. This one looks like it hangs from a simple cafe rod.
Upholstery. Vintage grain sacks are better than cotton feed sacks for upholstery, because they’re thicker and more durable. Their size makes them a challenge to work with, though — they typically aren’t wider than 20 inches.
One way to get around that is by embracing their limitations. Furniture maker Sharon Staudigel says for this settee, she stitched a vintage German grain sack adjacent to antique linen and used a high-contrast black welt. The contrast between the two fabrics is appealing, and the genre appropriate.
One way to get around that is by embracing their limitations. Furniture maker Sharon Staudigel says for this settee, she stitched a vintage German grain sack adjacent to antique linen and used a high-contrast black welt. The contrast between the two fabrics is appealing, and the genre appropriate.
Another approach is to upholster entirely in vintage grain sack material, as was done with this handsome wingback chair. Designer Antonio Martins says he used three Eastern European grain sacks to cover this piece. He found three sacks with the same background coloring and similar red detailing and levels of distress. “The next step was to position the red stripe detail throughout the chair,” he says. “We had enough material to cover the seat and front back of the chair, always with the same red stripe. The stripe in the arms is slightly different but has the same red tone.”
Each sack was approximately 45 inches long (uncut) and 90 inches long when cut and opened. Martins says you have to be careful when calculating quantities, because vintage grain sacks often have patches, stitches and holes that you have to cut or calculate around if using them for upholstery.
Each sack was approximately 45 inches long (uncut) and 90 inches long when cut and opened. Martins says you have to be careful when calculating quantities, because vintage grain sacks often have patches, stitches and holes that you have to cut or calculate around if using them for upholstery.
Slipcovers using new fabric. Scouring the world for vintage sacks might not be everyone’s cup of tea. If reviving the days of old doesn’t appeal to you, but you like the look of grain sack material, consider upholstery or slipcovers using new fabric. Unlike antique sacks, new fabric is much wider (typically 54 or 55 inches), and you won’t have to worry about discoloration and working around holes and weak spots.
Teresa Bennett of Cozy Cottage Slipcovers made these slipcovers out of a new linen-cotton-blend fabric that looks and feels similar to grain sack material.
The imagery on the pillows and ottoman isn’t from vintage sacks, but is actually hand-painted artwork by Jenni Carrino of The Vintage Songbird, with whom Bennett collaborated. Carrino created the artwork and Bennett incorporated it into the slipcover. “This process is a fantastic alternative for people who don’t have access to true antique grain sacks,” Carrino says. “Plus, the images can be catered to the client’s interests.”
These pillows were made for a homeowner who loves wine, cheese and chocolate. Carrino says she uses antique labels as a reference and applies the imagery onto specially washed cotton drop cloth fabric using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, because it permanently bonds with the fabric. Slipcovers with hand-painted inserts should be hand washed.
Bennett says slipcover options are endless and they are a great way to blend old beloved furniture with newer pieces. And the fabric, skirt style and other design details are all customizable. Just make sure the fabric is washed before the slipcover is fabricated. Bennett says she washes her customers’ fabric in 4-yard batches in hot water and dries it on a hot setting in the dryer to preshrink it. She also serges the seams so the cover doesn’t unravel when the client washes it in the future.
The imagery on the pillows and ottoman isn’t from vintage sacks, but is actually hand-painted artwork by Jenni Carrino of The Vintage Songbird, with whom Bennett collaborated. Carrino created the artwork and Bennett incorporated it into the slipcover. “This process is a fantastic alternative for people who don’t have access to true antique grain sacks,” Carrino says. “Plus, the images can be catered to the client’s interests.”
These pillows were made for a homeowner who loves wine, cheese and chocolate. Carrino says she uses antique labels as a reference and applies the imagery onto specially washed cotton drop cloth fabric using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, because it permanently bonds with the fabric. Slipcovers with hand-painted inserts should be hand washed.
Bennett says slipcover options are endless and they are a great way to blend old beloved furniture with newer pieces. And the fabric, skirt style and other design details are all customizable. Just make sure the fabric is washed before the slipcover is fabricated. Bennett says she washes her customers’ fabric in 4-yard batches in hot water and dries it on a hot setting in the dryer to preshrink it. She also serges the seams so the cover doesn’t unravel when the client washes it in the future.
Cost and Where to Buy Vintage Sacks and New Fabric
Vintage sacks might be found at antiques stores that specialize in linens, but your best bet is to search online. For new grain sack–inspired fabric, check out Farmhouse Wares, which sells reproduction cotton-poly-acrylic feed sack fabric by the yard, or elsewhere online.
The cost varies depending on the design, clarity, rareness and condition, but expect to pay between $40 and $100 for an average vintage grain sack. Exemplary, rare sacks can fetch even more, while faded, worn sacks can be found for less. Sometimes you can find unused bolts of antique grain sack fabric for sale, but you’ll likely have to purchase the entire bolt or piece.
More: How to Work With an Upholsterer
Vintage sacks might be found at antiques stores that specialize in linens, but your best bet is to search online. For new grain sack–inspired fabric, check out Farmhouse Wares, which sells reproduction cotton-poly-acrylic feed sack fabric by the yard, or elsewhere online.
The cost varies depending on the design, clarity, rareness and condition, but expect to pay between $40 and $100 for an average vintage grain sack. Exemplary, rare sacks can fetch even more, while faded, worn sacks can be found for less. Sometimes you can find unused bolts of antique grain sack fabric for sale, but you’ll likely have to purchase the entire bolt or piece.
More: How to Work With an Upholsterer
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Nice article!
Hey All, I just wanted to let you know there are a lot of REALLY SOFT sacks out there. They were made of different materials with varying textures. Most of the ones with the German writing, or with the colored stripes are not made of burlap, they are made of homespun linen. They are super soft! The ones with the colored stripes can be washed, and you can even add some fabric softener. Put them in a cool dryer and they are soft enough for bedding and pillows. The German ones should not be washed because it can destroy the graphics. Homespun linen was also used in antique sheets and is quite soft. That's what I used on my settee. It is wonderfully comfortable.
Usually the coffee sacks and French sacks are the burlap ones. They are itchy, so use them for window treatments, footstools or wall hangings!
If you have any questions, just reach out to me at HOUZZ under Sharon Gunther Staudigel, or at FreshDesignGroup@gmail.com. Enjoy!
Hello, the original antique grain sacks are handwoven from natural strong fibers: flax or hemp. These fibers are rough at first, but after a few washes they became softer. So, unused grain sacks arent soft. In fact the hemp/flax fabric has a remarcable feature: the more you wash it, the softer and lighter became, that's why the used sacks or linen are so soft and have a beautifull off-white colour. You should not be worry about washing, they were designed to endure generations of constant use and will have an extremely long life.
If you have any questions about vintage european grain sacks, just let me know. I came from a Transylvanian family who growned , processed & loomed hemp ; now I give a new life to the inherited fabrics.