Flour Sack Tea Towel Tips

Here’s a small collection of tips for making flour sack tea towels:

Adding ric rack across the bottom of the towels is so Very pretty!

Add a sweet crochet border to the tea towels

Say Good-bye to Stains by Adding Fabric Trim

How To Make Flour Sack Dish Towels:

Here’s a handy How-To: Flour Sack Dish Towels.

Remembering The Flour Sack:

The Flour Sack by Colleen B. Hubert

In that long ago time when things were saved,
When roads were graveled and barrels were staved,
When worn-out clothing was used as rags,
And there were no plastic wrap or bags,
And the well and the pump were way out back,
A versatile item, was the flour sack.

Pillsbury’s Best, Mother’s and Gold Medal, too
Stamped their names proudly in purple and blue.
The strings sewn on top were pulled and kept;
The flour emptied and spills were swept.
The bag was folded and stored in a sack
That durable, practical flour sack.

The sack could be filled with feathers and down,
For a pillow, or would make a nice sleeping gown.
It could carry a book and be a school bag,
Or become a mail sack slung over a nag.
It made a very convenient pack,
That adaptable, cotton flour sack.

Bleached and sewn, it was dutifully worn
As bibs, diapers, or kerchief adorned.
It was made into skirts, blouses and slips.
And mom braided rugs from one hundred strips
She made ruffled curtains for the house or shack,
From that humble but treasured flour sack.

As a strainer for milk or apple juice,
To wave men in, it was a very good use,
As a sling for a sprained wrist or a break,
To help mother roll up a jelly cake,
As a window shade or to stuff a crack,
We used a sturdy, common flour sack.

As dish towels, embroidered or not,
They covered up dough, helped pass pans so hot,
Tied up dishes for neighbors in need,
And for men out in the field to carry seed,
They dried our dishes from pan, not rack
That absorbent handy flour sack.

We polished and cleaned stove and table,
Scoured and scrubbed from cellar to gable,
We dusted the bureau and oak bed post,
Made costumes for October (a scary ghost)
And a parachute for a cat named Jack.
From that lowly, useful old flour sack.

So now my friends, when they ask you
As curious youngsters often do,
“Before plastic wrap, Elmer’s Glue
And paper towels, What did you do?”
Tell them loudly and with pride don’t lack,
“Grandmother had that wonderful flour sack.”

Found in many places, but rediscovered here, thank you!.

Yes, I admit, I’ve been bit by the Flour Sack bug …

If you’d like to try your hand at embroidering your own set of vintage style flour sack towels (and really–is there anything that towel dries dishes better?), here’s a free pattern set: Kitten DOW Towels and this sweet set of gingham fruit.

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• Pretty Sock Sack Tutorial: Sewing
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• Vintage Embroidery Series: Tea Towel Kitchen Designs