{"id":11253,"date":"2017-08-04T01:00:10","date_gmt":"2017-08-04T05:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/?p=11253"},"modified":"2025-09-15T15:44:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T19:44:12","slug":"my-hand-feed-sacks-the-colourful-history-of-a-frugal-fabric","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/04\/my-hand-feed-sacks-the-colourful-history-of-a-frugal-fabric\/","title":{"rendered":"My Hand \/\/ Feed Sacks: The Colourful History of a Frugal Fabric"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I was recently invited, along with fourteen other talented binders, to bind a copy of Feed Sacks: The Colourful History of a Frugal Fabric<\/a>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>by Linzee Kull McCray. This project all began when Todd Pattison, received a generous gift of unbound copies from the publisher and designer of Feed Sacks<\/em>, Janine Vanpool at UPPERCASE Magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The book offers insight into how a plain utilitarian fabric evolved into a highly sought after commodity that was soon crafted into trendy garments, homewares and toys by housewives and seamstresses. The book also contains a plethora of images, which include scans from the impressive collections of two vintage feed sack collectors.<\/p>\n

For my binding, I wanted to incorporate an authentic feed sack fabric and I just so happen to find a pattern straight from the book.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The book itself is bound as a 3-Part Bradel binding. The spine is covered in handmade paper from Katie MacGregor. The endpapers are a combination of paper from Katie MacGregor and Hook Pottery Paper. The boards are covered in the vintage fabric and wrapped with a hand embroidered Japanese tissue. The design of the wrapper pulls elements from the labels found on feed sacks, taking cues from the language and typography used. I used Okawara tissue for the wrapper and cotton embroidery floss. The center motif was back with a piece of muslin to strengthen the area prior to stitching. The vibrant red was added with colored pencil.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Embroidering onto tissue was a very delicate process, but one that I had been interested in testing out for a while. In hindsight, I would have done things a bit differently. Working directly on the tissue caused warping and wrinkling, which was impossible to correct. In the future, I would attach the tissue to the covering material first, sewing through both layers.<\/p>\n

To see more images of my binding and the other binder’s interpretations of the text, check out the online gallery here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Save<\/span>Save<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I was recently invited, along with fourteen other talented binders, to bind a copy of Feed Sacks: The Colourful History of a Frugal Fabric\u00a0by Linzee Kull McCray. This project all began when Todd Pattison, received a generous gift of unbound copies from the publisher and designer of Feed Sacks, Janine Vanpool at UPPERCASE Magazine. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[68,8],"tags":[173,2202,2205,2204,2203],"class_list":["post-11253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bookbinding","category-my-hand","tag-erin-fletcher","tag-feed-sacks","tag-janine-vanpool","tag-linzee-kull-mccray","tag-uppercase-magazine"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2Btis-2Vv","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11399,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/14\/online-exhibit-for-stitch%c2%b7illo-creative-expressions-through-thread-and-fiber\/","url_meta":{"origin":11253,"position":0},"title":"Online Exhibit for Stitch\u00b7illo – Creative Expressions through Thread and Fiber","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"January 14, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Last year, I posted about my binding Feed Sacks: The Colourful History of a Frugal Fabric, which came about through an\u00a0invitation from Todd Pattison. Along with fourteen other binders, we each bound a copy in our own style. The Feed Sacks bindings are now on display at the Iowa Quilt\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "bookbinding"","block_context":{"text":"bookbinding","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/bookbinding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Stitchillo-JenniferEvers.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Stitchillo-JenniferEvers.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Stitchillo-JenniferEvers.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Stitchillo-JenniferEvers.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11352,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/31\/best-of-2017\/","url_meta":{"origin":11253,"position":1},"title":"Best of 2017","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"December 31, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"As 2017 comes to an end, I want to reflect on a few of Herringbone Bindery's success. I'm particularly proud to have another binding sell to a private collector and have my work shown in three exhibitions (one domestic and two international shows). I've continue to work with some really\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "best of"","block_context":{"text":"best of","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/best-of\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/bestof2017b.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/bestof2017b.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/bestof2017b.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12690,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2021\/05\/18\/100-day-project-panels-64-72\/","url_meta":{"origin":11253,"position":2},"title":"100 Day Project \/\/ Panels 64 \u2013 72","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"May 18, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Here are the next nine panels in my 100 day project. Panel No. 64 \/\/ A Step Forward This panel is a throwback to Panel No. 57 in that I used a similar structure for the punching template, which is an irregular grid pattern. Within each square I punched four\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "my hand"","block_context":{"text":"my hand","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/my-hand\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Panels64-72-1024x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Panels64-72-1024x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Panels64-72-1024x1024.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12146,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/31\/swell-things-no-52\/","url_meta":{"origin":11253,"position":3},"title":"Swell Things No. 52","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"March 31, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"1. The work of Rose Nestler can be both playful and intrusive. Using traditional sculptural and sewing techniques, Nestler manipulates fabric into these large-scale objects that speak to our ideals on clothing and how they perpetuate patriarchal standards and norms around gender and sexuality. Her pieces stand alone or become\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "swell things"","block_context":{"text":"swell things","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/swell-things\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/stno52a.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/stno52a.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/stno52a.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6782,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2013\/08\/26\/book-artist-of-the-month-jody-alexander-4\/","url_meta":{"origin":11253,"position":4},"title":"Book Artist of the Month: Jody Alexander","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"August 26, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Over the span of a year, Jody Alexander, created a series of altered books under the title Exposed Spines.\u00a0This series of work is a celebration of the most beautiful part of the book that is so often covered. Each object is comprised of discarded books, fabric and thread.\u00a0 At the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "book artist of the month"","block_context":{"text":"book artist of the month","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/book-artist-of-the-month\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/preparingforevanescence3-jodyalexander.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/preparingforevanescence3-jodyalexander.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/preparingforevanescence3-jodyalexander.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/preparingforevanescence3-jodyalexander.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9317,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2015\/03\/22\/bookbinder-of-the-month-tracey-rowledge-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":11253,"position":5},"title":"Bookbinder of the Month: Tracey Rowledge","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"March 22, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The prior posts on Tracey Rowledge's work have focused on her designs mostly inspired by abstract\u00a0markings. However, there are a few pieces in her portfolio that stand out for their sheer difference in design. The above binding of The Essence of Beeing\u00a0by Michael Lenehan with illustrations by Alice Brown-Wagner\u00a0is bound\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "binder of the month"","block_context":{"text":"binder of the month","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/binder-of-the-month\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/TheEssenceOfBeeing-TraceyRowledge.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/TheEssenceOfBeeing-TraceyRowledge.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/TheEssenceOfBeeing-TraceyRowledge.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11253","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11253"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11253\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11263,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11253\/revisions\/11263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11253"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}