About a year ago, one of my followers, Kim, sent me a vintage European grain sack that she had acquired, didn’t need, and knew that I would find a use for.
(I love the word “Follower”, it has a slight Jim Jones sound to it)
I’m sure she thought I’d make a few more pillows. But I have another plan.
Here’s our victim….
If you aren’t familiar with European grain sacks, they are usually a heavy woven flax linen. The stripes, different on every bag, are a way to quickly identify what was in each bag and the farm from which it came.
This one is pretty thick – the thicker, the better BTW – so I use sharp scissors to cut the bag down to from 44 inches deep to about 24 inches.
I want a deep bag.
I turn the bag inside out, and fold down about an inch from the newly cut top, and use a hot iron to press the flap flat.
I’ve had this scrap yardage of khaki/blue linen lying around the garage. No real purpose for it, I can just never throw anything away.
No worries, because now it has an actual purpose. I thought it would make a great lining for my bag.
I fold a piece in half and run a stitch up each side.
I turn this one inside out, so the raw edges are inside, and I now have 2 sacks about the same size. (18 inches X 21 inches)
Now, I slip the blue linen sack over the grain sack, like a pillow case, and tuck the edge under the flap.
I pin it down and give it a quick stitch around the entire edge.
Then I fold the edge down once more, but about 2 inches this time.
Once more, using a really hot iron I press the edge down.
I stitch this edge down to. It’s thick. Broke 2 needles on my sewing machine doing this.
Flip the whole thing right-side out and I’m left with a linen-lined grain sack with a thick top edge.
For the bag strap…..we went to Wally World.
I know, I know….they are the Evil Empire of stores, and their customers seem to dress like every day is Halloween in New Orleans, but I knew we’d find cheap leather belts there.
And in (Ahem, as I clear my throat) VERY large sizes.
Like, size 48,
In a beautiful Cuoio leather color. I even like the brushed stainless buckle.
16 bucks each.
Because I need 2 … and up until this point I haven’t spent a penny … 32 bucks is pretty good deal.
I use tin snips to cut the buckle off one of the belts, that leaves me with a 52 inch strap with a row of holes. The other belt I cut down to 12 inches with the buckle still attached.
I buckle the 2 together to make one long, 63 inch, belt.
I draw out 4 holes in each end of my belt strap and use a hammer and nail to poke holes.
I line the holes up with the edge of my bag and mark their locations with a pen.
See? All my holes will be centered on the double thick edge of the sack.
I use the same big nail and a hammer to make holes on each mark through the layers of fabric.
To attach the strap, we asked ourselves, “What would Ron Swanson do?” Ron would be a man, and think that there was already way too much sewing involved in this project. Pretty sure he would use nuts and bolts.
1/4 inch bolts, 3/4 inch long.
I want a pretty tight connection, so I screwed these into the leather….
….and pushed each through the holes I made in the sack….I won’t lie, this took some work.
When they finally did poke through, I attached each with a washer and bolt.
Did this 4 times for each strap
Ron Swanson would be proud.
Don’t know about where you live, but in Dallas our city council passed a new proposal encouraging retailers to charge for one-time-use to bags.
Way to go.
Feels like we live in a REAL city now. Where everybody rides a bike and recycles.
We have decided to make a conscious effort to bring our own bags to the grocery store.
This one is plenty big and deep. Perfect size for Jamie to run to the grocery store for ice cream and beer…….I mean, baguettes and bottled water.
Wanna make your own? And we certainly hope that we’ve inspired you to.
Ebay and Etsy both offer European grain sacks for sale. Expect to pay anywhere from 15 – 30 bones. The rest is up to you.
I’m willing to bet that about right now Kim wants hers back……
(well she ain’t gettin’ it)
Thanks again Kim. Told ya I’d do something cool with it.
THE CAVENDER DIARY 
Your idea to use the belt took this bag over the top. Love it! Carolyn from NC
Awww thanks, Carolyn!
I thought you would make a pillow for your banquet! You surprised me. I love it!!!
A pillow? We’ve already done pillows…had to do something better this time around. Glad you like it….Thanks for the inspiration!
Love this Project!
So do we, Jonathan!
If I haven’t said it yet….You Guys Totally Rock! This is seriously the coolest bag ever.
You can say it all you want, Janet!
The Walmart belt took it to the next level. Awesome!
Brilliant!!!
(In my best Elvis voice), “Thank you, Thank you Very Much”
Very, very cool!
Thanks Chris!!
Oh My Gawd I love it! Very clever to buy a belt and cut it up. I might have to try this one out! xxoo
Best strap idea we had…and we had a few. Glad we went with the Wal-Mart belt idea too.
Y’all are so fun, and you always make me chuckle (at least). Cool bag, dude.
Aww shucks Mimi, glad we got a chuckle out of you!
So, could you make the bag a little shorter and basically make two of them from one sack? Or is there something with the top of the sack that would make that a bad idea? I’m mainly curious about what to expect if I were to add another project to the ever-expanding list and order one of them for some experimentation.
Hi Cindy, yeah….our bag is a little long. We are both tall guys…….so cut your bag in half and get 2 bags. They make great pillows too…
I think this may have to happen. I might cheap out and make the bags out of ticking, but I love the strap on this!
Ticking would work too. Just make sure you roll down the top edge a few times so there are several layers to attach the strap too. Don’t want your bag to break on you.
Sweet! I love it. Very clever and super stylish! And hey is that your scooter? We have a scooter, too! And since it can only be ridden 5 months out of the year here in MN, it will last forever.
Hi Elise, Jamie’s scooter. He uses it for the Gym and the grocery store……Still searching for one for myself. Course I want a “vintage” one.
How do you come up with these ideas???!! Awesome 🙂
Hi Amber…Sometimes inspiration just happens….:)
Does your creativity never end? I am constantly in awe of your decorating style and creative efforts. Well done!
Thanks Jamie. Let’s hope that my ideas never do run out. I won’t have anything left to blog about
Oh my, you are so talented! Never cease to amaze me with your skills 🙂 Love this bag.
Hi Renee’, Thanks for the sweet comment. Hope I can continue to amaze you.
That is sooooo cool! You have the most fabulous ideas!
Awww shucks Kim, just doing what I do.
I’m so glad to have stumbled upon your blog awhile back and love it. The belt idea … may I say GREAT!
Thanks Jobi…..I’m sure there are even more things that I can do with a Wal-Mart belt…just wait.
I’m pretty sure this is the coolest thing the internet has given me this week. I have no idea how you creative people come up with this stuff.
Awwwww Larita! Thanks for the sweet comment. You officially just made my morning.
I love it!! So excited that you guys have the Cottage of the Month!! I love visiting your blog (though I don’t leave comments enough). You have such a sense of style and mad skills at putting collections together. It excites me that you are in the Dallas area too. Congratulations. 🙂
Hi Stacey, I knew it was coming, just not sure when. Glad you recognized our place…….because there are no links to the blog (sad face). Glad we keep you entertained! and thanks for the commment.
I love this!!! Very cool!
I just discovered your awesome blog by Googling “adhesive spray”, ha!
Pinned to my “Cool Blogs” Pinterest folder and following you. You do have an awesome blog! Pinning some ideas as well to my “Honey Do” folder, lol
Hi and Howdy! So glad that you did find us. Adhesive spray? Didn’t know that we used it that much…..must have been the gnome hats. Thanks for the love.
No, you used Krylon Spray Adhesive on your grain sack pillow , lol. I usually Google by images to find what I need faster. Great idea for the pillows by the way, which I pinned as well.
Oooohhhh yeah, to hold the stencils. But just a small, small spritz…….or they will stick TOO well.