Burlap Sacks

[Mother Dean]

So fabric.com is having a sale on burlap and it reminded me that I wanted to have sack races. I searched the forum and the internet and am finding no specifics on the subject. Is it because there is really no difference in the size and construction? Getting the sacks done before our picnic on Sat is out of the question but I would like to have some on hand for next months picnic. Any suggestions or ideas?
Thanks so much,

[Mother Dean]

Found a pic of sack racing:



It's not really what I was wanting because I was hoping it was a game for children. However, all of the resources that I came up with mention that this is a man's game.
I'm not sure that my 6'2" husband has any interest in doing this, even for a cash prize. :0
I'm also not sure that I want to make sacks that are big enough for him to fit into.

[Stephanie Brennan]

BELIEVE IT OR NOT it's the same way with kites strictly a male hobby.  Stephanie

[mmescher]

My references also point toward sack races as using bags tied under the chin so probably not a children's activity.  I'm also not completely sure about the use of burlap for sacking in the mid-nineteenth century.  Any fabric folks want to chime in on that one?

Michael Mescher

[Mother Dean]

Great point about the fabric. I was able to find references to burlap wool and oat sacks. And I found this great ad for a Chicago bag maker: