[Womble]

OK, I feel like a right numpty for posting this, but how on earth do you open feed sacks??

I remember my Aunt untying a loop in the stitching at the top, and pulling, whereupon the whole stitched seam just unzipped basically! So, why can't I figure out how this is done? I always end up cutting them open and feeling like a dork for not being able to work it out, despite having a degree in Engineering 

[Hermit]

You just grab hold of the string on one side of the top of the sack and pull up.The weight of the sack keeps it on the floor and you are just tearing along the perforations. It is nothing to do with the string itself, you can put a loop in but they are normally long enough to just grab and pull. Hermit

[cameldairy]

 
I know what you are talking about, here you go,,,,

   1.
      Step 1

      Place the bag on the floor so the side with the flat stitches faces you. The other side of the bag has a line of knots along the top.
   2.
      Step 2

      Use the knife or scissors to clip the first stitch in the right corner of the flat stitch side. Unstitch the first two or three stitches with the tip of the knife or scissors.
   3.
      Step 3

      Hold the unstitched string in one hand and the knotty string on the other side of the bag in the other hand.
   4.
      Step 4

      Pull both strings in opposite directions at the same time. The entire string along the top of the bag will unstitch.
 
 

[garden cottage]

step 5 take knife out of pocket and cut it open

[JulieS]

 

I use the Hermit method.

[dixie]

I use the garden cottage method!

[doganjo]

My chicken feed bags have a folded in end with pictures of hands where you just peel back the outer thin paper cover then push your hands in under the folded thicker paper.  Why can't they do that with other animal feedstuffs?

[Hellybee]

Some of our bags have the modern openings like the one Doganjo said about, some of the cotton which most of the time i give up on and just go for option five and get me ever ready pen knife out

[carl]

Stanley knife, as I have given up trying to pull one thread and hope it zips undone. 

[little blue]

def option 5, works every time... small knife in corner of shed just for opening feed sacks, as I find the stitching stuff very unreliable, and by the time I've lugged a 20 kg sack all the way to the feed bin & hoiked it over, I want it open quickly!
Especially as we have 10 delivered at a time...

[ballingall]

There is a technique to it, and yes the string is designed to "unzip" not to just be pulled out, I don't think I'd be strong enoungh to do that. My partner has been living with us for over a year now, and he still can't do it, despite me giving him lessons! He feels a right numpty!

Some feed sacks are easier than others to undo, but basically, always start at the end where the string is shortest. There will be a loop, with a bit of the string through it. All you do, it take out the bit of the string through the loop, and then pull the loop you have left, and viola, the bag unzips.

I might try and get some pics, because it is hard to explain.

Beth

[Womble]

Thanks for the replies folks - at least I know now it's not just me!! 

I'll have a read of this thread again the next time we buy feed, and will report back on progress!!   

[MiriMaran]

Well done Womble, I was thinking of starting a thread on this the other day when I was struggling.  Sometimes the bag opens fine and other time they're a nightmare.  I'm not strong enough to just rip it open, but my OH does that.  However I do like the bags as intact as possible as I use them lots at work.

I will keep in my what Cameldairy has said and report back when I open the next bag.

[CameronS]

I'm gonna have to try "un-zipping" the bag now,
 just to see what the craze is about, i normally just slit mine but "unzipping" seems more fun      

[juliag]

pics explaining how to do this would be great as this gets to me as well. Sometimes the string just unzips beautifully but the majority of the times it just seems to knot and then wont go at all! I am afraid i just slit it open with a knife now but have always felt a failure!