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How To Make A Reusable Fabric Bread Bag

With Spoonflower Ambassador Meg Fleshman

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Edited: May 18, 2022
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A round loaf of bread sticks out of a bag featuring hand drawn bread loaves in various shapes and sizes in black on a white background. A thin strip of black webbing has been sewn to the top of the bag to use with buckles as a closure. Underneath the bag is a white cloth with red, orange, purple and pink stripes. A small ceramic dish with several pats of butter sits at the bottom left, a knife with butter remains on it sits to the right of the dish. Two cut pieces of bread are in the bottom right corner, one full slice, and one partially eaten slice with butter spread on it and a bite taken out of it.

Featured design: Bread Jumble Block Print Pattern – Monochrome by pamelasprints

If you’ve ever made your own bread, then you’re likely familiar with the conundrum that comes along when it’s time to store those freshly-baked loaves. No Tupperware® container is quite the right size, and it can be wasteful to wrap them up in single-use plastics—especially if you’re a frequent bread baker. Luckily, Spoonflower Ambassador Meg Fleshman has a DIY solution using Belgian Linen™ that’s not only crafty and visually pleasing, but kinder to the planet, too. We loaf it already!    

Why You Knead a Good Bread Bag

Meg: I’ve always enjoyed baking bread, and I was definitely one of those folks who dove into sourdough baking in 2020. My starter, Linda, and I made some beautiful loaves that spring and summer, and my family was particularly fond of a chocolate chip sourdough bread that was truly glorious.

But at the end of August 2020, I was diagnosed with celiac disease, a complicated digestive and autoimmune disease that, in short, meant I could no longer have anything with wheat or other gluten containing ingredients. So with a heavy heart, I said goodbye to Linda and my conventional bread baking books.

For over a year I settled for store bought gluten-free breads which, if you have to eat gluten free too, you know are pretty mediocre. That is, until November 2021 when I picked up a copy of Aran Goyoaga’s new cookbook, Cannelle et Vanille Bakes Simple. I tell ya people, this book is revolutionary. The bread recipes are genuine bread—bread that is gluten free and delicious, not just “good for gluten-free” bread. It’s no exaggeration when I say the book has been life changing. Aran also has a sourdough recipe and I’ve even made a new starter, affectionately named Glinda–a gluten-free Linda!

I now make all of our sandwich breads, baguettes, naan and rolls from scratch, but, of course, I needed a good way to store these yummy bakes. It was also important to me to have a bread storage option that was reusable to cut down on paper and plastic waste.

After researching various designs and materials I created this tutorial for a reusable roll top bread bag featuring Spoonflower’s Belgian Linen. With a yard of fabric and some nylon webbing and buckles, you can make a custom bread bag perfect for storing homemade loaves or your favorite bakery treats!

Linen bags are an excellent choice for storing freshly baked breads. They hit the sweet spot of keeping enough moisture in so the bread doesn’t dry out and allowing enough air flow to prevent premature mold. A roll top closure is a secure, compact option with no loose drawstrings hanging around.

Homemade Bread Pro Tip!

As a reminder, homemade or bakery breads typically do not have preservatives and only last a couple days—in fact they are best eaten the same day they are baked. Bread bags are not designed to keep bread fresh for several days like store bought bread. Instead, these bread bags will keep fresh bread in optimal condition for the couple of days after it’s baked. If bread won’t be consumed in two or three days, consider slicing and freezing the extra to enjoy another time.

5 Steps to Making Your Own Bread Bag

Fabric with a design featuring hand drawn bread loaves in various shapes and sizes in black on a white background lays folded on a white table. Scissors with a rainbow print sit to the right of the fabric. A roll of black webbing lays directly underneath the scissors. Two black plastic buckles, each comprised of two different pieces that interlock, are to the left of the webbing.

Featured design: Bread Jumble Block Print Pattern – Monochrome by pamelasprints

Materials List

  • 1 yard (91.4 cm) of Belgian Linen
  • 1 yard (91.4 cm) of 5/8” medium weight nylon webbing per bag
  • 1 set of 5/8” buckles per bag
  • Scissors
  • Matching thread
  • Sewing machine
Skill Level

Advanced-Beginner

Spoonflower Suggests

  • 1 yard is enough for 2 boule bags and 1 baguette bag.
  • Linen Cotton Canvas and Recycled Canvas are great options for this project too!

Where to Find Buckles and Webbing

    Check out dog collar supply shops on Etsy for buckles and webbing options.

Wash Fabric, Then Measure and Cut

It’s important to wash your fabric because first, you’ll be using it to store food and second, it’ll tighten up the weave of the linen.

For each bread bag cut two pieces of fabric using the following measurements:

  • Boule or loaf bag: 18” (45.7 cm) x 13” (33 cm)
  • Baguette bag: 31.5” (80 cm) x 7.5” (19 cm)
Square cut pieces of fabric with a design featuring hand drawn bread loaves in various shapes and sizes in black on a white background lay on a white table. Scissors with a rainbow print sit to the top right of the fabric.

Sew Outside Edges

With right sides together and a 1/2” (1.27 cm) seam allowance, sew both long sides and one short side, like you’re making a weirdly shaped pillow case.

Tip:

Linen likes to fray so be sure to finish the edges with pinking shears, a zig zag stitch or serging.

A hand peels back the top layer of two pieces of fabric sewn together, creating a bag, with a design featuring hand drawn bread loaves in various shapes and sizes in black on a white background. The tops of the fabric pieces each have a top hem stitched at the inside of the bag.

Finish Hem

Finish the edge of the top of the bag. Turn the bag right side out, then fold the top over towards the wrong side to create a 1” (2.5 cm) hem. Topstitch in place.

Prepare Webbing

Laying the bag flat, cut the webbing the length of the top of the bag plus a few inches on each side. The top of the boule bag laid flat measures 12” (30.5 cm) and I cut my webbing at about 20” (50.8 cm).

Separate the buckle and thread each piece onto one end of the webbing.

Fabric with a design featuring hand drawn bread loaves in various shapes and sizes in black on a white background lays on a white table. A piece of black webbing has been pinned at the top right and top left to the fabric and lays across the top of the fabric horizontally. One piece of a two-part plastic buckle is each at the top right and top left of the fabric. A pair of rainbow scissors lies to the top left of the fabric and a piece of black webbing to the top right.

Pin and Sew Webbing

Pin the webbing to the top of one side of the bag, folding the extra webbing under so it creates a loop with the buckle piece sitting in that loop. Make sure the webbing loop extends past the edge of the bag by about 1”-1.5” (2.5-3.8 cm).

 

Sew the webbing to the bag, making sure to stop sewing at the bag’s side seam. Keeping your needle down, pivot and sew back and forth a few times along the seam line before pivoting again and sewing down the other long side of the webbing. Repeat at the opposite side seam.

Tip

The opening for the baguette bag is on the smaller side. To better reach with your sewing machine, turn the bag inside out and sew the webbing down from the inside.

A fabric bag comprised of two rectangular pieces of fabric sewn together on three sides, with a design featuring hand drawn bread loaves in various shapes and sizes in black on a white background, is being held up by a hand in front of a white surface. The hand is holding a piece of black webbing pinned at the top right of the closer piece of fabric. One piece of a two-part plastic buckle is also at the top right edge of the webbing.

Your bag is done! To use, place a cooled loaf of bread in the bag, hold both sides of the bag top together, and roll the top down a few times before buckling the bag closed. Enjoy your perfectly stored fresh bread!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! I’ve been using my linen bread bags for a few weeks and they’ve been such a great tool for storing my family’s bread. Whether you’re making your own gluten-free bread or picking up a favorite loaf at your local bakery, these easy-to-make, reusable linen bread bags are a kitchen essential!

A fabric bag comprised of two rectangular pieces of fabric sewn together on three sides, with a design featuring hand drawn bread loaves in various shapes and sizes in black on a white background lays on a white surface. A piece of black webbing is sewn to the top piece of fabric. One piece of a two-part plastic buckle is each at the top right and top left edge of the webbing. A replica of the same bag is also shown, but with the fabric top rolled down and the buckle snapped shut.
A round loaf of bread with a section at the right cut off sticks out of a bag featuring hand drawn bread loaves in various shapes and sizes in black on a white background. A thin strip of black webbing has been sewn to the top of the bag to use with buckles as a closure. Underneath the bag is a white surface. Two replica of the same bag are also shown, one to the left with the fabric top rolled down and the buckle snapped shut and one to the right that is unrolled with one of the buckle ends showing.

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Meg Fleshman portrait

Meg Fleshman

megmadesewing.com

Meg is a pink loving, apparel sewing, flower fancying maker, living in Northern Virginia with her partner and three kids. Ever the hobby collector, she can usually be found with fabric, yarn or watercolors in hand!

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  • Love this! Where’s the picture? I need pics!

    Fran | December 6, 2022 at 8:52 am
    Reply
    • Glad you loved this project too, Fran!

      I’m seeing photos on my end of the post, does your comment mean that you’re not seeing any of Meg’s beautiful (and hungry-making!) bread bag images?

      If so, you might want to try a different browser or clearing your cache and seeing if that helps.

      Best,
      Betsy
      Spoonflower

      Betsy Greer | December 6, 2022 at 9:28 am
      Reply
  • Ij ust wanted to say that a good and fairly cheap place to find the buckles you will need is at Dollar Tree in the pet aisle . Dog collars will have the pairs you need and it will cost no more than $1.25 per collar. Just cut them off the webbing when you get home. I have done this numerous times when looking for such items when I’m sewing something .

    Teckla | August 16, 2022 at 11:01 am
    Reply
    • Thanks for that helpful tip, Teckla!

      Best,
      Betsy
      Spoonflower

      Betsy Greer | August 16, 2022 at 11:51 am
      Reply
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