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By Danika Herrick on March 8, 2024
By Courtney Napier on February 12, 2024
With Spoonflower Ambassador Meg Fleshman
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, especially when paired with one of our bread-themed designs!
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.
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. Fabric bread bags are not designed to keep bread fresh for several days like store-bought bread.
These DIY bread bags will keep fresh bread in optimal condition for a 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.
I now make all of our sandwich breads, baguettes, naan and rolls from scratch, but, of course, I needed a good way to store all 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.
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 you’d like to make, cut two pieces of fabric using the following measurements:
With right sides together and a 1/2” (1.27 cm) seam allowance, sew both the long sides and one short side of the fabric, like you’re making a weirdly shaped pillow case. The finished sewn together sides will make a U shape leaving the seam at the top of the bag open.
Linen likes to fray so be sure to finish all fabric edges with either pinking shears, a zig zag stitch or a serger.
Finish the open 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.
Laying the bag flat, cut your webbing the length of the top of the bag plus a few inches on each side. For the boule bag I’m making here, the top of the bag laid flat measures 12” (30.5 cm) and I cut my webbing at about 20” (50.8 cm).
Separate the buckle, then thread each piece onto one end of the 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.
If you’re making a baguette bag, note that the opening 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.
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 these linen bread bags I’ve made 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 for all kinds of freshly baked bread!
12 comments
2 comments
7 comments
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!
2 comments
You lost me at the webbing step. There are no images to show this, and the description makes no sense. What webbing are you referring to, because I don’t see a single image where webbing is shown.
Hi Jess!
Sorry for the confusion, I know that can be frustrating when making a project! The webbing in this project is the black webbing used for the roll-top closure. It’s mentioned in steps 4-6 with images as well, where you can also see how the bag closes too.
If you take a look at those steps and images and there’s a section you have particular questions about, please let us know!
Best,
Betsy
Spoonflower
Love this! Where’s the picture? I need pics!
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
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 .
Thanks for that helpful tip, Teckla!
Best,
Betsy
Spoonflower