Today, I am going to show you how easy it is to make a linen bread bag. I’ve already told you how a linen bag is the best way to keep your bread fresh in Goodbye stale bread. How to keep bread fresh longer.
I’m not saying a linen bread bag is a miracle worker that will keep bread from ever turning stale; it is just a far better option than paper or plastic!
Why is linen better? The woven fibers that comprise linen make it breathable and a wonderful material to preserve bread. Linen will keep the inside of a bread loaf soft and maintain the crisp crust better than another type of storage.
Give it a try and enjoy your bread for a few more days!
Materials:
- 9"x34" inch piece of linen
- Sewing machine
- Scissors
- Measuring tape or ruler
Fold a piece of linen in half. Beginning at the fold, measure 17 inches of linen. This will leave you with a total length of 34 inches (of unfolded linen).
The width of your folded linen will be around 9 inches.
Seam the two longer sides of your folded linen.
If you have an outerlock machine, you can finish the seams with it. This step is completely optional though.
Flip your bag right-side out and you’re all done!
*Will you be making your own linen bread bag now? Let us know how you like it! Swing by our Facebook for linen ideas and more.
15 Comments
I made bread bags using these dimensions but I did not do a drawstring as it leaves too big of a hole for air to get in..I just seamed in the strips of cord about 2 inches below the top hem…
I made bread bags using these dimensions but I did not do a drawstring as it leaves too big of a hole for air to get in..I just seamed in the strips of cord about 2 inches below the top hem…
I was attempting to buy a linen bread bag and then I thought, why not try to make it. In my search to buy bread bags I came across your instructions. Voila. What a surprise. Instructions are simple enough and I am definitely going to make one instead of buying it. Now I have to just find where to get the linen… :>) Thank you for the time you took to put all this together.
Well, dumb me… I just noticed that this website is a “linen shop”. Duh!! I’ll have to check it out.
I had a dickens of a time finding affordable linen by the yard. I wound up buying a linen kitchen towel for $20.
Thank you so much! I was just about to buy one. Time to dust off the sewing machine 🙂
Thanks – this is a nice bread bag pattern, and different from the ones I have been making, so I like the variety. BTW – not everyone spells the word selvage…here in Canada, I was taught to spell the word selvedge. Keep the DIY projects going! I love to read them and try the ones I am interested in.
I’d recommend IL019 (shown in this tutorial) or 4C22 in Natural for this project. 4C22 has a more rustic look to it that I like.
An awful lot of words for a simple project. But I am glad we finally came to a conclusion. I would like to know what weight is recomended?
Okay, I hope this attempt goes through.
Anita, whether it’s properly called a casing, or referred to as a pocket – does it really matter? Secondly, it’s a “selvage” not a “selvedge”. You are, however, right about simply saying a 9″ x 34″ piece of linen.
Sharon, the 9″ x 34″ measurement is correct.
However, the finished product, using 1/2″ seams, will give a bag 8″ wide (the long sides are seamed).
Further, one must allow for the pocket/casing – a total of 1 1/2″, giving a final length of approximately 16 1/4 inches.
Oops, sorry, still not correct. Referring to the overall size piece of unsewn linen to for this project, one would need the material to measure 18″ by 34″. Then after folding the fabric in half and sewing the side seams, the result of the finished bread bag would have a width of 9″ and length of 17″.
Regarding the next to last comment, referring to the overall size of the linen to be sewn. If the width of the sewn bag is 9″ and the length is 34″, then you would need an unsewn piece of linen 18″ by 34,” before folding it to sew the side seams, resulting in a finished width of 9″ and length of 34″.
This bread bag is a great idea.
Dear Friends at Fabric Store . com,
Your simple,creative sewing projects are perfect for people who are always looking for simple, educational projects. If you work with Brownies or Scouts, “life skills” or Seniors activities groups, ( try adding simple embroidery or monograms), fund raisers, etc. Thank you!
Fortunately, I have been sewing since I was 9 and already know how to make these projects. But I think most new sewers would find these directions extremely confusing. I wish someone would edit this material and at least use the correct terminology, plus use photos that show each step. The drawstring is the cord that runs through the casing, not ‘pocket’ and the edge of the fabric is called the selvedge, and not everyone automatically cuts it off and throws it away! Also, just say that one piece of linen, 9″x34″, is needed-
The drawstring will work more smoothly if, instead of leaving an opening on the inside, you sew a buttonhole (BEFORE turning the edge under to sew the casing) so it’ll be on the center front of the bag-casing once it’s sewn.