A linen bread bag has a handful of amazing benefits that paper and plastic bags don’t. If you want to enjoy freshly baked bread for longer, then you may want to consider buying or making your own. 

Bread bags are exactly what they sound like. They’re cloth bags that bread is stored in. Bread bags made of linen are great for the environment, great for preserving bread, and look nice in your kitchen, too. 

What’s So Great About Bread Bags?

A fresh loaf of bread straight out of the oven is something that everyone loves. Warm crumb with a flaky crust is delicious at any time of day, however, most people don’t get to enjoy freshly baked bread very often. 

Freshly baked bread when left out on the counter lasts for only about 3-4 days before it gets stale and starts growing mold. That means, you’d have to bake or buy at least 2 fresh loaves of bread per week if you wanted delicious bread every day. Unless you’re a baker or have the time and money to spare, this is simply out of the question.

That’s where linen bread bags come in handy. 

Linen is antimicrobial. Linen cloth stays clean better than other fabrics. It protects against bacteria, mildew, and (most importantly) mold. Its non-allergenic, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties make it perfect for bread bags, as well as for dressing wounds. 

Linen is breathable. This cloth is thin and doesn’t prevent airflow. Without air, the moisture in the bread will be trapped, causing the bread to get soggy. This is why fresh bread shouldn’t be stored in plastic bags. 

Linen is extremely absorbent. Similarly, linen captures any moisture released by the bread and keeps it away from the loaf. This prevents soggy bread, and also prevents mold formation. 

Linen is an insect repellent. Moths and mosquitos are naturally repelled by linen fabric. So, you don’t have to worry about insects finding their way into your bread. 

Linen is strong and long-lasting. Unlike paper bags, a linen bag can give you years of use. Linen can withstand stress, rips, and tears better than other fabric, and is 3 times stronger than wool and cotton.  

Linen is biodegradable. If you want to be eco-friendly, linen bread bags are your best option. Since you can reuse them time and time again, you won’t have to worry about filling any landfill with your single-use paper or plastic bag waste. 

Linen bags are attractive. This point probably isn’t that important, but it’s certainly worth noting. If you’re someone who likes to be creative, and/or who has a specific look in mind for their kitchen decor, then being able to customize your bread bag is a big plus. Linen is incredibly easy to work with, which means that sewing, embroidering, and decorating a linen bag of your own is something you may want to try out.   

Sewing a Linen Bread Bag

Now that you know all of the wonderful benefits of using linen bread bags, let’s get into how to actually make one of your own. A bread bag is one of the easiest sewing projects out there. So, even if you’ve never sewn before, making this simple bread bag shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for you. 

The most important material you need to make your linen bread bag is linen. You can use linen towels, napkins, or clothing for this project. Linen napkins are probably the easiest, since you most likely won’t have to cut or resize them.

Home Goods 18″ x 18″ Linen Napkins

This set of 12 plain linen napkins is perfect for crafting bread bags. For just over $20 you can get 6 bread bags worth of fabric. Plus, if you make a mistake and want to start over, you’ll have plenty of fabric to choose from. With the leftover napkins, you can make countless other sewing projects, or just use them as regular napkins.

Fingercraft 18″ x 18″ Linen Napkins

If you want something a little more colorful, try these. They cost just as much as the plain napkins, but come in 12 different colors. Mixed-and-matched bread bags are a great way to add a fun splash of color to your kitchen.

You Will Need…

  • 2 linen napkins or pieces of linen fabric
  • 2 22” pieces of ribbon or string 
  • A needle and thread, or sewing machine

Step 1 – Cut your fabric. You can use whatever linen fabric you have lying around your house as long as it’s big enough. After measuring the loaf of bread in my bread box, I decided to cut my fabric pieces to be 11 inches wide by 16 inches long. 

Step 2 – Sew the bottom seam. Lay the two fabric pieces on top of each other, then sew width-wise about ½”-1” from the bottom. After this, sew up the sides until you reach about 2” from the top. 

Step 3 – Sew the ribbon holes. To give this bag a drawstring closure, take one piece of ribbon and lay it width-wise across the top. Leave a few millimeters of space between the edge of the fabric and the ribbon. Then, fold the fabric over the ribbon and pin. 

When you pin, make sure you don’t attach the ribbon to the fabric. You should be able to pull the ribbon through the fabric with ease. Next, sew the fabric down. 

Step 4 – Repeat. Make another fabric loop on the other side of the fabric following the instructions in step 3. Again, make sure not to sew down the ribbon. 

Step 5 – Prettify your bag. I decided to tie my ribbons into two bows. This prevents them from falling out of the fabric, while also giving the bag a sweet, completed look. If you’re feeling extra crafty, you can embroider the fabric or add lace or another ribbon as decoration. 

Now that you know how to make your own bread bag, why not make some for friends and family? You can personalize the bags, making them great housewarming presents, and perfect for any “paniphiles” in your life. 

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