Fabric Bread Box Tutorial
January 18th, 2010 | Published in Crafts, Sewing, Tutorials | 3 Comments

Whew! Christmas is over and it’s halfway through January! How did that happen? We finally got our Christmas tree out of the house today and are now starting to enjoy some of the great gifts that we received. My brother-in-law gave me the amazing King Arthur Flour Baker’s Companion cookbook for Christmas. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about baking bread. It’s such a well-written cookbook and I want to make every recipe in it! I’ve made a few so far, and the recipes are super easy to follow and so delicious.

With all of the bread I’ve been baking, I’ve been struggling to find a container to store and carry the bread in. I wanted to bring it places to share with people and none of my tupperware containers were the size of a bread loaf. So I decided to fashion a convertible, washable, colorful, portable, fabric bread box! And lucky for you, I took pictures throughout the process so that you can make one, too!

I made it to fit a small cutting board in the bottom so that I can just untie the straps, open it up, and cut right there. Then when I’m done, all I need to do is retie the straps. All of the crumbs are contained within! And if the fabric needs washing, I can just remove the cardboard inserts and throw the whole thing in the washing machine.
Here goes nothing! Please let me know if anything is unclear. I can try my best to clear it up for you!

Step 1: Cut out your fabric.
Outside fabric (1/2 yard total):
(2) 22” x 6” (tops)
(1) 18.5” x 22” (main piece)
Lining fabric (3/4 yard total):
(1) 12″ x 8.5″ (center piece)
(4) 6″ x 6″ (corners)
(2) 12″ x 6″ (long sides)
(2) 8.5″ x 6″ (short sides)
(2) 22″ x 6″ (tops)
(1) 4.5′ x 3” (long strap)
(4) 12″ x 2” (short straps)

Step 2: With right sides together, line up long edges of the main piece and top pieces of your outside fabric. Measure 5.5″ in from each corner and pin. Sew between pins. Set aside.

Step 3: Hem one edge of the lining center piece and each side piece (Iron down 1/4″ and then another 1/4″ and sew). These hemmed edges will be the entrance slots to slide cardboard inserts in and out.

Step 4: Baste one edge of each corner square down. (Iron down 1/2″ and baste.)


Step 5: Attach a corner square to the unfinished end of each side piece as seen here, lining up raw outside edges. The basted edge of each square will line up with the hemmed edge of another side piece.

Step 6: Attach long sides to center piece, lining up with the hemmed edge of center piece.

Step 7: Attach one short side to center (along the non-hemmed edge of center piece). The other short side will stay separate until you attach the lining to the outside fabric (next). Speaking of that separate short side: go ahead and baste down 1/2″ on the edge that will lay next to the hemmed center piece.

Step 8: Attach top pieces to long sides. (Only to the long sides, don’t sew the top pieces to corner squares. I didn’t take a picture of that step by itself, but you can see it attached in this photo.) Lay lining on top of outside fabric with right sides together. Pin. Sew around the whole thing, as shown here. It’s a little tricky to sew around the top flaps, so take it slow. Trim corners and flip right side out.

Step 9: Top stitch 1/4″ around the outside edge. Top stitch along all seams, tacking down all those places that you previously basted 1/2″ under. Be careful to leave the hemmed edge of each of those cardboard insert slots free.

Step 10: Iron strap pieces in half. Sew, trim excess fabric. Flip right-side out and iron again.

Step 11: Turn under strap edges and sew.

Step 12: Line up the center of the long strap with the center of the outside fabric. Attach at top-stitch lines (see circled areas above). Attach side straps to corners as seen above.


Step 13: Cut cardboard to fit in slots. Slip in. The cardboard is removable so that you can wash the fabric in a washing machine at any time.


Step 14: Fold up, tie short straps along long side to form a box. Tuck in top flaps and tie long strap across the top. Carry bread wherever you please!
Let me know if you make one! Happy bread making and sharing!





















