DIY Sourdough Banneton Baskets
Sourdough. I love sourdough. I started making my own a year ago and I’ll never go back. It’s one of my favorite ways to implement homesteading practices into my daily life, while providing myself and others with gut healthy, nourishing bread.
However, many people feel like sourdough is tricky to get into and the amount of specialty equipment is intimidating. But there are ways to simplify the sourdough process and make it more cost effective to get started! That’s where making your own Banneton baskets comes in.
Banneton baskets are what you prove your sourdough in before you bake it, which is commonly done in the fridge overnight. Sewing your own can be far more cost effective and a great beginner friendly sewing project to help improve your sewing skills. Plus you still get that beautiful flour spiral on your loaf , just like from wooden Bannetons!
DIY Sourdough Banneton Basket
These bread proofing baskets are the perfect beginner sewing project!
Materials
- * 100% Cotton macrame or clothesline rope
- * Cotton thread
Tools
- * Scissors
- * Sewing machine
Instructions
1. Using a zigzag stitch set to its widest setting, start by sewing a 5” portion of your rope onto itself and stitch the length back and forth a few times to make sure it’s secure. The rope will be sitting next to itself and you’ll wanna make sure the zigzag is catching both sides of the rope.
2. Continue to sew the rope in a flat oval spiral, turning the base clockwise, until it measures about 7x4”. You can go bigger or smaller depending on how big you want your loaf to be. The sizing doesn't have to be exact.
3. Next, you’ll start to build the walls. This will be the trickiest part. As you are sewing the base, you’ll notice that the sides have a tendency to curl up. You will gradually start shifting your basket so that you are stacking the rope vertically on itself as you start to build the wall. I like to take the base bit of my machine off so that the basket can move around easily. See photos and video for reference.
4. Sew the walls to be about 4” tall.
5. Once your basket is the size you desire, cut your rope leaving an inch tail, fold the tail down into the interior and stitch to secure.
Notes
1. To stay on track easily, treat sewing this project like driving a car. It helps to look ahead rather than stare directly under the presser foot. By keeping the middle of the presser foot in line with the gap between the cords, you'll have a more even outcome.
2. Don’t be afraid to go back and restitch certain areas if you've missed them.
Photo Instructions
Supplies: Scissors, rope, thread, sewing machine.
Using a zigzag stitch set to its widest setting, start by sewing a 5” portion of your rope onto itself and stitch the length back and forth a few times to make sure it’s secure. The rope will be sitting next to itself and you’ll wanna make sure the zigzag is catching both sides of the rope.
Continue to sew the rope in a flat oval spiral, turning the base clockwise, until it measures about 7×4”. You can go bigger or smaller depending on how big you want your loaf to be. The sizing doesn’t have to be exact.
Next, you’ll start to build the walls. This will be the trickiest part. As you are sewing the base, you’ll notice that the sides have a tendency to curl up. You will gradually start shifting your basket so that you are stacking the rope vertically on itself as you start to build the wall. I like to take the base bit of my machine off so that the basket can move around easily. See photos for reference.
Sew the walls to be about 4” tall. Once your basket is the size you desire, cut your rope, fold down into the interior and stitch to secure.
Good luck on your sourdough journey!
