Instructions

1. Purchase a length of plain linen or fine canvas, slightly larger than your bread making work surface. Most fabric is sold in yards, and one yard of linen or canvas will make a large proofing cloth. Alternatively, cut one-third of the fabric for a small cloth to line a bowl and use the remaining two-thirds for your main cloth.

2. Hem the edges by hand or on a sewing machine, This makes the cloth look neater, and prevents threads from getting into the bread dough.

3. Roll up the cloth. Unroll 12 to 24 inches of fabric and sprinkle it lightly with flour. Rub the flour into the cloth with a circular motion, until the flour is trapped into the mesh of the fabric. Repeat the process until the cloth can't hold any more flour.

4. Unroll another foot or two of the fabric and infuse the cloth with flour. The couche is ready.

5. Proof baguettes in your couche by bunching the fabric like corduroy. Place a baguette on the cloth, raise the fabric to form a wall, then place a second baguette on the other side. Repeat, until all the dough is supported by cloth.

6. Line a bowl or wicker basket with the couche to proof round loaves, or just form the cloth into a freestanding bowl shape on the counter.