Lining a Crochet Purse

Lining a crochet purse is fairly easy to do once you have mastered the basics of sewing. A sewing machine helps to give you a professional look, however, you can also sew the lining by hand if you don’t have a machine.

The instructions given in this tutorial should work for just about any rectangular bag or purse. But in case you are interested, here is a link to the pattern used in this tutorial.

I added two optional pockets into the lining — one for credit or business cards and the other for miscellaneous items. For me this will serve as a purse and wallet in one. Rarely do I carry cash on me, so it’s perfect for my needs. If you do carry cash regularly, and you want to eliminate the need for a wallet as well, then feel free to adjust the width of the second pocket.

The zipper is also optional, but great if you will be using the bag as a purse.

Materials For Lining This Bag

• Crocheted Bag
• Fabric (I purchased half a meter and used about half of that for this bag.)
• Zipper
• Tape Measure
• Scissors
• Sewing Machine
• Needle and thread
• Iron

Taking Measurements

To get started, you will need to take measurements of the crocheted bag. You will need the width and height, as well as the bottom width of the bag in order to follow the formula as provided below. Seam allowances are added after the measurements of the bag have been determined. To help clarify the formula I have provided the measurements that I used for this bag. The formula should work for any bag measurements, but let me know if for some reason it don’t work out.

Instructions and Formula for Bag Measurements:

Connecting Strip Width: This is the strip that connects the two side pieces on each side as well as on the bottom. To obtain this width, take measurement across the shortest width on the bottom of the bag.
Height of Bag: Lay the bag flat and measure from the top where you want the lining to be all the way down to where it will meet the connecting strip.
Width of Bag: Lay the bag flat and measure from side to side. Take that measurement and subtract the measurement obtained for “Connecting Strip Width”. The final number is considered as the “Width of Bag” and will give you the correct measurement for cutting.
Connecting Strip Length: The strip length is 2 times the “Height of Bag”, plus the “Width of Bag”.

Now add 1″ seam allowance to each dimension in order to have a 1/2″ seam allowance on each side for sewing. If you are comfortable with a 1/4″ seam allowance, then only add 1/2″ to each dimension.

After seam allowances have been added:

• Cut 2 side pieces (one for each side) using the “Height” and “Width” of bag measurements.
• Cut 1 connecting strip using the “Connecting Strip ‘Width’ and ‘Length'” measurements.

Connecting Strip Width: 2.5″

Height of Bag: 6.5″

Width of Bag: 10.5″ – 2.5″ = 8″

Connecting Strip Length: 6.5″ + 6.5″ + 8″ = 21″

My Measurement After Seam Allowance:

Connecting Strip Width: 3.5″
Connecting Strip Length: 22″
Height of Bag: 7.5″
Width of Bag: 9″

Pockets (Optional):

A 1/2 Seam allowance has already been added to the following measurements.

Credit Card Holder (Cut 1)

7″ by 8″ (This will give you two credit card pockets with a total measurement of 6″ wide and 4″ high.)

Pocket (Cut 1)

7″ by 9″ (This will give you one pocket measuring 6″ wide and 4.5″ high.)

Sewing the Pockets

With right sides facing, fold credit card holder in half from top to bottom. Measurement should be 7″ by 4″ after it is folded.

Do the same for the pocket, which should measure 7″ by 4.5″ after it is folded.

Press the center on each piece.

Sew a half inch seam along the open edges leaving about 2-3″ open at the bottom. Do not sew along the top fold.

Snip the corners.

Turn both pockets right side out.

Position each pocket on right side of bag lining making sure the open part is facing the bottom of the bag.

Pin pockets in place, one on each side piece.

Sew pockets onto each side piece going as close to the edges as possible, and leaving the top open.

Large pocket is done.

For the credit card holder, sew a vertical line down the center of the pocket to act as a divider for the cards.

 

Sewing the Bag Lining

To make it easier for sewing, press all seams to the wrong sides of the fabric.

Pin the seams and sew along the bottom of each side beginning and ending 1/2″ from edge of side piece. This is the 1/2″ seam allowance needed for joining the sides to the connecting strip.

 

Press the seams open.

Next, fold the connecting strip over and align with the seam of the side piece. I found it helpful to have the right side facing out, pin together, then flip it wrong side out and re-pin the seam before sewing. I pinned and sewed each seam separately, and sewed from the top seam down towards the bottom.

Press seams open.

Re-press the top seamline to the wrong side.

Sewing the Zipper

With wrong side of bag facing out, lay the bag flat and pin the zipper so that the right side of the zipper faces up as pictured.

Pin zipper to one side as pictured, making sure that the teeth are sticking over the fabric.

Pin the other side in the same manner. You might want to close the zipper in order to make sure it lines up with the other side.

Close the zipper to make sure that it closes properly without getting caught on the fabric.

Open the zipper again, and with a zipper foot, sew both sides of the zipper to the bag.

You should have a small end of the zipper sticking out on either side of the bag.

 

Sewing the Lining to the Crocheted Bag

Turn the lining right side out and the crocheted bag inside out. Slip the lining over the crocheted bag aligning the sides and making sure the zipper ends are tucked in behind. Also, make sure that the zipper ends align with the handles on the bag.

Pin the lining to the bag.

Make sure that the end of the zipper is tucked in, at the same time, also make sure that the zipper slider is still accessible.

With a needle and thread, and using the running stitch, hand-sew the lining to the bag along the same stitches where the zipper was attached to the lining. The stitches can be worked into every machine stitch. However, I find that working into every second or third stitch is enough to secure the lining.

To Line the Handle

To line the handle, simply measure the length and width. Add your seam allowance to your measurement.

Press seams over to the wrong side and with a sewing machine sew around to secure the seam.

Next, with the wrong side facing the handle, pin the lining to the underside of the bag handle. With a needle and thread, hand-sew the lining using the running stitch.