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 purse liner 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, regardless or how wide or tall. But in case you are interested, here is a link to the purse pattern used in this tutorial.

Not only does this tutorial show you how to line a crochet bag, but it also gives you instructions on how to take measurements of any bag for a perfect fit every time.

Furthermore, the tutorial also covers how to line a bag with a zipper. A zipper is optional, but it’s always good to have to make sure things don’t fall out of your bag or purse.

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. These pockets can be made to any size that you want to be.

Here are a few bag patterns to make this liner for.

• Crochet Tote Bag Pattern
• Bouncy Bubbly Crochet Tote
• Crochet Purse – Beads and Diamonds
• Lacy Textures Crochet Bag Pattern
• Beginner Crochet Bag

How to Line a Crochet Bag

This tutorial shows you how to take measurements, how to sew the liner with pockets and attach it to a knit or crocheted bag, as well as how to insert a zipper.

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Skill Level

• Easy

Materials For Lining This Bag

• Knit or 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

To use the formula, you will need the following measurements of your crocheted bag:

• Width
• Height
• Width on bottom of bag

Notes

• 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

Getting Started – Calculate the Measurements for the Liner Pieces

• 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. We will do the length later.
• My Width On Bottom: 2.5"
  
• Height of Bag: Lay the bag flat and measure from the top of the bag where you want the lining to reach to, all the way down to where it will meet the connecting strip.
• My Height Measurement: 6.5"
  
• 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".
• My Width: 10.5".

  Connecting Strip Width: 2.5"

  Subtract the connecting strip width from width of bag: 10.5" – 2.5" = 8"

  Width of Bag: 8"
  
• Connecting Strip Length: The strip length is 2 times the "Height of Bag", plus the "Width of Bag".
• Connecting Strip Length: 6.5" + 6.5" + 8" = 21"
• 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.

My Measurement After Seam Allowance

• Connecting Strip Width: 3.5"

  Connecting Strip Length: 22"

  Height of Bag: 7.5"

  Width of Bag: 9"

Cutting Your Material

• Cut 2 side pieces using the "Height" and "Width" of bag measurements.
• Cut 1 connecting strip using the "Connecting Strip 'Width' and 'Length'" measurements.
• Here are my two side pieces and the connecting strip cut to the measurements with seam allowances factored in.
  

Optional Pockets

• Decide whether or not you want to add pockets to your bag liner. If so, decide how wide and tall you would like them. Then once again, add 1 inch to each dimension for a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

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, OR 3" by 4" each.)

Larger Pocket (Cut 1)

• 7" by 9" (This will give you one pocket measuring 6" wide and 4.5" high.)
• These are my two pieces for the pockets.
  

Preparing 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.
• With your iron, press both pieces to set the crease.
• 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.
  
• Starting at the bottom of the bag, and with right sides of seams facing, align the bottom of the side pieces with the connecting strip, making sure the side pieces are centered along the connecting strip.
  
• Pin the connecting strip to the bottom edge of the two sides.
  
• Now 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 corresponding 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.

  You will do this 4 times for each seam along the sides. I pinned and sewed each seam separately, and sewed from the top seam down towards the bottom.
  
• Here is the wrong side of the first seam pinned and ready for sewing.
  
• Here the first seam is finished.
  
• The image below shows all four side seams sewn.

  Press seams open.

  Then re-press the top seamline back to the wrong side if it comes undone. (This seam has not been sewn yet.)

  The liner is now ready for the zipper.

  If you don't want the zipper, simply sew along the top edge and skip to "Sewing the Lining to the Bag".
  

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.
  
• It's hard to see in the image below, but when looking at it from the right side of the fabric, you can see the zipper teeth sticking over the edge of 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.
  
• Open and close the zipper a few times to make sure that it closes and opens 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 Bag
• Turn the lining right side out.

  Turn your bag inside out.

  Slip the lining over the 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.

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.