I’ve searched high and low and Googled myself silly but have not been able to find a tutorial on attaching a lining to a crocheted bag.
I have formulated one that works well for me and the Cables and Bobbles “Belle” clutch I designed.
I’ve included photos with each step and I am hoping it all makes sense.
Let me know in the comments if you see any mistakes or anything I didn’t explain well enough.
FLIP YOUR BAG INSIDE OUT…
TAKE YOUR MEASUREMENTS…
Write down the width and add 1/2″ for (2) 1/4″ seam allowances.
example: width is 8″+ 1/2″ = 8.5″
Write down the height and multiply by 2.
example: height is 6″ X 2 =12″.
Now, add 1″ for (2) 1/2″ folds.
example: 12″ + 1″ =13″.
Now make your cuts…
Set aside and use the following formula for your pocket.
For example: for a 5″W by 3″ H pocket….
5″ + 1/2″ (2) 1/4″ seam allowances.
width: 5.5″.
3″ X 2 = 6″ + .5″ (2) 1/4″ seam allowances.
height: 6.5″.
Now, make your cuts…
BEGIN BAG LINING…
Lay fabric down wrong side facing up.
Create 1/2″ folds in both the top and the bottom of the piece and press with an iron.
(Be sure you are folding wrong sides together.)
Now, sew the folds down using a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Set aside.
MAKE YOUR POCKET…
Fold the piece in half, right sides facing and press with iron.
Sew around the edges using a 1/4″ seam allowance, leaving a space of about 2″ in the top center. Remember to backstitch when you start and when you finish.
Snip the corners.
Pull the pocket right side out and press with iron….
Pin pocket to bag lining, so that the opening of the pocket is at the bottom…
and stitch to bag, using a 1/4″ seam allowance
(remember to backstitch!!!!)….
Fold the entire piece in half, right sides facing and press with iron.
Sew up both sides of the lining, using a 1/4″ seam allowance….
Press the side seams open….
Flip lining right side out and cover your crocheted bag which you’ve already turned inside out. (Both the lining and the bag should be wrong sides facing together.)….
Position the lining where you want it and pin to the crocheted bag….
Thread your needle with about 18″ of thread, knotting it at the end with a 2″ tail.
To attach the lining, I use a running stitch that follows the machine stitches on the lining.
Starting at the side seam, insert the needle in one of the machine stitch holes.
Catch the yarn from the bag with your needle, bringing the needle back up through the lining about 3/8″ away from where you inserted the needle.
Continue this way around the entire bag, ending in the same side seam where you started.
Trim the thread off at about 2″ length and tie it to the beginning thread. Knot tightly and trim.
For clarification of the running stitch OR just an unintended attempt to confuse you even more, here is a diagram showing dashes for the machine stitches.
_ _ _._. _ _ _ ._. _ _ _ ._. _ _ _ ._ ._ _ _. _. _ _ _ ._.
The dots are where you insert your needle. The first dot is the needle coming back up through the lining and the second dot is where the needle goes back down into the fabric.
Bippitty, boppitty, Bag!
You’re done!
Enjoy your cute little hand crocheted, hand lined handbag.
And give yourself a hand. 😉
10 responses to “TUTORIAL: LINING A CROCHETED BAG…”
You make that look so easy.But for someone like me well…I’d rather buy it from you,that way when everyone is swooning other it I can tell them that my very talented cousin made it. And talented you are!!!
Well, as a casual sewer, it made perfect sense to me. I especially liked that you made the pocket double sided, so that you don’t see a “wrong side” from the inside of the pocket. It is all in the details! 🙂 You have inspired me to try one with some of my yarn and fabric stash. But knit of course, since I am cluless when it comes to a crochet hook. 🙂
Maija,
*blushing*
Thanks! 🙂
AmyL,
Thank you, Amy.
There are a ton of knit patterns for little purses over on etsy. Just search under “patterns”.
p.s.
Is this Derek’s wife? 🙂
Not only is the tutorial helpful, but the bag itself is adorable. I love this stitch and those awesome clutch handles.
Thanks for the great clear tutorial! I’ve always felted my crochet bags to make them more impenetrable, but this would certainly do the trick. And a great place to use some of my more impulsive fabric purchases! The bag is adorable, I’ve always had a fondness for bobbles, but have yet to use that stitch.
cheers,
Emily
OH MY GOODNESS!! Kalurah, this is SO fabulous! I must must must have one! Perfect for a chilly introduction to spring over here in the frigid midwest. I am stopping over at your esty shop TODAY.
LOVE IT!
hey Kalurah, yep this is Derek’s wife. I actually have an awesome knitting book with tons of cables and intricate stitches that would be perfect to try out on a little purse. Not so much commitment as a bigger project, which could be really time consuming if the stitch was intricate.
Excellent tutorial! The bag is so cute!
Thanks for a great tutorial! I love the bag as well! I have made several purses but didn’t know how to line them.
Blue Ridge Mountain Girl
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I’ve also looked for bag lining help and came up dry! I tried myself but completely failed! I’m so glad you have the tutorial for us sewing inept. Can’t wait to try it!