How to Line to a Crocheted Bag
By Rachel Lendyak-Peters – 11 Comments| We put so much thought, energy and love into our projects, so it may be a little disheartening when your beautiful crocheted bag just isn’t doing the job you want it to do. There is a simple solution though: A fabric lining! I know what you’re thinking – If this requires a sewing machine, count me out. Don’t be intimidated. I already know you are super crafty because you are reading this page. |  What a great little crocheted bag! So pretty and so practical…. Wait… that isn’t helpful at all! |
Why not expand your horizons a bit! The best part is that since the lining is on the inside, little mistakes will go completely unnoticed!
The first (and my favorite) step is choosing your fabric. You could keep close to your color scheme with a nice solid or subtle print, or go bold to add a pop of excitement and personality to your piece. Once you’ve selected your fabric, fold it with the right sides together and line the bottom of your bag up with the bottom fold.
If you are a Type A personality, precisely measure the height and length of your bag, adding ¼ inch for a seam and cut your fabric using the bottom fold for the bottom of the bag. Or if you are like me, line the bottom of the bag with the fold of the fabric and just eyeball it.
Fold and iron ¼ inch seam on top and bottom. Sew.
*NOTE* If you want to add a pocket now is a good time. Just cut a piece of fabric to the desired size. Seam the edges. Sew onto the right side of the fabric.
With right sides together, pin and sew up the sides. Then open and flatten seams with an iron.
To attach the lining to your bag, place your lining inside your bag. Remember the right sides will still be together and facing in since that is what you want showing! I used a simple running stitch along the top because it is kind of hidden in the seam stitching. But if you are more comfortable with fancier stitch, go for it!
I like to add a couple quick stitches to the bottom of the bag to keep the lining from popping inside out like your pants pocket.
Voila!
If you have questions or need help with lining your bag, feel free to leave a comment below!
What about bags done in the round, that you can’t make an easy square lining for?
I would suggest placing your bag upright on a piece of fabric, trace the bottom, allow some extra room for a seam and cut. Then measure the height and circumference of your bag, add room for a seam, and cut, keeping track of what is the top, bottom, and sides. After sewing a seam on the top, bring the two side edges of your large piece of fabric together and stitch that up, right sides facing. Pin your bottom piece of fabric to the bottom of your now cylinder shaped piece of fabric. Keep in mind that you want all the right sides facing in! Sew that up and then attach to your bag.
I hope that helps Amy! Although this may have the makings of a future tutorial!
Thank you so much for posting this!!! Bags are my favorite things to crochet, but I could never figure out how to line them with fabric. This will definitely be a handy article in the future. Thanks again!
One of the things that I have sometimes done to reinforce the crochet is glue (with fabric glue) felt to the inside of each finished section of crochet, leaving the edges exposed. Then I piece the sections together, create a lining and add it in. The felt just adds a little more stregth to the individual pieces.
Hello ! I do not have a sewing machine, but I do sew by hand and yes,I have made crochet bags and sewn linings. My fave lining materials are discarded t-shirts or jean material. Thank you for the advice on the projects- made- in -the -round -and-how -to -do- the- lining. I think,also ,there is another article on the way ! 😉
Thank you for your great tips and tutorials and I will say,that my fave project in the CS store, is the mesh beanie 🙂
I have made dozens in all different colors and it looks stunning in variegated yarn.
I also add sewn on beads and buttons to the band for extra detailing.
Thank you for all you do,Rachel ! You have definetly found your calling 🙂
Thanks for the easy to read instructions. It looks simple, but I still don’t want to do it. I have thought about making a lining somehow and ironing it on, just haven’t thought about how to do it, yet. Right now, I just double up my crochet piece, fold it, and sew through 4 thicknesses to get a lining.
Thanks. How timely this is! I just finished a purse and I told my husband I was going to put a liner in it because this weekend on a bus trip, one of my crochet hooks fell through and someone found it on the floor of the bus. Great that others are sharing their ideas!
for those that do not have a sewing machine you can also use iron on tape that if found in fabric stores in sewing accessopries dept. JO Ann’s & Michaels carry it also.
sylvia
Thanks, but if I had a sewing machine, then I would sew bags on that, instead of crocheting them. (I just thought that crocheted bags can only hold certain thingsand not anything small or pointy ;-). Thanks though.
thanks for the information, but my purse is rounded so how would i line that.
I would love to see this yarn in a granny square pattern.