How to Add a Fabric Lining to Your Crochet Bag - DIY Tutorial • A Plush Pineapple

Add a fabric lining to any crochet bag with this step-by-step tutorial. This tutorial includes instructions for adding a zipper to the lining as well if desired!

“Behind every successful woman is a fabulous handbag.”

Adding a fabric lining to your crochet bag can mean the difference in it looking home-made or store-bought!

Lining your crocheted bag with fabric provides many benefits. First of all, it adds structure. Many times, a crochet bag is flimsy and unstable. Adding a lining gives the bag some extra structure so it doesn’t stretch down to your knees when you fill it with all the things. Secondly, it protects the yarn. Yarn pills and separates easily. It doesn’t take very long before a pen, pencil, or other pointy narrow object will go right through the fabric of the yarn and cause an irreparable hole. Lastly, it gives the bag a finished, professional look. It could mean the difference in the bag looking home-made or store-bought. Once you decide to add a lining to your bag, you must choose how you want to line it.

When it comes to adding a lining to a bag, there are several options. You can choose to add a plain lining, a zippered lining, and even add pockets to your lining. This tutorial will cover adding a plain lining and a zippered lining. Once you have the steps down, you can add a lining to your crocheted bag in less than half an hour! Whether the bag is for you, a gift for a friend, or an item to sell, that is a small amount of time to increase…

…the value of the purse!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to the products used in this project. If you make a purchase through any of these links, we will get a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Materials

Crochet bag of your choosing
1 yard of fabric
Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
Zipper (optional)
Coordinating thread

Plain Lining Tutorial

Step 1

Press your fabric well.

Step 2

Fold the fabric in half selvedge to selvedge with right sides touching.

Step 3

Calculate the size of your lining based off of the following formulas:
- Length = height of purse + width of base + height of purse + ½” seam allowance (¼” per edge)
- Width = width of purse + ½” seam allowance (¼” per side)
Trim the sides and top of the fabric according to these measurements.
Example: Linen and Lace Backpack
- Height of purse (from edge of the base to the top edge) = 11″
- Width of base (straight side to straight side) = 6″
- Width of purse (half the circumference) = 13″
- Length of lining = 11″ + 6″ + 11″ + ½” = 28½”
- Width of lining = 13″ + ½” = 13½”

Step 4

Once your fabric is cut, fold one top edge (short side) ¼” over with wrong sides together and press.
Fold the same edge ¼” again and press.
Repeat on the other side.
Sew down the folded edges to create the hem.

Step 5

You should now have a rectangle of fabric hemmed on the short sides. Fold the fabric in half hem to hem with right sides touching.
Sew down each side with a ¼” seam allowance.
Serge or overcast the edges when finished.

Step 6

Insert your new liner into the bag and pin it in place.
Using an invisible stitch, hand sew the liner to the top of the bag. Be sure to grab only one side of the hem. The needle shouldn’t be visible from the right side. Use the crochet stitches as your guide and work the needle through each post (similar to mattress stitch).