How to insert a zipper and lining into a crochet purse tutorial
Friday, July 8th, 2011I just finished this awesome slate gray crochet purse from my original pattern and now I need to add those important finishing touches of a zipper and lining. I have created this tutorial to show in detail how I did this! To see more images of purses created with this pattern see my earlier blog post.
Purchase this crochet purse pattern here!
Inserting the zipper:
Purchase a zipper that is an inch or two longer than your opening.
Unzip the zipper and start pinning to the top of the purse. Note how the zipper teeth are just above the last crochet stitch, not below or even. This will help to make sure your crochet does not get caught in the zipper when in use.
Here is a picture looking at it from another angle:
Continue pinning the zipper to the purse all the way around:
A look at the pinning from a some different angles:
Hand or machine sew the zipper in place. I prefer to hand sew, thus the “organic” stitches:
Note how the extra inches of the zipper just float down into the corner of the purse:
Congratulations! You now have a fully functioning zippered purse!
Next up, I will show you how to line the purse.
Lining the purse:
Lay your purse flat and take the following measurements:
1) Height of the front panel – add 1/2 inch to your measurements
2) Width of the front panel – add 1/2 inch to your measurements
3) Height of the gusset (bottom and side piece) If you have an envelope purse, this measurement is not necessary as there is no bottom per se. – add 1/2 inch to your measurements
Height of front panel of this purse = 5 1/2 inches:
Width of front panel of this purse = 6 1/2 inches:
Height of the gusset = 3 inches
Cutting your lining fabric:
Cut 2 pieces for your front and back that are 6 x 7 inches (this is your 5 1/2 height + 1/2 seam allowance x 6 1/2 width + 1/2 in seam allowance)
Cut 1 piece for the gusset that is 3 1/2 x 19 inches (this is your 3 in height + 1/2 seam allowance x the sum of the height of the two front panels and width of the front panel including their seam allowances = 6+6+7
Sewing your lining:
With right sides facing, place one of the front panels centered on the gusset panel as shown below. Place pins 1/2 inch from each side of the front panel to show you where to start and stop sewing.
Sew between the 2 pins.
Pull the front piece back and place the other front piece as described above and pin and sew in place.
Your lining should now look like this:
Now, match up the top of the side of the gusset with the top of the side of one of the front panels and pin. Note how this forms a box shaped corner.
Sew from 1/2 inch from the top down to the corner. Repeat on all 4 sides. Your lining should now look like this:
Test fit your lining by inserting into your purse to make sure it feels like there is more lining than the inside of the purse.
Now, since this particular purse has a gusset and the sides round out and decrease as they get towards the top where the handles attach, you will want to mimic this in the lining. Right now you have a very square lining and a rounded purse. So place some pins about 1/2 inch from the seam angling in a similar angle as the purse sides.
Sew a diagonal line towards the side of the lining. Cut off the excess fabric from both sides.
See how much more like your purse the lining looks now! Next, press a 1/2 inch seam around the top of the lining.
Now place pins in the middle front of both sides of the lining and the purse.
Now insert the lining into the purse and line up the pins and re-pin the middle fronts of the lining to the middle fronts of the purse.
Now pin the lining all the way around the purse.
Now hand or machine sew all the way around the purse.
Voila! A completely finished purse!!!
Here are some other colors I have worked my pattern in:
