Is this not the cutest little bag you’ve ever seen?

I’m a sucker for daisy style flowers and for bags, so this little bag is a favourite for me already. Since I used a proper bag handle I decided to line this bag to give it more strength and prevent the square from getting out of shape when I start to use it.

So how have I made it?

This one is with a worsted weight cotton and two squares from the Hooked on Crochet Club library. I have joined them with crab stitch and then blocked it. The join is around 3 sides and then I worked the crab stitch around the top.

The lining I have made from some fabric that I had in my cupboard as I have quite the stash of small fabric that is sold as squares for quilting. I tried to match at least one of the colours in the fabric to the colours in the square. Now I cut and sewed this without any measurements. it is a bit oversized for the bag, but I’m ok with this. If you’re not, then make sure you measure and allow for seam allowances. 

I have cut the fabric as one piece by folding the fabric and then laying the square on top for size. I have then cut around the square. By cutting with the fold I only had to sew down two sides and then around the top. I have then folded over and hemmed the top of the bag. I have attached the straps by using a rigid ribbon cut and folded over the rings for the handle. I have then sewn the ribbon onto the wrong side of the sides of the bag so that they edges are hidden once the bag is inserted. The image below shows the finished lining before I placed it into the bag.

Once the lining was all stitched, I have then inserted it onto the bag and stitched around the top of the bag under the crab stitch border. I practiced on a square first to make sure that I had the stitch tension right. My only mistake was that I forgot that I wanted to sew on a magnetic clasp before I attached the lining. I could still sew it on now, but it is harder once the lining is attached.

If sewing isn’t your thing then you could get your hands on a calico drawstring bag or those sheer bags that some places like to send our yarn in (also available from some of the cheap shops around). You can then turn it inside out and use that to line your bag. You will still need to sew, but only around the top which is much easier to do than you think.

You don’t need to use handles like these either. You could use cord or ribbon or crochet handles. Just make sure that what ever you use for lining as the ‘right side’ facing to the inside of the bag so that you see that and not the back of the fabric and seams when you open the bag.

Hopefully you get the idea of what I did from the photos added. I’ll be showing my Hooked on Crochet Club members how I made it in more detail later this month in one of our weekly Hook and Learn Lessons. Not a member? You can join too! Just click here – I’ll let you bypass the waitlist!

If you love granny squares then be sure to subscribe to my blog as I share new ideas every month.

Seona x