Allysse Riordan

#Crochet and #Sewing folks, I need your help.

I'm making a crochet pencil case. I'm planning to line it with some cotton fabric.

There are three separate panels (two in the images) to be sewn together. Should I line the crochet pieces before I sew them together or after?

I will be doing the work by hand as I don't have an easily accessible machine.

My sewing experience is limited to reattaching a button and making one or two wonky pouches, so assume I know next to nothing about it.

Mar 26 at 8:25amWeb
Show threadCaiCa 🇦🇺3d ago
Depends what you're after. Crochet has a lot of give in it. You can retain the shape by attaching a backing piece, so to speak, and then assembling the pencil case. Or you can have a "free-hanging" lining that's carries the weight inside the case and is attached at the top.
I don't have tremendous sewing experience, so I can't advise on the zipper, if it's a zipper fastener you're after.
Attaching the zipper would be a significant consideration, I reckon.
Show threadLea<33d ago
@allysseriordan im not 100% sure what you mean by lining the pieces tbh and I don’t have much experience with sewing but to sew two crochet pieces together you don’t need skill, you should just insert the stuffing needle into the edges like you would with a decrease and then on the other side too, I find that to look the most seamless
Idk if it helps I’m sorry!
Show threadAllysse Riordan3d ago

@Lea_loves_books thanks :) That is useful to know for the crochet pieces.

What I meant by lining is adding some cotton fabric to the crochet pieces. I'm going to put a few sharpish thing in the case, so I want some cotton fabric between the tool and the crochet work so it doesn't catch on it. Does that make more sense?

Show threadLea<33d ago
@allysseriordan ohh yes I see
Id say do the lining after sewing the pieces together, that way it’s easier and you have to just sew 4 lines and not 8 :)
Show threadAllysse Riordan3d ago
@Lea_loves_books thanks. After seems to be the consensus so I'll go with this :)
Show threadLea<32d ago
@allysseriordan alr, if you have any questions I can maybe answer js ask lol
Also have fun!
Show threadAllysse Riordan2d ago
@Lea_loves_books thank you ^^
Show threadProScience 🇪🇺3d ago

@allysseriordan

I'm a sewist with a bit of crochet experience but not with bags or pencil cases.

IMHO it would be easier to make a free hanging lining. Is there a pattern piece diagram you could show? It might be possible to simplify the number of lining pieces to one or two.

Furthermore, I'd consider crochet the pieces together rather than sewing them together, but that's just because I hate hand sewing. 🙃

Happy sewing!

Show threadAllysse Riordan3d ago

@proscience thanks :)

No diagram as I'm going with a short YouTube video as a tutorial. It's basically the two in the photo, and one longer thinner one in between that comes up to the top (not sure that makes sense). The video is https://youtu.be/wzq5asS_nVU?si=eKyDtXqiDc4X21kN

I think I know what you mean by free hanging lining but I'm going to have to look this up :) It gives me a starting place.

Do you just use the slip stitch to crochet the pieces together?

Pencil case | crochet tutorial

YouTube
Show threadmerigold3d ago
@allysseriordan @proscience Free hanging lining is a bag inside a bag. You make an outer piece and an inner piece (lining) and you sew them together, like in this video: https://youtu.be/i1AsfZRYlRM
How to sew a lined Zipper Pouch--great for Beginners!

YouTube
Show threadAllysse Riordan3d ago
@merigold @proscience thanks :) That's what I assumed it was. I'll have a watch of the video in a bit and see how its done.
Show threadProScience 🇪🇺3d ago

@allysseriordan

Will have to watch the video later. 🌞

Re: joining crochet pieces: Yes, you can join them with slip stitches or single crochet stitches.
The great advantage of crochet (and knitting) is that you try what works and looks best for you and frog if you don't like it.

Show threadProScience 🇪🇺2d ago

@allysseriordan

Hello, watched the video now, and you could absolutely crochet the pieces together, or even crochet the case as one piece instead of seperate ones. And you can make the lining out of one rectangle!

OTOH, if you happen to have small fabric scraps, this would be a great way to use them as lining pieces.

Have fun!

Show threadAllysse Riordan2d ago

@proscience thanks :) I'l think about crocheting the pieces together.

I have some fat quarters I picked up around December but I've done nothing with them yet. I'm planning on using one of them for this.

Show threadsir drawsalot is tiredâ„¢3d ago

@allysseriordan if i were making it, i think i'd go for a free-hanging, inserted pouch only attached at the top -- it would carry the weight and prevent the crochet from over stretching, and i think it would look neater too

For a crochet combo i'd sew the lining pouch fully before attaching it, and then i'd hand sew it on the inside, maybe to the zipper? Or maybe all the way through both the zipper and the crochet fabric, but not just to the crochet, the zipper fabric is tougher 🤔

Show threadAllysse Riordan3d ago
@ringlov thanks :) Free hanging seems to be the main suggestion for now. I'll likely go that way.
Show threadsir drawsalot is tiredâ„¢2d ago
@allysseriordan good luck! it's lovely that you're making it yourself :)
Show threadreform school3d ago
@allysseriordan Easiest might be: take a rectangle of fabric, fold in half. Stitch three sides. Flip "inside out" and now you have smooth seams facing into the liner. Press (iron) seams to keep them flat for when you add the crochet bag over.
Zippers are fiddly things. I would try one quick bag without, perhaps a draw string on top from the crochet bag, and get the hang of the mixed media. Second time, make one with a zipper.
Show threadreform school3d ago
@allysseriordan Stitching a D ring into the seam can be good for something to clip keys to.
If double-lined the fabric lining can also turn into a pen holder, change pocket, wallet pocket, brush holder, etc whatever you normally carry and have to hunt to find.
There are commercial handles (leather, chain...) or will you craft them? With fabric or crochet?
Lots to explore!
Show threadAllysse Riordan3d ago
@reformSchool thanks :) Loads of idea of explore. It's getting me excited to try all the things (eventually).
Show threadreform school2d ago
@[email protected] slow is smooth!
Show threadFrugalGamer3d ago
@allysseriordan after. you'll want to sew two fabric rectangles together and attach them at the top of the pencil case. letting the fabric mostly hang free keeps the strain off of the crochet work and prevents it from stretching out.

Make sure to sew the fabric right sides together, so that the edges aren't visible from the inside. you won't need to turn the fabric afterwords, but you can turn down just the top and then use ladder stitch to attach it to the crochet bits. I hope that's not too confusing! It's a bit tricky to describe.
Show threadAllysse Riordan3d ago

@FrugalGamer thanks :)

What you say seems to align with the other responses I've got so far. So I'm pretty sure I get what you mean :) I'll just have to check what the ladder stitch is because that I don't think I know.. I'm loving all this learning =D

Show threadChookMother 🇦🇺🦘2d ago
@allysseriordan You make the lining as a separate piece. Cut pieces of lining the same size as the main pieces of the pencil case. Sew along 3 sides and leave one side open - the same side that you left open on the pencil case. Now you sew the lining to the pencil case in this way:
- turn over the raw edges at the opening about ¼ inch.
- sew the folded edge to the pencil case. Pins will help to hold it in place.
The idea is to have no raw edges of the lining visible at the end.
Hope this helps.
Show threadAllysse Riordan2d ago
@anne_twain thank you :) That's helpful.
Show threadJenny Fx23h ago

@allysseriordan make them separately then attach.

This video is helpful for liners.
https://youtu.be/kuC-HPIq_g0?si=qK8pf5Cfas6g2j8K

6 Ways to Sew Bag Bottom | Sewing Tips for Beginners

YouTube