How to Line Knitted or Crocheted Garments
Article by KarensVariety.com

Adding a lining to a knit or crocheted garment will help it keep its shape, add warmth, and prolong the life of the garment. This is especially true of heavy garments or yarn that is stretchy. Most knitting and crochet patterns do not give instructions for making a lining. You can cut, sew and attach a lining if you follow a few tips.

Press and block the finished knitted or crocheted pieces. Make a pattern by laying the pieces on tissue paper, then draw around the pieces. Use sewing chalk as it will not permanently mark your clothing piece if you touch the edge. Cut out the pattern pieces 1/2 inch larger than the pencil line for a seam allowance.

Your lining will not cover neck, wrist, waist or button bands, or ribbed edges. You may not wish to line the whole garment so consider which parts you wish to line before you make your pattern pieces. For example, if your skirt has a flounce, you may wish to line only the top portion of the skirt whereas you will wish to line all of a slim skirt. You will probably only wish to line the body portion of a sweater, not the arms. Remember to always leave a half inch seam allowance around the entire lining piece.

Sew the lining pieces together before attaching to your garment. I would suggest you baste or pin (pins can get caught in the knitting) the pieces first. Then insert into the garment wrong sides together and check for fit and sizing. You do not want your lining somewhat smaller than the garment or you will have wrinkling and pulling. Check for fit in zipper, armhole and neck areas. If you are satisfied that the assembled garment fits correctly, then sew the pattern pieces together.

Insert the sewn lining into the garment and carefully slip stitch it in place around the neckline, armholes and sleeve edges. Loosely tack the side seam allowances of the lining to the corresponding seam allowances of the garment from the underarm. This will prevent the lining from riding up. If your garment has a lacy, open stitch, or is heavy, or has a stretch to it, place a stitch to attach the lining to the garment invisibly at intervals through out. This will help it keep its shape.

Remember, you want to keep the shape of your garment but you do not want it to bunch to fit the lining. Lining does not stretch, knitting and crochet will stretch. If you find that that your garment bunches at the side seams, remove the stitches that are causing the problem.