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The easiest way to put the zipper in was to stitch the zipper in the lining first and then stitch the lining itself together and then put the lining into the bag after the lining was sewn together. I just had to be sure I kept the right side of the lining facing inward! And where I had difficulty sewing the lining "bag" into the top seam area where the fabric is thickest, such as where the handles were stitched on, I used the hot glue gun instead rather than busting my sewing machine! I also used the hot glue gun to stick on all the shiny buttons I decorated this with. It seemed I'd accumulated a lot of shiny buttons from my mother's house when we cleaned it out after she died, and also another seamstress (sewciopath!) had handed off to me her supply of extra buttons. So I found sets of shiny buttons and arranged them on somewhat haphazardly but following the seam lines. It's a great shoulder bag and I've been using it a lot and get a lot of compliments about it!