First Attempt - no blood drawn yet

So I decided to make a start on my first sewing project despite not having a sewing machine yet.

My knitted bag with a very long handle

I knitted a little bag a few years ago which i LOVE, except I forgot just how stretchy wool is! The first time I tried to use it and put my purse, phone, keys etc. etc.... in it, the knitted strap just stretched and it hit the floor. Not a success! So the bag has been gathering dust and moths at the bottom of my cupboard, waiting for me to put a lining in. (Knitted in Rowan R2 fuzzi felt and Sirdar Curly Wurly for those wanting to know.)

Last weekend when I went fabric shopping I got some nice fairly thick fabric for a lining. I will honestly confess that I just made up a pattern as I went along! I tried lying the bag on the fabric to cut the sides of the lining, and then I cut a long strip for the handle. How on earth do you cut something so long and keep it straight!

The lining so far......

So far I have managed to tack the lining seams, and sew the sides to the strap by hand.

It looks quite good so far, and it fits in the bag! Whoo-hoo! One hurdle over. The next bit I am much less sure of. I need to attach the lining to the bag and along the handle.

So the question is, do I wait for the sewing machine and use this when I have worked out to use it? Or do I sew it by hand. At the moment I am favouring the latter - it might be years before I figure out how to wind a bobbin, and I am not sure about sewing through such thick knitting. Will it fit under the foot thing or break a needle?

Answers gratefully received!!!