"stiffening" a crocheted purse

[kachina.livejournal.com]

so i just finished crocheting a purse and was about to line it with fabric when one of my friends suggested that i wash it first in order to "stiffen" it. does anybody know what she was talking about? because i always thought that washing would result in felting...? she showed me this purse she had that was knitted but felt hard or stiff to the touch. does anybody know how that can be achieved??

thanks in advance! :)