Child's tote bag

For this EASY, lined tote bag, you will need 2 coordinating cotton fabrics.  1/2 yard of each will be more than enough.  I haven't gotten great at figuring out exactly how much fabric to get yet, so I always wind up with extra.

From here on out, the bag EXTERIOR will be called Fabric A.  The bag INTERIOR will be called Fabric B.

Seams are 1/4" unless otherwise noted.

You will need:
a. (2) 14" x 14" pieces of Fabric A
b. (1) 6" x 10" piece of Fabric A
c. (1) 5" x 5" piece of Fabric A

d. (2) 14" x 14" pieces of Fabric B
e. (1) 6" x 10" piece of Fabric B
f. (1) 5" x 5" piece of Fabric B

for the handles you will need (2) 4" x 14" pieces of EITHER fabric.  I used Fabric A.

First you will make the pockets -

take b. and e. (the 6" x 10" pieces) and pin them right sides together.  sew around 3 sides, leaving a short side open for turning.  clip the corners, turn right side out and press.  do the same with c. and f. (the 5" x 5" pieces).  If you have directional fabrics, make sure that you are cutting and sewing them the way you would like them to be on your bag.

Then you will attach the pockets to the bag:

take one piece of a. (bag EXTERIOR) and center the larger pocket on it.  pin in place and sew around 3 sides on the bag front with 1/8" seam allowance.

take one piece of d. (bag INTERIOR) and center the smaller pocket on the top 1/3rd of the bag.  pin in place and sew around 3 sides on the bag inner back with 1/8" seam allowance.

Next, construct the interior and exterior of the bag:

line up the 2 a. pieces, right sides together, making SURE the pocket is facing what will be UP, and sew 3 sides together.  I chose to box my corners with a 1" box.  you can forgo this step if you'd like.  to do this though, line up your side and bottom seams, pinching them together.  from the point that you have just made, measure in 1" and mark a line across the corner.  sew along this line.  repeat on the opposite side.  you will want to turn the bag exterior right side out to ensure you are happy with your boxed corners.  turn wrong side out again and clip the corners, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance. turn exterior right side out.

repeat for the bag interior, but make sure you leave a large opening on the bottom for turning the bag right side out.

To make the handles:

take one handle, fold it in half wrong sides together along the long edge, press and then folded each edge into the center and press again, and then fold it along the original press line and stitch closed and around end and other side using a 1/8" seam allowance .  repeat with remaining handle.

To complete the bag:

pin your completed handles to the outside (right side) of the bag interior, about 1/3 of the way in from each side.  repeat on the back side of the bag, so you will have one handle pinned to the front and one side pinned to the back.
place the bag EXTERIOR into the bag interior so you have right sides together.  stitch together around top edge of bag.  turn bag right side out through the opening in the lining and sew the opening closed by whatever method you prefer (by hand, machine, etc.)  push lining into bag and then top stitch around top of bag using 1/8" seam allowance.  voila!

this is an adaptation of this crayon tote bag.  I left off the crayon pocket because my nephew doesn't like to color ( :? yeah, I don't get it either) and did the handles differently.