I made these purses for my two little nieces. I filled them with treats like fake tatoos and Play Doh and gave them to the girls on our family vacation in Hawaii.

I made the bags in two sizes. They are quick, cute, and simple. Here is the pattern if you want to make one too. Directions for the larger size are listed first with directions for the smaller one  in the parenthesis.

The finished sizes are as follows:

Large Bag- 9 1/2" X 11"

Small Bag- 7 1/2" X 9"

Main Fabric- 1/2 yard of Yuwa's Daisy Patch print in Lilac for the large purse, (1/2 yard Alexander Henry's Pink Zoo for the small purse)

Lining Fabric- 1/2 yard of a light blue polka dot for the large purse. (1/2 yard yellow Spot for the small purse) 

Handle- One Olympus handbag handle. They come in great colors and they are easy to sew on.

Embroidery Thread- One ball of Valdani Embroidery Thread. I used pink.

Embroidery Needle-A thin sharp one from the Millennium Collection by John James. This needle set has practically all the needles you'll ever need in it.
Thread- One spool of cotton thread in a purple (I used color number 6080) 

Pre Wash Fabrics- You should always pre wash. This is doubly true when you're giving the finished product to a kid. It needs to be able to be thrown it in the washing machine once it's done.

Press the fabrics

Cut the Bag Pieces- Cut two 12" (10") squares each of the Main Fabric and Lining Fabric.

Cut the Pocket Pieces- Cut one 6" (5") square each of the Main Fabric and Lining Fabric.  

Pin the two pocket pieces together, right sides facing.

Sew along all sides of the pocket with a 1/2" seam allowance, leaving a 2" opening at the bottom.

Trim the squares corners (to within an 1/8") to reduce bulk.

Turn the pocket right side out thru the 2" hole and iron flat, making sure to get the corners nice and pointy. (I usually use a knitting needle to poke the corners out). The 2" opening will still be unsewn (we will close it by topstiching later.)

Zig Zag stitch the top of the pocket 1/4" below the top seam.

Center and pin the pocket to the bag lining 3 1/2" (2 1/2") from all sides. The pocket's Main Fabric should be face up, to contrast with the lining.

Topstitch with a 1/4" seam allowance, along the sides and bottom of the pocket, sewing it to the bag lining.(This will also sew the bottom 2" opening closed.) Make sure to leave the top open.

Pin the bag lining to the bag exterior,  right sides together, so the pocket is in the inside. Then do the same to the other bag lining and exterior.

Sew both sets of  lining and exterior together with a 1/2" seam allowance just like you did the pocket, leaving a 2" hole at the bottom.

Trim off the corners.

Now, on both pieces, with the Main Fabric facing make a 2 1/2" (1 1/2") fold at the top of the piece, so that the Lining Fabric is revealed. Iron the fold down.

Match up both bag sides  and pin them together with the Main Fabric on the outside, the pocket on the inside, and the fold at the top.

Zig Zag stitch around the sides and bottom of the bag.

Now your bag's almost done. All there is left to do is to sew on the bag handles tightly by hand. This will be easy because the handles already have holes in them!

Now you can give it to your cute niece!