I'm planning to make totes for my nieces for Xmas. Ages 6 & 8
I plan to quilt and line these totes and use childrens prints.

What would be a good size for girls this age, and still big enough to use for a couple years without being to big?

What about a closure?
( I was thinking a sew on Velcro strip?)

Short or long handles?

Anything else I should consider before I start?

Thank you for any info. :thumbup:

I try to make a childs tote at least large enough for a notebook if fit into. Make handles long enough to go over shoulder. the kids seem to like this size. Have added a pocket on the inside and/or outside. Hope this helps.

about 8" x 11" was the size my granddaughter's wanted for their tote bags. and they are firm believers you can never have too many bags ;) velcro is a good choice for closures, and shorter handles than what we would normally use...after all, they have short little arms, and don't usually like bags hitting below the knees :)
i made a little (change purse) size 'pouch' with velcro closure ... a little bigger than needed to hold business cards; put a ribbon on the corner and attached it to the inside pocket of the girl's tote bags so it can't get lost...it is where they stash their house key, library card, student id and any money they have to carry where ever they are going. they love their bags!

My DGD likes bags with drawstring closure. Nothing can fall out. I have never made a bag too big for any of my girls. LOL

I made the Quiltsmart smart bags for all of my grandkids. I even made one for my grandson with John Deere fabric so he could haul his tractors around. The bags take two fat quarters and are fast and very easy to make and are the perfect size for kids.

I searched and finally found the pattern here, http://www.quiltsmart.com/khxc/index...f=fun_smartbag

You can make the bags with or without the original interfacing. If you want to make more bags with interfacing you can use use plain interfacing from the fabric store.

Thanks for the info. It is the easiest way to do a bag. You are right too, don't have to use the interfacing, can use quilted fabric and regular fabric for the lining. It is such an easy way to do it. My quilt guild makes bags for charity...children's services. The kids that they 'rescue' often have nothing so the little bags we make are perfect for their toiletries (which are then given to them). I like the ease of construction of these cute little bags. You could make them any size...well, almost any size. Thanks again. barbb

Good morning Ladies! This is my first post but I read this Board every morning with my coffee to start the day right. Just this morning I received the Newsletter from the Pink Penguin . It has a cute lunch bag tutorial with vinyl cloth lining and draw string closure, size fit for kids.
See Pink Penguin :Tutorial/Lunch Bag (posted 10 Aug. 2010).

If you make them reversible, you can put more grown up print or solid on the inside, so the bag will grow with them.

Sorry I cant help, I am sure they will love what ever you make them. God bless.