You simply cannot go wrong with any of the patterns by Lazy Girl Design. Joan uses rectangles, has color pictures through out the step by step directions ... she's the bomb!

http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/produ...urses_Bags/c50

Here's another resource for bag patterns (these are not freebies, but regular patterns to purchase):


http://www.emmastreasures.com/

I took a class with the designer last year, and she has a lot of really neat techniques that I haven't seen in any other bag patterns. Lots of designs, too.