I'm so excited about this one! This is the first project where I thought it up all myself and created it and it turned out just how I wanted it to! I'm so excited I just wanted to share it with you. I'm new to this so let me know if it doesn't make sense. I took lots of pictures to help my explaining.
What you'll need:
- One 12 x 26 piece of fabric for the bag
- Two 1.5 x 15 pieces of same or contrasting fabric for the strings {or you can use ribbon or rope or anything you want, just cut it at 15 "}
Strings:
{If you're doing ribbon or rope, skip steps 1-4 )
1. With your string fabric pieces, fold down one short end 1/4" and iron. Then again.
2. Fold the fabric in half; iron; and open back up.
3. Fold one long edge into the middle and iron, then the same for the other edge (so it's folded in thirds)
4. Then fold the fabric in half again, iron down, and top-stitch the
whole length.
Repeat for second string.
That's all for now with these, onto the bag:
5. Fold one of the long ends of the fabric down 1/2 in. and iron. fold down again and iron (you
can do this on both long ends but you don't need to.)
6. Iron down both the short ends 1/2 in. once
7. (This is going to be a confusing one) Place the short raw edge of the string (the side you didn't fold down) on the raw edge of the short side of the bag. Fold the bag fabric over the string so you can sew the edge of the bag closed without getting the string. Pin it down and sew the edge, Making sure you don't catch the ribbon in the stitch! keep the pin in for now.
8. When both short ends are sewn, fold the bag in half hamburger style so the right sides are
facing.
9. Sew the long edge with the raw edge first (the pinned side of the ribbons) together with a 1/4 in seam allowance. Sew over the ribbon a few times for durability.
10. Sew the folded edge next, starting from the bottom. Make sure you stop before you get
to the ribbons! I stopped at the top seam.
11. turn the bag right side out and iron. Tie a knot in the end of the ribbons if you want (it won't be a problem if you don't want to, I just did it for looks)
An optional way to do the bottom bag:
12. You can leave the bag as it is or you can do this: Turn the bag inside out again. fold the corner flat and pin it.
13. Sew straight across following the pin.
14. Trim the corner and turn right side out.
Ta Da! You're done. you can embellish as you want. Let me know if it's all totally confusing.
Zebras are his favorite. This was great - I traced it onto fabric, colored it with crayons, then ironed it (make sure you put a paper towel over the picture so you don't get wax on your iron). 
This inside fabric is probably my favorite. They only had the bright red straps, so that was a little disappointing, but I think it will be fine.
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