Bags & Totes
A bag has a job to do, and the pattern has to account for the weight it'll carry. That means a tight gauge so the fabric doesn't stretch into a hammock, a fibre that survives being dragged around, and often a lining or a firm base to keep the shape.
The patterns here tell you the finished dimensions flat and full, the handle length, and whether the base is worked separately. Where a bag needs a lining or interfacing to hold up in real use, that's in the materials list, not left as a surprise.
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Getting Bags & Totes right
Work bags tighter than you think
Any bag that carries weight will stretch along the direction of pull, especially at the handles. Go down a hook size from what the yarn suggests and aim for a firm, almost stiff fabric. A market bag is the exception - there, the stretch is the point.
Choose a fibre that takes abuse
Cotton, jute, hemp, and t-shirt yarn hold their shape and shrug off scuffs. Wool pills and felts where it rubs; soft acrylic goes limp under a laptop. Save the luxury yarn for the accessories and give the bag something hard-wearing.
Line anything that carries small items
Crochet fabric has gaps, and keys, pens, and coins find them. A simple fabric lining sewn to the inside of the top edge turns an open-mesh bag into something you can actually use, and gives the handles something firm to anchor to.