Lovely, well done, how did you scrunch up the handles?.G
Make a casing over length of the desired handle length by 1.5 to 2 times. my handle is 18 inches total, thread a shoestring or cording through the casing gather between the desired section so that the casing is flat then gathered then flat.
It's hard to explain... I hope I was clear as mud :)
Lovely colours bags look great. I could see it also heading down to the Beach.