What Can You Make With Your Fabric Scraps? Try a Bag Tag
A bag tag is a small embroidered or appliquéd fabric tag, usually tied on with ribbon, that's sized perfectly for using up leftover fabric scraps instead of letting them sit in a bin. Because each design only needs a small piece or two of fabric, a bag tag is one of the fastest ways to turn a scrap pile into something finished, friend, and MGQS carries a whole lineup of them, from playful to sentimental, so there's likely one that matches whatever's leftover in your stash.
Every stash has a pile of scraps too small to justify a real project but too nice to toss. A bag tag is exactly the kind of pattern that solves that problem. Most designs only call for a small piece or two of fabric, which means the odd remnants sitting at the bottom of your bin are usually more than enough to finish one.
Travel and retreat tags
If you're someone who packs a project bag for retreats, workshops, or trips, a couple of these tags are built with exactly that in mind. The Quilt Retreat Bag Tag and Let's Cruise Bag Tags both give your travel bag a little personality while making it easier to spot at a glance, whether that's on a luggage carousel or a crowded retreat table.
Nature and critter tags
For anyone with a soft spot for a specific creature or motif, the Honeybee Bag Tag and Flamingo Bag Tag are both small, single-motif designs that stitch up quickly and look great using just one or two coordinating scraps. The Tote Sweet Bag Tags lean into a similar spirit with a fruity, summery design that works well with brighter leftover prints.
Sentiment and encouragement tags
A couple of these designs carry a little more meaning stitched into them. The Do It For You Bag Tag and Be Kind Happy You Bag Tag both pair a short, encouraging phrase with the design, making them a nice option if you're making one as a small gift rather than just for yourself.
Fun and food tags
Rounding things out, the Pick Me Bag Tag and Movie Night Bag Tag both lean playful, a cheerful apple design and a cozy movie-night motif that work well for lighter, more whimsical scrap combinations.
Why these are a good scrap-stash project
Bag tags check a few boxes that make them worth keeping in your back pocket for scrap fabric specifically. They're small enough to finish in one sitting, they don't require matching yardage or a big cut of anything, and because each design is a self-contained motif, mismatched or leftover fabric often looks more intentional here than it would on a larger project. It's a good use for the fabric that's just a little too small for anything else, but too good to throw away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bag tag pattern?
A bag tag pattern is a small, embroidered or appliquéd fabric tag pattern, typically finished and attached to a bag or project with a ribbon or loop, used for personalizing or identifying a bag.
Are bag tags a good beginner project?
Yes. Because bag tags are small and use minimal fabric, they're a low-commitment way to practice appliqué or machine embroidery techniques without the time investment of a larger project.
How much fabric do I need to make a bag tag?
Requirements vary by design, but bag tags are generally sized to use small scraps rather than a full fat quarter or yard, making them a good match for leftover fabric.
Can I use mismatched fabric scraps for a bag tag?
Yes. Since each bag tag design is a small, self-contained motif, mismatched or leftover fabric often reads as an intentional design choice rather than a mismatch.
Ready to dig through your scrap bin? Browse the full lineup of bag tag patterns here: Shop Bag Tags at MGQS
P.S. These little tags make surprisingly thoughtful gifts, quick to stitch, easy to personalize, and small enough to tuck into a card or wrap alongside something bigger.