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“Scrappy Strips Bag” refers to two different sewing projects: a small black-and-white fabric bag from American Patchwork & Quilting and a larger tablet or e-reader bag from Free-Tutorial.net. Their sizes, materials and construction differ, so choose the pattern that fits your intended use before cutting fabric.
Which Scrappy Strips Bag pattern is this?
American Patchwork & Quilting published its version on June 14, 2013. Inspired by Jeanne Pryor’s “Bare Necessities,” it names Judy Sams Sohn as project maker. It is a small general-purpose bag made by stitching fabric strips onto a muslin foundation. The pattern is described as a quick project using black-and-white prints, dots and stripes; its instructions are at American Patchwork & Quilting.
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A separate tutorial published by Free-Tutorial.net in April 2020 describes an 8-by-11-inch bag intended for a tablet or e-reader. It pieces a stripe from small scraps, then incorporates that panel into a larger bag with interfacing, a closure and a webbing strap. Its instructions are at Free-Tutorial.net.
How the two versions differ
| Feature | American Patchwork & Quilting (2013) | Free-Tutorial.net (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Intended use | Small general-purpose bag (American Patchwork & Quilting pattern) | Tablet or e-reader bag (Free-Tutorial.net tutorial) |
| Finished size | 6 by 7-1/2 inches (American Patchwork & Quilting pattern) | 8 by 11 inches (Free-Tutorial.net tutorial) |
| Strip approach | 1/2- to 1-inch-wide strips cover an 8-by-17-inch muslin foundation; shorter, narrower pieces are added on top (American Patchwork & Quilting pattern) | About twelve 5-by-2-inch strips from four to six scraps are pieced into a panel, then trimmed to 15 by 3 inches (Free-Tutorial.net tutorial) |
| Strap | One yard of 1/4-inch-wide black twisted cord, attached at opposite side seams (American Patchwork & Quilting pattern) | Four feet of 1-inch cotton webbing, attached using D-ring tabs (Free-Tutorial.net tutorial) |
| Lining and support | 6-by-16-inch floral lining; muslin foundation (American Patchwork & Quilting pattern) | Fat quarter each for exterior, lining and interfacing; author names Pellon 809 and says batting may be added for extra device protection (Free-Tutorial.net tutorial) |
| Closure and hardware | No closure hardware specified (American Patchwork & Quilting pattern) | Two 1-inch D-rings and a button or magnetic snap (Free-Tutorial.net tutorial) |
| Seam allowance | Measurements include 1/4-inch seam allowances; quantities are for 100% cotton (American Patchwork & Quilting pattern) | 1/2-inch seam allowances unless noted (Free-Tutorial.net tutorial) |
Making the small black-and-white bag
Gather the materials
- Assorted black-and-white prints, stripes and dots.
- An 8-by-17-inch muslin foundation.
- A 6-by-16-inch floral lining.
- One yard of 1/4-inch-wide black twisted cord for the strap.
The pattern’s listed quantities are for 100% cotton, and its measurements include 1/4-inch seam allowances. Follow the linked pattern for its full instructions and any diagrams.
#1 Best Overall
Piece and assemble the outer bag
- Tear or cut enough fabric strips, each 8 inches long and 1/2 to 1 inch wide, to cover the muslin. Tearing creates more textured edges, as the pattern notes.
- Sew the strips across the muslin foundation. Add shorter, narrower strips randomly over the top and stitch down the center of each added strip.
- Trim the pieced top to 6-1/2 by 17 inches. Fold it in half and sew the long edges, then turn it to form the outer bag.
- Make the lining from the floral rectangle. Fray the ends of the twisted cord and sew them into opposite side seams. Insert the lining and hand-stitch its folded edge to the bag.
Making the tablet or e-reader version
This is a distinct project, not a larger size of the American Patchwork & Quilting pattern. The Free-Tutorial.net supply list calls for a fat quarter each of exterior fabric, lining and interfacing; about twelve 5-by-2-inch strips from four to six scraps; strap tabs; four feet of 1-inch cotton webbing; two 1-inch D-rings; and a button or magnetic snap. The author names Pellon 809 interfacing and says batting is optional for an additional layer of device protection.
The construction begins by joining the scraps into an improvisational stripe and trimming that pieced section to 15 by 3 inches. It is then joined to exterior fabric. The tutorial proceeds with interfacing, a closure tab, D-ring strap tabs, the exterior bag and lining, then finishes the top and attaches the webbing strap. Its seam allowance is 1/2 inch unless otherwise noted. Use the linked tutorial for the complete sequence and pattern-specific pieces; do not substitute the smaller bag’s dimensions or cord-strap method.
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Best Value
- Made in United States
- Package length :7.0"
- Package width :6.0"
- Package height :0.5"
Rank #2
- This scrap-tastic quilt is sew amazing
- The Sew Scrappy Spools pattern is a collection of 14 scrappy blocks patterns
- Use them individually in small sewing projects or together in a sampler quilt
- Finished size: 72.5 inch x 90.5 inch
- Scrap buster quilt
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