Sewing a Vertical Organizer – Saving Space

Step 1

This handy accessory can become a “home” for all those little odds and ends that usually get hopelessly lost in most drawers—the clear pockets will conveniently hold jewelry, sewing supplies, or other small “spare parts” needed specifically for your hobby.

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Step 3

To make this organizer, you will need 3 main materials: a smooth, durable (preferably waterproof) fabric, thick clear vinyl, and bias tape. The structure will hang on an ordinary clothes hanger—you are sure to find one in any home.

What dimensions should you use for the fabric? Base it on the width of the hanger—the piece should be about 5 cm wider (an allowance for seams), and the length is completely up to you.

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Step 5

Test-fit the hanger: place it at the top of the piece, leaving a 1.5-2 cm margin, and trace around its outline—you can trace just one half of the hanger.

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Step 7

Fold the fabric in half and cut it out.

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Step 9

Keep in mind that you need two pieces so that the organizer holds its shape.

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Step 11

Round off the bottom of the pieces as well.

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Step 13

Now you can lay out the desired number of tiers/pockets across the surface of the future organizer and mark them with a fabric marker or pins.

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Step 15

Cut out long rectangles from the vinyl and bind their top edges with bias tape. Calculate their width to be wider than the actual width of the organizer from the start so that the pockets are roomy rather than flat.

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Step 17

Now mark the pocket widths on the vinyl strips and form small pleats: fold a pleat to the left on the left side of each pocket, and to the right on the right side.

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Step 19

Carefully secure all the pleats with pins.

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Step 21

Check how the pocket strip aligns with the main piece.

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Step 23

Stitch across, removing the pins as you go.

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Step 25

Now for the trick: flip the clear strip up, turning it over to the other side, and sew vertical lines across it to divide the continuous strip into individual pockets.

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Step 27

Sew all the remaining pocket “layers” in the same way.

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Step 29

Finish the top of the piece with a small opening and bias tape.

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Step 31

Stitch the 2 main pieces together along the top and sides.

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Step 33

Finish the raw edges with bias tape.

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Step 35

The bottom is still left unstitched—precisely so you can insert the hanger from below.

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Step 37

Now you can bind the bottom with bias tape as well.

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Step 39

Your practical hanging organizer for small items is ready to use! 😉

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Step 41

Special thanks to makeit-loveit.com for the photos and the tutorial idea!