Fall is on our minds here at Spoonflower HQ and the changing season is the perfect excuse to do a little organizing and cleaning. Our sewing spaces can always use a good purge and straightening up, and who doesn’t love something beautiful to help get the job done!? Our friend and neighbor Sara, creative author of Radiant Home Studio, visits the blog to share a simple sewing tutorial for creating a fabric wall organizer.
I love decorating my home with handmade accents. It makes my house feel more cozy and adds pops of color in unexpected places. Today, I’ll show you how to make this simple hanging wall organizer using 4 coordinating fabrics.
The pockets are designed to hold standard size file folders. You can use it in the kitchen to organize mail, the craft room to organize supplies, or the kids’ room to organize toys. It’s versatile enough to work anywhere in the house!
If you aren’t sure how to choose fabric designs that coordinate, try searching through your favorite designer’s collections. Many of the Spoonflower designers upload their coordinating designs and group them into collections. I’ve chosen 3 designs from holli_zollinger’s Coral Summer collection plus a darker fabric, Herringbone Stripe in Navy by willowlanetextiles, for some contrast.
Materials:
- 1 yard main fabric (Linen Cotton Canvas is best for this project)
- 3 fat quarters of coordinating fabric (Linen Cotton Canvas)
- 2 yards ultra-firm 2 sided fusible interfacing (I recommend Peltex 2 sided fusible.)
- 2 grommets
- 3 yards of 1/2” double fold bias tape
Cutting Measurements:
From the main fabric, cut 2 rectangles 14” x 36”. From each of the 3 fat quarters, cut one 17” square for each pocket, and one rectangle 1” x 15”.
From interfacing cut 3 rectangles, 13” x 8”. Cut one rectangle 14” x 36”.
Optional: If you prefer a quilted style, swap the firm interfacing for quilt batting or fusible fleece and quilt as you go! If you don’t have grommets on hand, sew two sets of ribbon or bias binding to the top edge and tie them to your wall hooks.
Instructions:
Fold each 17” square in half, wrong sides together, and press. Insert the 13” x 8” interfacing rectangles between the folded fabric, centered horizontally and pushed into the crease. Press on both sides to fuse the interfacing to the fabric.
Topstitch across the folded edge of the pocket.
On each pocket, fold the sides 2” toward the back and press.
Then fold each of those 1 1/4” toward the front and press. You should have an accordion style fold with the raw edges extending 1/2” beyond the edge of the interfacing.
Topstitch along the side of the pockets along the inner crease, where the interfacing ends.
Place the two main fabric rectangles wrong sides together with interfacing sandwiched between. You will need to make sure everything is lined up and smooth before pressing. Press to fuse both fabric rectangles to the interfacing. Work a few inches at a time, alternating sides, to get a nice smooth finish.
Align the bottom pocket edge 2” above the bottom edge of the main fabric rectangle. Baste the side edges in place.
Align the bottom pocket edge of the center pocket 2” above the bottom pocket, and baste the side edges.
Align the top pocket 2” above the center pocket, and baste the side edges into place.
Create the trim for the bottom of the pockets using the 3 remaining strips of fabric. Fold and press the raw edges into the center.
Place each length of trim along the bottom edge of each pocket, covering the raw edge and tucking the side pleats under the pocket and inward. Topstitch along the trim on each of the folded edges. The center pocket might be a little bit tricky, but you can gently roll up the end and push it through the opening in your machine to the right of the needle.
Create rounded corners using a glass, bowl, or other rounded object. The angle isn’t particularly important, as long as each corner is the same. Rounded corners will make it easier to apply the binding in the next step.
Apply bias binding to the outer edge of the organizer, sandwiching the pocket edges between the binding as you go. Make sure to keep the pocket edges out of the binding.
My favorite method is to open one side of the bias binding and place it right side down on the back of the organizer. Make a little fold at the beginning so that you have a clean edge where it overlaps. Sew along the first crease, about 3/8” from the edge. When you reach the beginning, overlap the binding by about 1”.
Fold and press the binding toward the front side of the organizer. Align the edge with the stitching line from the back side and clip (or pin) in place. Using the stitching line from the back as a guide will ensure that you catch the back side of the binding in the stitching as well. Topstitch the binding on the front side of the organizer. Do not stitch over the pocket edges.
Apply the grommets to the top corners of the organizer. Measure in 1” from the top and side, and mark a 3/8” hole. Cut the hole using a sharp utility knife or small sharp scissors. Insert the grommet following the manufacturer’s directions. (If you would like more detailed instructions for inserting grommets, check out my Beach Tote Tutorial for step-by-step photos!)
That’s it! Find some hooks and go hang up your new organizer. Then smile every time you walk by it, admiring your pretty fabric designs and organizational skills!
I’m confused on: “sandwiching the pocket edges between the binding as you go. Make sure to keep the pocket edges out of the binding.”
How do you accomplish both??
Hi CJ,
Great question! When attaching the binding, you’ll want to secure the bottom layer of the pocket but not the portion that makes the pocket an accordion on the sides. If you have any other questions, please send us a message at [email protected]
-Meredith from Spoonflower
Great idea!! That would be amazing!
By modifying the dimensions, I can make this into an awesome Xmas card holder! And as is would make a great mail organizer.
I really like this. Making one tomorrow — fabric is all picked out!!
Thanks, Sandie! We agree–this is the best organizational tool for wrangling all those in-progress projects!
I love this idea. I usually have more than one project going at once and can use this organizer to sort and store directions, patterns and stencils. An additional bonus — I get to use up some of my scraps!
Thanks, Jess!! We love the fabrics Sara chose, too!
This is great! I could totally use one of these (my house is full of random piles of papers..) I love your fabric combinations too.