Use appropriately sized boxes to organize the closet.
Closets can store more than hanging clothes. Divided boxes allow you to store small items such as shoes and mittens. Hanging organizers with clear pockets keep very small items in view. Convert cardboard wine crates into divided storage boxes you can place under your hanging clothes or stack in an empty space. Recycle the heavy plastic storage bag that held your new comforter into a hanging organizer for your earrings and bracelets. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Divided Storage Box
1. Remove the dividers from the box. Press two opposite corners of the dividers gently toward each other to flatten the dividers. Draw a line across the dividers 15 inches from the bottom edge.
2. Cut along the line with shears.
3. Draw a line around the box 15 inches above the bottom.
4. Cut along the line with a serrated knife.
5. Replace the dividers in the box.
Hanging Pocket Organizer
6. Cut a 16-by-13-inch rectangle of heavy fabric. Cut two strips of heavy plastic 3 inches wide and 13 inches long and three strips of plastic 2 inches wide and 13 inches long.
7. Thread a sewing machine with heavy-duty thread and set it to sew a straight stitch. Place one of the 3-inch-wide strips along one short edge of the fabric. Sew 1/2 inch from the edge of the fabric. Place the second wide strip above the first strip, with the bottom edge of the second strip even with the top edge of the first strip. Sew the second strip on in the same way. Sew the remaining strips above the first two.
8. Sew the short edges of the strips to the fabric by stitching 1/2 inch from the edge of the organizer along the long edges of the fabric. Create small pockets by sewing across the plastic strips, perpendicular to the long edges of the strip, every 3 inches.
9. Round the corners of the organizer to make it easier to sew on the bias tape. Round the corners by cutting off 1/2 inch on each corner with a curved cut. Starting in the middle of the top edge, pin 1/2-inch-wide double-fold bias tape around the outside edge of the organizer. Fold under 1/2 inch on the final end of the tape and overlap this end 1/2 inch over the first end. Place the center fold in the bias tape along the edge of the organizer, and wrap the folded sides of the tape over the front and back sides of the fabric.
10. Sew on the bias tape by stitching 1/8 inch from the inside folds. Catch the folded edge of the bias tape on the back in the seam as you sew.
11. Fold the top of the organizer over the bar of a hanger so that a 1 1/2-inch fold hangs down on the back side. Sew 1 inch from the folded edge to attach the organizer to the hanger.
Tags: bias tape, inch from, edge organizer, above first, along line, along line with, bottom edge
