Locker Organizer

The hardest part of having a locker is keeping it organized throughout the year, but you can make it a bit easier by making your student personalized locker organizer. This project is loaded with plenty of pockets for storage, pencil\pen holder, and even a frame that can hold your favorite photo or small mirror. The finished size is 8 1/2 ” x  30 1/2″ and is hung with magnetic clips, so it should fit almost any locker size.

Materials to Make a Locker Organizer

  • 5/8 – 1 yard cotton fabric
  • 3/8 yard of contrasting fabric for pocket backings (optional)
  • 1 yard interfacing
  • 1/3 yard cargo netting
  • 1 yard of 1/2″ wide double fold bias tape or self made binding
  • Mettler thread to match
  • Rotary cutter and mat
  • Ruler
  • Water soluble marker
  • Hand sewing needle
  • 2 Magnetic bull clips

 

Cutting:

Cotton Fabric:

  • Cut 2, 6″ x 7″ rectangles for Frame
  • Cut 1, 4 1/2″ x 7″ rectangle for Pencil Pocket
  • Cut 1, 7″ x 15 1/2″ rectangle for Expandable Pocket
  • Cut 1, 9 1/2 x 11″ rectangle for Frame\Pencil Pocket Backing
  • Cut 1, 9 1/2″ square for Expandable Pocket Backing
  • Cut 1, 9 1/2″ x 13″ rectangle for Cargo Pocket Backing
  • Cut 1, 9 1/2 x 31 1/2″ rectangle for Organizer Backing

Cargo Fabric:

  • Cut 1, 9 1/2″ square

Interfacing:

  • Cut 2, 6 x 7″ rectangles for Frame
  • Cut 1, 7 x 15 1/2″ rectangle for Expandable Pocket
  • Cut 1, 9 1/2 x 11″ rectangle for Frame\Pencil Pocket Backing
  • Cut 1, 9 1/2″ square for Expandable Pocket Backing
  • Cut 1, 9 1/2″ x 13″rectangle Cargo Pocket Backing
  • Cut 1, 9 1/2″ x 31 1/2″ rectangle for Organizer Backing

Once cut, fuse interfacing to the wrong side of cotton fabric.

Locker organizer tutorial from WeAllSew

Making the Frame:

All seam allowances are 1/2″ unless otherwise specified.

Measure 1 1/4″ away from all edges and mark, creating a square. Mark the center with an “X”

Cut across the “X” from each corner of the square. Do not cut out the square.

Locker organizer tutorial from WeAllSew

Press and fold back the triangle flaps to the wrong side of the frame. Remove any excess fabric that hangs outside the edge of the frame.

Repeat the above steps for the second frame piece.

Place the two frames pieces right side together and sew the TOP edge only (the side that measures 6″).

Fold back the frame pieces so that they are wrong sides together and press. Match the finished inner edges and edgestitch around the inner opening only as pictured below. If desired, baste the raw edges of the outer frame. Set aside.

 

 

Making the Pencil Pocket:

For the top edge of the pencil pocket (4 1/2″) under 1/4″ and press. Fold again by 1/4″, creating a narrow finished edge. Edgestitch close to finished edge.

Sew the Top Row:

With right sides together, place the frame and pencil pocket together, so that the finished edges are at the top and sew along the side. Press seams toward the pencil pocket.

Place the frame\pencil pocket on top of the right side of the Frame\Pencil Pocket Backing (9 1/2″ x 11″ rectangle), matching the bottom raw edges. Baste the side and bottom edges, leaving the top edge free.

 

Stitch down the center seam line of the frame\pencil pocket, through all the thickness. This will create a pocket to hold a photo and a pocket that can be used to hold pencils, pens, or markers.

 

Sew the Expandable Pocket:

Apply binding\bias tape to to the longest edge of the Expandable Pocket (15 1/2″).

Using the ruler, mark the pocket starting from the left side at 1 1/4″ (line 1), 2 3/4″ (line 2), 5  1/2″ (line 3), 7″ (line 4), 7 3/4″ (line 5), 8 1/2″ (line 6), 10″ (line 7), 12 5/8″ (line 8), 14 1/4″ (line 9)

 

Bring line 1 to line 2 and line 9 to 8. Crease in place, then fold back lines 1 and 9 again in an accordion fold so that the raw edges are brought back to the front.

 

 

Bring line 4 to 3 and line 6 to 7. Your pocket should now look like this from the wrong side and from the right side.

Edgestitch the side of each pocket to help the it retain it’s shape. (Optional, but recommended)

Place pocket on the Expandable Pocket Backing (9 1/2″ square). Baste sides and bottom edges together, being sure to keep the pockets free from stitching.

Sew down the middle of the pockets (line #5), through all the thickness. Set pocket aside.

Sewing the Cargo Pocket:

Place bias tape on top edge of the cargo netting and sew.

Place the cargo netting on top of the Cargo Pocket Backing, so that the bottom raw edges and sides are lined up. Baste around side and bottom edges, leaving top free.

Sewing the Organizer:

With right sides together, sew the bottom edge of the frame\pencil pocket to the top edge of the expandable pocket. The sew the bottom edge of the expandable pocket to the top edge of the cargo pocket.

With right sides together, place the front of the organizer to the backing fabric. Sew around all edges, leaving a 5-6″ opening for tuning.

Clip corners and turn the organizer right side out through the opening. Slipstitch the opening closed using a needle and matching thread.

Place the magnetic bull clips on each top edge of the organizer and hang!

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