Learn how to make a hanging shoe organizer with this free sewing pattern!  Hold all your kiddo's shoes with this fabric DIY shoe holder.

Free Pattern: Hanging Shoe Organizer

With four kids we have a ton of shoes.  This was my shoe organization system before. 

Just a basket that the shoes were supposed to be thrown in. The problem was that every time the kids looked for their shoes they would end up throwing them all out as they looked. And we have too many shoes to fit in the basket.

One day when I couldn't shut the closet door, because there were too many shoes in the way, I decided to try something new.  I made an over the door shoe organizer.

I have lots of sewing projects here. Do you need new curtains? Check out my How to Make Curtains post. Enjoy needlework, but don't know how to store all the thread? Make an Embroidery Thread Book  Need a new bedspread, but don't have a lot of time? Make this Easy Striped Quilt. Head to my sewing tab, to see even more sewing project ideas!

How to Make a DIY Hanging Shoe Organizer

This specific pattern is to hold children's shoes. I originally made this in September of 2011. At the time, my oldest kids wore children's size two. We have continued to use it over the years.

Now my youngest daughter is a children's size 4. We still use it for the two younger girls. Things like gym shoes don't fit very well, but we still put flip flops or girls dress shoes in the pockets.

It's also a handy place to keep my headphones and sunglasses that I use each morning on my walk.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.

Materials needed for a DIY over the door shoe organizer

• 1 piece fabric - 3/4 yard for back
• 4 pieces fabric - 1/4 yard each.
• adhesive backed hooks
• dowel - I used 7/16 because that's what I had
• sewing machine and sewing supplies

UPDATE: The adhesive backed hooks did not hold very long. What I ended up doing was using two door hooks. They hang on the top of the door and are much sturdier than the adhesive backed hooks. 

Also, using sturdy fabric will make the shoe holder more durable. We've used ours for almost 8 years. It's held up pretty well, but there is one spot where the weight of the shoes has ripped the pocket from the back. I suggest using a duck cloth or canvas for your fabric

Cut out your fabric to these sizes:

Back - 27" x 36"
4 strips for pockets - 9" x 36"
4 strips for hooks - 3" x 9"

Steps to Make a Hanging Shoe Organizer

Let's begin with the back. 

Hem under three sides of your back (leaving one 27" side open for now)

Begin with one of the 27" sides. The best way to hem is to fold the edge over 1/4 inch and then iron flat.

Then fold again 1/4 inch and iron flat again.

Stitch in place. Repeat this process with the two 36" sides.

For the fourth side, which will be the top side, you'll want to make a pocket for your dowel. So you will fold over 1/4 inch and iron, but then you will fold it over at least an inch. Stitch, leaving the ends open for the dowel to slide in.

For the hook straps, fold in half lengthwise with right sides together and stitch (left).
Then turn it right side out and iron flat (middle). Then top stitch close to edges. (right). Repeat for all strips.

Note: If using the sturdier door hooks that hang from the top of the door, you will only need to make 2 of these strips.

Sew the hook straps to the top, along the existing stitching.  I attached the end two straps 1" from each end and then eyeballed the middle two straps.

Now it's time to sew the pockets.

 Hem under the long sides of your pocket fabric and fold over and iron 1/4 inch on each short end.

Attaching the pockets

I attached the pockets two different ways.  I used pleats for some and I gathered the bottom for others.  I think the gathering was the easiest, so that's what I'll show you.

Using the longest stitch on your machine, sew along the bottom hem line. Sew again 1/8 inch from the first stitches.

Then pull on one of the threads to gather the material.

Place it on your backing and pin in place.  This will require some adjusting to get it to gather evenly. 

Stitch in place along both sides and bottom.

Next measure every six inches and marked it with a pin along the top and bottom.  Stitch a vertical seam to form the pockets. 

<
Repeat with other pocket strips.  I measured two inches down for the placement of the top pocket. I did the bottom pocket along the bottom. And I eyeballed the middle two pieces.


Insert your dowel in the top of the shoe rack. Mark it and then cut it to length. Mine ended up being 24". 



Attach your hooks to the inside of door using your shoe organizer as a guide for correct spacing
(or use the over the door hooks for a sturdier organizer).

Hang your organizer and fill with shoes.

I was able to fit 16 pairs of shoes into the 12 pockets.  Each of my son's tennis shoes needed their own pocket, but most of the shoes I could fit one or more pair to a pocket. It was easy to stick two pairs of my little one's flip flops into one pocket.

Hope this helps you get a little more organized.  It sure helped me.

Free Sewing Pattern for Shoe Organizer

Yield: 1

Author: Rachel

Estimated cost: $25

prep time: 10 Mperform time: 2 hourtotal time: 2 H & 10 M

Learn how to make a hanging shoe organizer with this free sewing pattern! Hold all your kiddo's shoes with this fabric DIY shoe holder.

materials:

• 1 piece fabric 3/4 yard for back
• 4 pieces fabric 1/4 yard each.
• over the door hooks
• dowel - I used 7/16 

tools:

• sewing machine and sewing supplies

steps:

1. Cut your fabric to the following sizes: Back - 27" x 36", 4 strips for pockets - 9" x 36", 2 strips for hooks - 3" x 9"
2. Hem 3 sides of your back, leaving one of the 27" sides open for now. (Fold over and press 1/4 inch, fold over and press again 1/4 inch. Stitch hem in place.)
3. For the remaining hem, fold over and press 1/4 inch and then fold over and press 1 inch. Stitch in place. This will leave an opening for the dowel to be inserted.
4. For the hook straps, fold in half lengthwise with right sides together and stitch. Then turn it right side out and iron flat. Then top stitch close to edges. Repeat for all strips.
5. Sew the hook straps to the top, along the existing stitching.
6. Hem under the long sides of your pocket fabric . Fold over and iron 1/4 inch on each short end.
7. Gather the pocket fabric. Using the longest stitch on your machine, sew along the bottom hem line. Sew again 1/8 inch from the first stitches. Then pull on one of the threads to gather the material. Place it on your backing and pin in place. This will require some adjusting to get it to gather evenly. Sew the pocket to the back along the sides and bottom.
8. Next measure every six inches and marked it with a pin along the top and bottom. Stitch a vertical seam to form the pockets.
9. Repeat with other pocket strips. I measured two inches down for the placement of the top pocket. I did the bottom pocket along the bottom. And I eyeballed the middle two pieces.
10. Insert your dowel in the top of the shoe rack. Mark it and then cut it to length. Mine ended up being 24".
11. Hang on a door using over the door hooks.

https://www.adventuresofadiymom.com/2011/09/sew-it-yourself-shoe-organizer.html

© 2019 Adventures of a DIY Mom

how to make a shoe rack out of cloth, diy hanging shoe organizer, how to sew a shoe organizer, how to make a hanging shoe bag, diy over the door shoe organizer, make fabric hanging shoe organizer, free sewing pattern for shoe organizer, free pattern: hanging shoe organizer, how to make a hanging shoe holder

Created using Craft Card Maker