DIY Door Caddy

Lately, I get the feeling that I’ve forgotten something pretty much every time I leave the house, which means I am constantly patting myself down to ensure that I have my keys, my Clipper card, my sunglasses, my gloves, and the various cell phones that I’m testing for work. So, I’ve started keeping everything in one big bag and hanging it over the door – but a more elegant solution would have been just to whip up a quick door caddy.

Now, although there are a few variations of this I can’t lie – ultimately this is probably going to require some sewing. If you’re looking for a starter version, consider this easy felt caddy. Since it’s intended to only hold a few items (phone, notebook, pen), you could probably get by with some Stitch Witchery but it’s not going to be as sturdy as it could be.

Alternatively, you can sew layers of felt along the outside edges to create pouches, and then cut out a circle in the center of the top layer so you can hang the whole thing on the doorknob. Or you can sew squares of fabric onto a larger swatch of fabric to create pockets (either vertically, to hang on a doorknob, or horizontally, for a bed or sofa caddy). You’ll also need to finish the base by sewing up the edges, and optionally, iron-on facing for support. These could all hypothetically be sewn by hand as well but again, I’m not going to lie to you – unless you’ve got skills, that is going to be one time-consuming pain in the ass. Best to borrow a machine or see if the good folks over at Workshop can’t help you out.

There’s also a template for a version with seam binding along the edges, or this nice and basic sewn caddy, or this felted one if that’s more your speed. If you’re comfortable sewing and making pouches, consider upgrading to a hanging caddy with multiple pockets – there’s a great template for a bathroom version made from terry cloth, or you can make a multipurpose full-sized door caddy with clear vinyl pockets to hold everything from scarves and gloves, to kitchen utensils, to bathroom supplies. This is actually easier than it sounds since, in essence, all you do is line up a strip of vinyl (or fabric) along a large swatch of fabric then sew along the bottom. Next sew up the sides (to create one big pocket), and then sew up vertical sections to create the sides of the pockets. It’s worth the effort too, because who couldn’t use extra space on the back of every door?

Images courtesy DesignSponge, MarthaStewart, and ArtNerdy.blogspot.com