When I realized how many scissors, notebooks, pencils, markers and random little tools were scattered around my craft room every day, I knew I needed a storage solution — but not one that took up extra space.
And then it hit me: old jeans pockets.
They’re strong, they’re cute, and they already come in the perfect size to hold almost anything.
This DIY Hanging Denim Pocket Organizer is one of those projects that take almost no effort but instantly make your space feel more organized and intentional. If you sew (even at a beginner level), you can finish this in under an hour. And the best part? It’s made entirely from repurposed jeans, making it inexpensive, sturdy, and sustainable.
What You’ll Need
- old jeans (the back pockets!)
- sturdy denim or canvas strip/base
- sewing machine (straight stitch only)
- thread
- scissors or rotary cutter
- pins or clips
- wooden dowel or hanger (to mount on the wall)
How to Make a Hanging Denim Pocket Organizer
1. Cut Your Back Pockets (Repurposed Jeans Step)
Start by grabbing a pair of old jeans — any size, any wash. Worn denim actually looks even better for this kind of upcycled denim craft, so don’t worry if the fabric isn’t perfect.
Use sharp fabric scissors to cut around the back pockets, keeping the original stitching. I like leaving a small denim border around each pocket because it makes the sewing part easier and keeps that authentic repurposed jeans DIY look.
If you’re a beginner, this is a great place to start: cutting pockets is straightforward and very forgiving. You can’t really mess it up. It’s the perfect entry point for anyone doing sewing for beginners.
2. Prepare the Base Fabric (Wall Organizer Foundation)
Next, choose your backing fabric. You can use a long panel of denim, canvas, drop cloth, or any sturdy material you already have. This will become the foundation of your wall organizer DIY, so pick something that can hold weight without stretching.
Lay the fabric on your workspace and think about where you’ll hang it:
- Your craft room?
- Office?
- Kids’ room?
- Behind the door as a small-space storage hack?
Once you know the purpose, you’ll naturally know how tall and wide it needs to be. The great thing about this project is that it’s just one big rectangle — a super simple easy sewing project with no pattern needed.
3. Arrange the Pockets (Craft Room Organization Moment)
Now comes the fun part: layout. Place your pockets on top of the base and move them around until the organizer “makes sense” for your needs.
Think about what you want each row to hold:
- scissors, rotary cutters, small notebooks
- pens, brushes, markers
- craft tools, sewing tools, glue sticks
- phone chargers, reminders, or tiny office supplies
This is where the piece becomes a true vertical storage idea — you’re designing it to fit your lifestyle, not following a rigid template.
If you want a clean, modern look, align the pockets neatly in rows.
If you want something more eclectic, mix different denim shades and pocket shapes.
Either way, you suddenly end up with a functional and aesthetic craft room organization piece.
4. Sew the Pockets (Beginner-Friendly Stitching)
Once everything looks right, pin the pockets to the base fabric.
Sew around the sides and bottom of each pocket, using a simple straight stitch. That’s it — no curves, no tricky corners. Just follow the pocket’s natural shape.
This step is incredibly friendly for beginner sewing ideas, and denim pockets are strong enough that you don’t need interfacing or extra reinforcement. The sewing machine practically glides over them.
Before you know it, the organizer starts to look like something you’d buy — but better, because it’s made from upcycled denim and fits exactly what you need.
5. Add a Hanging Rod (Wall-Mounted Storage Hack)
To hang the organizer, fold the top edge of the base fabric over and sew a channel wide enough for a wooden dowel or even a recycled hanger.
This instantly transforms your project into a practical wall-mounted storage solution.
Slide the dowel through, tie a bit of twine or ribbon to the ends, and boom — your hanging organizer is ready to go on the wall.
6. Fill It & Enjoy the Extra Storage
Now comes the best part: loading it up.
Fill the pockets with scissors, notebooks, paintbrushes, rulers, markers, sewing tools — whatever fits your space.
This is why this DIY works so well:
it’s cute, inexpensive, sturdy, sustainable, and adds much-needed small-space storage without taking up floor or desk space. It’s basically a vertical storage miracle made from repurposed jeans
If you love sewing with old jeans, I have a full guide filled with creative denim craft ideas, tutorials, and easy beginner sewing projects using repurposed denim.
Explore the complete collection:
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