DIY Loft or Bunk Bed Storage Solution: Easy Sewing Project

For years most of my children have used lofts in their bedrooms, which we have all loved. A loft is a lot like a bunk bed but it just raises up one bed, leaving the area underneath open for other furniture. It gives them more space in the room and that “top bunk” feel to their beds😊. But one downside is the lack of storage of any kind at the top. There is no place to put books, bookmarks, water bottles, book lights, glasses or retainers.

I decided everyone needed some storage up there in the loft beds and sewed up some Bedside Pocket Caddies. These things are awesome for any bunk, bed with a frame or, of course, a loft. In our house we have two lofts – one that was built by my husband, and one we purchased from Ikea. I made two different sizes of straps so they would each fit.

Now each kid has a place to hang things in an organized space so they don’t have to climb down to get any of their “necessities.” And it is easy to customize the size of the pockets to hold whatever suits the need of the person using it. I love these for kids, teens and even college students!

Watch the video tutorial:

Supplies:

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• Cotton fabric for the pockets cut to 36 inches tall by 18 inches wide

• Cotton fabric for the five straps cut to 8 inches tall by 4 inches wide for a smaller frame. For the larger frame made with 2x4's my straps measured 12 x 4 1/4. If possible, measure the railing the straps will attach to and add 1 inch onto the measurement for the seam allowance.

• Fusible Fleece cut to 35 inches x 17 inches

• Fusible interfacing such as Pellon SF 101 cut into 5 pieces measuring 7 ½ x 3 1/2 for the shorter straps and 11 ½ x 3 ¾ for the larger straps.

• Plastic size 20 snaps

• Kam Snap table press OR Handheld snap press  

• Awl

• Rotary cutter, cutting mat and sewing ruler OR fabric scissors

• Small sewing ruler

• Fabric marking pen OR pencil/liner

• Iron and ironing board

• Sewing machine and matching all-purpose thread

• Sewing clips OR pins

Optional:

• Turning tool

 

Get started making a Bedside Pocket Caddy:

Start by interfacing all your fabric. Center the fusible fleece on the back of the large piece of cotton you will be using for the pockets themselves. Holding it in place, flip the fabric and fusible fleece over and iron into place. This heats the adhesive and also protects the fleece from being burned.

Interface each of the straps by centering the SF 101 and ironing it on.

Let’s prepare the straps for the Bedside Pocket Caddy:

Fold each of the straps in half the long way with the right sides of the fabric facing one another and sew ONE of the short ends and the long side with a ¼ inch seam allowance.

Clip the excess fabric from the sewn corners being careful not to cut your stitch line. Flip the fabric right side out through the remaining open end and iron flat.

Top stitch around the three sides leaving the open side alone. Repeat this process for each of the straps.

Sewing the body of the Bedside Pocket Caddy Organizer:

Place the large piece of pocket fabric (with the fusible fleece ironed on) right side up and position the straps on top. The raw, unfinished edge of the strap should be even with the top edge of the pocket fabric with the rest of the strap hanging down onto the pocket fabric. One strap should be centered in the middle of the pocket fabric. The two straps at the edges should be ½ inch in from the left and right sides. The remaining straps should be about 1 ½ inches from each other if you are sewing the shorter straps and 1 7/8 from each other if you are making the longer ones.

If you are able, it’s a good idea to take the project to the bed where it will be used and make sure the straps will fit the railing. If need be, move the straps.

After you have clipped or pinned the straps onto the pocket fabric, fold the bottom edge of the pocket fabric up to meet the top edge and move the clips/pins to hold all three layers of fabric (the top edge of the pocket fabric, the strap and the bottom edge of the pocket fabric). Remember – the straps should be sandwiched between both pieces of the pocket fabric.

Mark a six-inch section of the pocket fabric to leave unsewn in the next step. I like to use the last six inches on the right side for this area.

Sew around the three edges of the fabric with a ½ inch seam allowance leaving that 6-inch section alone.

Clip the excess fabric at the corners being careful not to cut the stitch line.

Flip the fabric right side out through the opening you left and push all the corners to the outside. Using a corner turning tool can help with this.

Iron all the seams flat and turn the fabric at the opening inward so it matches the sewn edge of the fabric.

Take the whole thing back to the sewing machine and top stitch around the entire rectangle which will also sew shut your opening.

Now it’s time to make the pockets on the Bedside Pocket Caddy Organizer:

Fold the bottom of the pocket fabric up seven inches, line up the side edges and clip in place.

Decide how big you want your pockets to be. I find it helpful to grab the items I want to fit and test them out, marking where I want the pockets to be.

Once you have figured out where you want to sew the pockets, use a fabric marking tool and ruler to draw straight lines on the front of the fabric. From the left of the fabric, I drew lines at 2 ¾ inches and 9 ¾ inches.

Sew the two sides of the pocket fabric in place using the lines you created when you top stitched the pocket fabric.

Then sew the lines you have drawn on for your pockets making sure to backstitch and go over the seam at the top of the pockets a few times as this area will take a lot of abuse when books and other items are slid in and out repeatedly.

Adding snaps to the Bedside Pocket Caddy Organizer:

Now you want to add the snaps to the straps. I like the put the male side of the snap on the top of the strap and the female side on the bottom, but this is just personal preference.

First mark the spot where you want to install the snap. Find the center of the strap by folding it in half lengthwise and using your fingers to crease the fabric. Measure 3/8 inch from the bottom of the strap and mark the spot in the center.

Then fold the top of the strap down to meet the very bottom of the strap where it meets the pocket fabric, and line up the edges.

Now hold both ends in place and use the awl to create a hole through both at the same time.

Install the male side of the snap at the top with the cap on the backside of the strap, and the female portion on bottom with the cap also on the backside. If you need any help with plastic snaps I have a step-by-step tutorial here. Don’t forget to test out the snaps and make sure everything is working properly once you have them installed.

Your Bedside Pocket Caddy is ready to snap onto a bed and be filled with all the important things!

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Happy crafting!