Embroidery Hoop Wall Organizers

Embroidery hoops are useful when doing precise hand sewing; they hold the fabric taut as you make the various stitches. Embroidery hoops are great assistants in other respects, too. Hang them on your walls and you can use them to organize all sorts of things.

You'll often find embroidery hoops at yard sales and flea markets, but even if you purchase a new one, you won't pay much money. The hoops you need are the type that comes with two rings. You set your fabric on one ring and slide the other, larger one over it. The fabric becomes trapped between the two hoops and stays in place.

Use the simple embroidery hoop to make a hanging pocket that's very useful. Lay the hoop on the fabric you want to use and draw around it. The fabric can be many different types as long as it isn't too thick. Denim, corduroy and similar types of material will not work well with the embroidery hoop.

Cut the fabric to be two inches larger, all the way around, than the circle you've drawn. Use this new piece of material to create a second piece. Fold the new circle in half then lay it on the cloth and draw around it. This cloth piece can be the same as the full circle or can be made from a different fabric.

Lay the full circle of cloth over the embroidery hoop, lay the half-circle on top of it, and position it so that the rounded sides of each piece align. The straight side of the half-circle should lie across the center of the full circle.

Position the large of the two embroidery hoops over the fabric pieces and slide it in place. With this arrangement, you have a full circle backgroud with a half-circle pocket. Hang it on the wall and slide in knitting needles, embroidery needles, crochet hooks and similar things. Or, make the hanging pocket a holder for notes, pictures and such.

Make a different wall organizer by laying a full circle of cloth over the embroidery hoop, laying a piece of quarter-inch elastic across the middle, then sliding the large hoop in place. This elastic band arrangement allows you to easily place photos, pencils, coupons or other things on the wall.

It only takes a couple of minutes to cut out the two cloth pieces, and another few seconds to slide one band over the other. With this craft being so quick and inexpensive it's the perfect solution to organizing any number of things in your home.