Oilcloth drawer organizer

It feels like I haven't sewn a quick, complete and satisfaction-inducing project in a while so I was kinda itching to just SEW something.  Anything! During M&L Fabric's 20% off sale, I bought some oilcloth (at $7.98/yard) so I've been thinking about projects to practice on.  Oilcloth has the consistency and rubbery-ness as duct-tape without the adhesive.  It's wipe-able and sturdy. I fortuitously came upon the Oilcloth Addict's blog, which is chock-ful of projects, tips and tricks, and inspiration.  She used the stuff to line her drawers and shelves.  Easy! and I have a drawer that needs lining! Excellent!

BEFORE: My mini-parsons desk drawer strewn with a clutter of sewing stuff.

Since my sewing drawer is very shallow (1" deep), typical drawer organizers would likely not fit or would be very difficult to find.  As in airplane overhead bins, items in the drawer tend to shift during the opening and closing of the drawer.  So instead of a simple flat liner, I decided to make a liner with "ridges" = drawer organizer. 


Items used for my little project



Items used:

-oilcloth (16" cut is the width of the drawer.  This roll of oilcloth is 29" (I just used the whole piece instead of trimming it off. I folded the top and bottom parts under the organizer.  The rubbery consistency actually helped the liner stay in place in the drawer)

-ruler and rotary cutter

-a general idea of the sizes of "ridges" that I wanted (I drew lines where I wanted to sew a line, and later learned that 1" is too much of a ridge so I shortened it to .5")

-pen (genioso that I am discovered that if I used the green pen then my lines wouldn't be as glaring as the red or black. And as I am still deficient in the area of sewing straight, the lines were a necessity)

-paperclips (instead of pins to hold my fold)

-allen wrench? used to run along and press the creases (oilcloth addict uses her fingers to press down the cloth)

-removeable putty to help keep the liner in place in the drawer

Tips from the Oilcloth addict's blog

-the painters tape and the xacto knife were used to cover and cut the bottom of the presser foot.  For some reason, the oilcloth moved easier under the "tricked out" presser foot.

-stitch length 4-5 (I used 4.5)

AFTER: organized, cute, removeable and cute! drawer

I simply sewed half-inch ridges an inch, 2 inches, 2.5 inches or 3 inches apart depending on my whim (I'm very whimmy) until the liner totaled the length of the drawer (so exact, I know).  I discovered that the 1 inch tall ridges were too deep so I switched to half inches. I had to crease each ridge on its left side and then on its right side so that the ridges would stand up straight.   The largest row was not large enough for my bobbin holder, but I could "adjust" the compartment by squashing down one of the ridges.  Great, huh?

Other projects made with oilcloth: diaper changing pad, make-up brush holder, purse pocket organizer, (no lunch/snack bags or baby bibs as the material contains phthalates)

Other oilcloth-type materials to consider: laminated cotton, heat'nbond laminate onto cotton fabric, waterproof outdoor canvas