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    Home » Sewing Projects

    Bunk Bed Book Caddy Sewing Tutorial (Video)

    July 8, 2020 By Brandy 25 Comments

    ↓ Jump to Instructions

    A quick and easy 15 minute sewing tutorial for making a bunk bed book caddy. Perfect to hold chapter books, or anything you need within reach!

    Looking for another easy kids bedroom project? Make a fabric laundry bag to hang on the door! You can also find a felt variation of our book caddy in my sewing book for kids!

    Watch our step by step video!

    Years ago, when my boys were little, I made them each a bunk bed book caddy. They worked great for holding books, stuffed animals or small toys. I've updated the design to one that is simpler and a lot easier to make for my girls. Aaron saw it and asked me to make him a new one for his bed, too.

    woman sliding book caddy under mattress on bunkbed

    Essentially you are creating a long rectangle that slides under the mattress with a pocket on the end. So easy!

    bunk bed with book caddy hanging off top bunk

    The perfect place to store your chapter book when it's time to go to sleep.

    Supplies for Book Caddy

    1 ½ yards fabric, sewing pins, measuring tape, scissors and sewing machine.

    You'll need a 40" x 45" piece of fabric. You can keep the fabric folded and trim it to 20" wide and 45" long (when you open the fold it will be 40" x 45"). 

    Watch For Directional Prints

    It might be hard to see, but if you look at the book caddy that I made, the fabric pattern is right side up for the pocket front, and the fabric pattern is upside down for the rest of the caddy that slides under the mattress. THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT. So when deciding which is top, and which is bottom, make sure that the fabric print is UPSIDE DOWN. Then, when you go to fold the bottom edge up to create a pocket, the fabric will be facing the right direction for the pocket. I hope that makes sense!

    3 More Sewing Projects for Kids Rooms

    Dinosaur Pillowcase Tutorial

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    Kids Scrappy Quilt

    Bunk Bed Book Caddy Sewing Tutorial

    book caddy hanging on bunkbed
    Print
    5 from 1 vote

    Bunk Bed Book Caddy Sewing Tutorial

    A quick and easy 15 minute sewing tutorial for making a bunk bed book caddy. Perfect to hold chapter books, or anything you need within reach!
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Active Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time15 minutes mins
    Yield: 1 caddy
    Cost: $5

    Equipment

    • sewing machine
    • scissors
    • measuring tape
    • sewing pins

    Materials

    • 1 ½ yard fabric cotton, flannel or lightweight denim

    Instructions

    • Cut fabric into 40" x 45" rectangle.
      folded fabric with pins, scissors and a measuring tape
    • Fold in half. You should now have a 20" x 45" rectangle.
      fabric folded in half
    • Turn the fabric so that the right sides of the fabric are together. Sew side seam and bottom. Leave top open.
      Note: you can also stitch across the top, leaving a small opening to turn right side out.
    • Turn right side out. Fold top edges over and pin.
      hands pinning opening closed on book caddy
    • Fold bottom edge up 7" and pin sides.
      book caddy pocket pinned
    • Add pins in the center to mark the sewing line to divide the pocket into 2.
    • Top stitch around perimeter of the caddy.
    • Sew through center of the pocket (where you placed pins) to create two pockets.
    • Slide book caddy under bunk bed mattress.
      woman sliding book caddy under mattress on bunkbed

    Video

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    About Brandy

    Welcome! I'm Brandy, mother to 5 darling kiddos and a cute black lab named Toby. My husband is in the Coast Guard so we've lived all over the place, turning each house into a home. I love baking, sewing, making cute things with my kids, and sharing what I've learned with all of you!

    Comments

    1. Angie says

      October 15, 2011 at 1:31 pm

      My boys would adore this...and such a space-saver. Going to have to pin this one for later. 🙂

      Reply
    2. Tammie says

      September 30, 2011 at 12:13 pm

      What a great idea! I'm thinking I'll do these more for the little trinkets and toys that he plays with before bed. They end up at the foot of the bed or on the floor. What a great idea! Thanks for linking to delicateCONSTRUCTION!

      Reply
    3. Art For Little Hands says

      August 29, 2011 at 4:16 am

      Love this idea. My bookshelves just fell down off the wall. Three of them. They were great shelves, but not sturdy I guess. This is a great solution. Pinning!

      Reply
    4. Amy@Sassy Scarlett says

      August 02, 2011 at 4:04 pm

      I love this!!

      Reply
    5. aggieam01 says

      June 02, 2011 at 1:53 pm

      Well this just makes total sense and really solves a problem we have around here. Thank you so much for the inspiration. This is definitely on my list of things to make this summer!

      Reply
    6. Amy @ Positively Splendid says

      June 02, 2011 at 12:56 pm

      So, so SMART! I need to make these for my kiddos!

      Reply
    7. Ellie says

      March 27, 2011 at 9:25 pm

      What a great idea! They look super cute and practical. 🙂

      Reply
    8. Brittany says

      March 23, 2011 at 4:33 am

      Such a great idea, and even looks like something I might be able to make! Thanks!! 🙂

      Reply
    9. Stephanie says

      March 22, 2011 at 9:00 pm

      That's a really cute idea and they turned out nice!

      Reply
    10. Jennifer says

      March 22, 2011 at 5:36 pm

      Cool idea! We will be getting, or making rather, bunks for our boys very soon. I'll have to bookmark this project! Thanks for sharing over at Tip Me Tues.
      Jen
      Scissors & SPatulas

      Reply
    11. Stacy says

      March 21, 2011 at 11:09 pm

      Such a smart idea. I love it!

      Reply
    12. Stacy says

      March 21, 2011 at 11:09 pm

      Such a smart idea. I love it!

      Reply
    13. Last Minute Mel says

      March 21, 2011 at 10:55 pm

      Very cute, clever AND practical 🙂

      Reply
    14. The Gunny Sack says

      March 21, 2011 at 2:37 am

      This is a great idea! There are always way to many books on the bunk beds!

      Reply
    15. cajungal01 says

      March 21, 2011 at 2:22 am

      I love this idea! Thanks so much for sharing! I was trying to figure out if I wanted to put gutter shelves by my kids bed area (they are in bunk beds too) BUT this is SO MUCH BETTER!

      THANKS!
      ~robin

      Reply
    16. Steph @ Crafting in the Rain says

      March 21, 2011 at 2:06 am

      These are so cute! And I love the monograms 🙂

      Reply
    17. Tanya says

      March 18, 2011 at 12:16 am

      What a great space saver, and cute to boot! I've been wanting to make book slings to go on the wall next to my boys' beds (the kind that uses double curtain rod holders) but figured someone would get impaled. This is a great alternative!

      Reply
    18. Alicia @ littlesprinklesoffun says

      March 17, 2011 at 10:02 pm

      Great idea! Turned out so cute!
      I am your newest follower!

      Reply
    19. ME says

      March 17, 2011 at 7:19 pm

      Great idea!

      Reply
    20. Danielle says

      March 17, 2011 at 6:50 pm

      I love how these came out!

      Danielle

      Reply
    21. Erica {B is for Boy} says

      March 17, 2011 at 6:44 pm

      This is so clever & perfect for those piles of books next to the bed!

      Reply
    22. Alison says

      March 17, 2011 at 6:34 pm

      I love this! I just checked on my little one (it's naptime) and she has books all over her crib! Was just thinking I need something for her books!

      Reply
    23. Connie the crafterbug says

      March 17, 2011 at 6:15 pm

      Very good idea!

      Reply
    24. Amanda says

      March 17, 2011 at 6:03 pm

      Love this!! What a great idea!! I think I'll make them for my girls' bunk beds!!

      Reply
    25. Kim @ seven thirty three says

      March 17, 2011 at 4:39 pm

      I've been thinking of putting something like this for a while, but have yet to get around to it. I love how yours turned out!

      Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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