Craft Room Storage Idea: A 3D Printed Organizer for Zippers, Tassels and More

Some craft supplies are surprisingly difficult to organize.

They are not exactly small enough for a tiny box, not bulky enough for a large bin, and not always easy to store flat. Zippers, ribbons, trims, cords, necklaces, keychains, charms, and other hanging supplies can quickly turn into a tangled little mess if they are stored in a drawer or basket.

I started thinking about this because I have been using zippers a lot lately, especially for sewing and in-the-hoop embroidery projects. I wanted to keep them visible, easy to reach, and sorted by color. But I could not find a ready-made solution that worked exactly the way I wanted.

So I made one myself with my 3D printer.

The result was a freestanding organizer stand that I first planned to use for zippers. But once I printed and tested it, I realized it was much more versatile than that. It can hold zippers, jewelry, ribbons, trims, small hanging tools, keychains, charms, and many other creative supplies.

Sometimes one simple storage idea can solve more than one craft room problem.

Why Some Craft Supplies Are So Hard to Store

Not all craft supplies fit neatly into drawers.

Flat materials, like fabric pieces or sheets of paper, are usually easy to stack. Small things, like buttons or beads, can go into containers. But long, flexible, hanging items are a different story.

Zippers can bend, twist, and disappear under other supplies. Necklaces can tangle. Ribbons and cords can become messy if they are tossed into a box. Small tools with loops can be hard to find when they are mixed with everything else.

The problem is not always the amount of supplies. Sometimes the real problem is that the storage method does not match the item's shape.

For long or hanging supplies, vertical storage can be much more practical.

Why Vertical Storage Works So Well

Vertical storage makes supplies easier to see.

When zippers hang down, you can quickly notice their colors, lengths, and zipper pulls. This is especially helpful when you are choosing a zipper for a sewing project, a zipper pouch, or an in-the-hoop embroidery design.

For in-the-hoop projects, I also like to keep my zippers as smooth and flat as possible. A wrinkled or bent zipper can be harder to place neatly in the hoop, and a straight zipper helps the finished project look cleaner. I usually press my zippers before using them, and hanging storage helps them stay that way instead of becoming folded or crushed in a drawer.

This type of storage also makes it easier to see what colors you already have. When everything is visible, you can quickly choose a zipper that matches your current project – or notice which colors are missing and add them to your shopping list.

The same idea works for other supplies, too. When necklaces or chains hang freely, they are less likely to tangle. When ribbons or trims are stored visibly, it is easier to remember what you already have.

Visible storage can also save time. Instead of opening several drawers or digging through containers, you can simply look at the organizer and pick what you need.

When Wall Storage Is Not an Option

Wall organizers and pegboards can be wonderful for craft rooms. Systems like IKEA SKÅDIS are popular for a reason: they make supplies visible, accessible, and easy to arrange.

But wall storage is not always possible.

Sometimes you cannot drill holes in the wall. Sometimes there is no free wall space. And sometimes the wall space exists, but it is not where you actually work.

This can be especially true in rented homes, small sewing corners, shared rooms, temporary workspaces, or craft areas that change often.

That was one of the reasons I wanted to make a freestanding organizer instead of another wall-mounted solution. I needed something that could sit exactly where I needed it: on a desk, shelf, cabinet, or next to my sewing machine.

And if my workspace changes, the organizer can move with me.

A Freestanding Organizer for Flexible Creative Spaces

A freestanding organizer is not meant to replace every storage system in a craft room. It is more like a small, flexible station for the supplies you want to keep visible, reachable, and easy to move.

You can place it near your current project, use it as temporary storage while you work, or keep it as a permanent display for the items you use often.

This is especially helpful if you do different types of crafts.

One day, the stand can hold zippers for sewing projects. Another day, it can hold ribbons, trims, or tassels. It can also work as a jewelry stand, a display for handmade charms, or a place to keep small tools with hanging loops.

Creative spaces are always changing, so I like storage ideas that can change with them.

What Can You Store on This Type of Organizer?

Although I designed this stand because I needed better zipper storage, it turned out to be useful for many different supplies.

Here are a few ideas:

You can use it as a zipper organizer for sewing, bag making, zipper pouches, and in-the-hoop embroidery projects. Hanging the zippers keeps them visible, easy to sort by color, and less likely to become wrinkled or bent after pressing.

You can use it as a jewelry organizer for necklaces, chains, bracelets, pendants, and handmade jewelry.

You can use it for ribbons, trims, cords, lace, small tassels, or decorative strings.

You can hang keychains, charms, small handmade ornaments, or packaging tags.

You can also use the small tray section for tiny items that belong with your hanging supplies: zipper pulls, jump rings, clips, hooks, small charms, beads, labels, or other little pieces of hardware.

The main idea is simple: if something is long, flexible, easy to tangle, or better stored hanging, this type of organizer can be useful.

My 3D Printed Organizer Stand

After testing the idea, I created a 3D printable organizer stand as an STL file set.

I wanted it to feel useful for a real creative workspace, not just for one very specific item. That is why I designed it as a modular organizer rather than only a zipper rack.

The stand can be assembled in different ways, almost like a small construction set. You can choose the base style, add hanging levels, and include an optional small tray section if you need a place for tiny supplies.

The STL file set includes three base options. One is a simple clean base, and the other two are tray-style bases that can be useful if you want extra space at the bottom for small items.

There is also an optional small tray section that can be placed higher on the stand. In my case, this little section is especially useful for zipper pulls, but it could also hold small hooks, rings, clips, charms, labels, or other tiny hardware pieces that are easy to lose.

The stand can also have two hanging levels, which gives more space for organizing supplies vertically. For example, zippers can be sorted by color, length, or type, and smaller hanging items can be placed on a separate level.

For zipper storage, I like that the colors stay visible and easy to compare. The zippers can hang freely instead of being folded or crushed in a drawer, which helps them stay smooth after pressing.

It is a practical little storage piece, but it can also look nice on a shelf or craft table.

Why I Like Modular Craft Storage

Craft rooms are rarely finished forever.

We change hobbies, add tools, try new materials, reorganize shelves, and move supplies from one corner to another. A storage solution that works perfectly today might need to do something different next month.

That is why I like modular and flexible storage.

Instead of making a storage piece for only one exact purpose, I prefer designs that can be adapted. A good craft organizer should help with the way you actually work, not force you to organize everything in one fixed way.

For me, this stand started as a solution for zippers. But now I can imagine using it for jewelry, trims, handmade ornaments, small tools, or even display pieces for photos and product pictures.

That makes it much more useful in a creative space.

A Small Storage Idea That Makes Supplies Easier to Use

Organizing a craft room does not always mean buying large furniture or creating a perfect studio setup.

Sometimes a small, movable organizer can make a big difference.

If your supplies are visible, you are more likely to use them. If they are easy to reach, your creative process feels smoother. And if your storage can move with you, it becomes much easier to adapt your space to the project you are working on right now.

This little organizer started with a simple problem: I needed a better way to store zippers.

But it turned into a flexible storage idea for many different creative supplies.

If you have a 3D printer or access to a 3D printing service, you can find the digital STL file set in my Etsy shop. This is a 3D printable file set, not a finished physical organizer. It includes modular parts, three base options, hanging levels, and an optional small tray section, so you can choose the setup that works best for your craft room.

Sometimes the best craft room storage is the one that fits not only your supplies, but also the way you actually create.

FAQ

What is the best way to store zippers for sewing projects?

For sewing and in-the-hoop embroidery projects, zippers are often easier to use when they are stored hanging rather than folded in a drawer. Hanging storage keeps the colors visible, helps prevent tangling, and can help pressed zippers stay smooth and ready for your next project.

Why is it helpful to keep zippers smooth for in-the-hoop embroidery?

In-the-hoop embroidery projects often need the zipper to be placed neatly inside the hoop. A smooth, straight zipper is easier to position and can help the finished project look cleaner. That is why I like to press my zippers before using them and store them hanging afterward.

What can I store on a freestanding craft organizer stand?

A freestanding craft organizer stand can be used for zippers, tassels, ribbons, trims, cords, small tools with loops, keychains, charms, and other supplies that are easier to store hanging. An optional tray section can also hold tiny items like zipper pulls, clips, rings, hooks, or small hardware.

Is this organizer only for craft rooms?

I designed this organizer with craft room storage in mind, especially for zippers and small creative supplies. But the same idea can also work outside the craft room for jewelry, keychains, small accessories, or display items.

Do I need to own a 3D printer to make this organizer?

Not necessarily. If you have a 3D printer, you can print it at home. If you do not own one, you may be able to use a local 3D printing service, a makerspace, or another print-on-demand option.