DIY Felt Cable Organizers

Thanks in part to the great brand collaborations here on IBC, I’ve had the chance to travel quite a bit. I am so grateful for these opportunities to meet new people and experience different places. However, I am not a big fan of the packing process. Since I’m always looking for ways to make it easier, today I’m going to show you DIY Felt Cable Organizers, a trick I use for keeping electronic accessories organized.

As you know I’ve partnered with Carnival Cruise Line this year to share lots of travel-inspired ideas (and some delicious recipes, too). My last cruise with Carnival was eight glorious days. Since I’m often working while traveling (Self-employment allows me to work in the middle of the ocean.), I end up taking quite a few electronics. After stowing phone chargers, headphones, and laptop chargers in my bag, it can quickly become a tangle of cords. And we all know how much fun untangling cords, or evening finding the right cord in such a mess, can be. Um, not so much.

My solution? These DIY Felt Cable Organizers!

In addition to being super adorable, they also function well. Need proof? Here’s a typical collection of cords that I pack while traveling for an extended trip. That’s anywhere from 8 to 10 cords.

A hot mess, right?

Now, take a look at these cords after being wrangled with my homemade cable organizers.

Ahhh. Blissful. So much better, right? Plus, since I can easily see both ends of the cords, I can quickly identify which cord I need when I need it. Bonus time saver!

Now, all that time I would have spent searching for and detangling cords can be spent sunbathing on the lido deck or sipping a Spicy Chipotle Pineapple Martini in my favorite bar.

What makes these organizers even better is that they are a piece of cake to make. I kid you not. No sewing or fancy tools required. Plus, with the variety of colored felt on the market, you could even color code your cords if you want to take this organizational tool to the next level.

Let me show you how to make them.

Here’s what you will need:

• Pattern (FREE download here)
• Paper (card stock is recommended)
• Felt (3 mm thick)
• Heavy duty snap kit
• Hole punch
• Marker (disappearing ink is recommended)
• Scissors
• Hammer

To get started, print out the pattern. I’ve created a free download with two different sizes here. (I recommend using card stock since it’s a bit sturdier.) Then cut the pattern out.

Trace the pattern onto your felt with a marker. For the felt, I prefer the 3 mm. This felt is a bit thicker (but not too thick), making it ideal for this project. Also, I recommend using a marker with disappearing ink (available in the sewing section of the craft store). This is helpful in case the marker bleeds or you miss a spot when cutting.

Then, cut out the felt.

Next, use your hole punch to cut out a hole on one end of the felt. (You’ll want a quality hole punch for this; a cheaper version may not be able to cut through the thick felt.) You want the hole to be centered and about 1/2 inch from the edge.

For the second hole, fold your felt in half and use your maker to make a dot through your first hole This mark is where the next hole should be punched to ensure that your felt pieces line up nicely when completed.

Next, use your heavy duty snap kit and hammer to attach the snaps. (Make sure your kit includes the tools for adding the snaps.) Follow the instructions on your particular snap kit for attaching. This process is simple; just be sure you attach the snaps the correct way so that the snaps will connect when your cable organizer is folded over.

And with that, your DIY Felt Cable Organizers are complete.

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I told you they are simple to make.

And really cute, right? I took these on my last trip, and the woman sitting next to me on the plane was amazed. She was even more impressed when I told her I made them.

Tangled cables are a thing of the past; and you can look pretty fashionable (and clever) while being organized.