My sewing room is always in different stages of creation and mess. This handy (and super simple!) quilting ruler storage tip has helped me declutter my work space and is one of my all time best ideas for helping to get things better organized in my sewing room.
Command Hooks for Quilting Ruler Storage
Here's a quick fix to an ongoing problem.
I've been trying to find an easy access storage solution for my myriad of quilting rulers. I had a place in mind on the side of the Pax Ikea wardrobe and wanted to get a pegboard to hang them on, but just haven't had time to do the research find one just the right size, etc.
Then one day on Instagram I saw someone using command hooks on the side of their cutting table for hanging rulers and thought: hah! That would be much simpler - even if it's only a temporary solution until I find the right size pegboard.
I bought the clear Medium Hooks with the metal hooks. (You can find them here on Amazon.)
I can hang at least two rulers per hook, three if they're not heavier big rulers.
So there you go. Very handy, accessible and much more organized quilting ruler storage than the previous pile on my cutting table and the floor next to the table. I love finding simple solutions to chronic messes.
2024 Update: these hooks are still going strong! I haven't had a single one fall or come off and I can even get away with hanging 3 small rulers on a single hook.
2025 Update: 5 years later, this is still my system for storing rulers! I had one hook fall off this year. The adhesive strip had pretty much dried up. I just replaced the adhesive strip, reattached the hook and was good to go. I figure the others are probably drying up at this point and will just go ahead and replace them now. But it's such a simple fix!
This is still one of my favorite Simple Sewing Room Hacks!
Catching up with English Paper Piecing
Another update: I've been working on my Round We Go English Paper Piecing (EPP) blocks. It's been good to have a handwork project while hanging out on the couch with our son.
I've been gradually working on these blocks for over a year. Here are some I made last fall and never shared. These are made using Sue Daley's Round We Go patterns and templates. (They're out of print now, but I've seen the Round We Go kits still available here.)
One of the reasons I love English Paper Piecing (EPP) is because I love having a portable handwork project going at all times. The other reason I love it is because I can make these really intricate shapes - there's no way I could piece something this complicated by machine - and they turn out perfect every time. (Not that my stitching is perfect, but at least the shapes are, thanks to the paper templates.)
If you're interested in learning more about English Paper Piecing (it's not nearly as intimidating as it looks) Sue Daley has a great EPP introduction video with Jenny Doan at MSQC here. Sue Daley also has a channel of her own FULL of English Paper Piecing tips and tutorials.
Any other EPP'ers out there? Here's one new thing I've learned over the past year. I tried the Size 15 Milliners Needles and I love them! They're long and thin straw needles (and a little bendy) and I love the way they glide through those seams.
I'm also a big fan of Sue Daley's pink Rotating Cutting Mat.
Here's the latest round of blocks. One of my favorite parts of working on this project is playing with the endless color and fabric combination opportunities. It's good to step back and look at them from a distance. I think that one on the bottom left might be a little too busy...
A common question I get is how I'll piece these circle shapes together. Good question. I will eventually applique the circles to background squares and then piece those blocks together.
This post was originally written in March 2020. Hoo boy, a lot of stuff has happened since then! And sadly, these EPP blocks are still sitting in a stack in my cupboard. But seeing them again is getting me motivated to get them out again and finish this quilt!
Elle says
I love having my rulers hanging right next to my cutting table. I pull down what I need, and in 1 step hang it back up. So easy to put things away! You're going to love this!
Marcia Lorraine says
I started using Command Hooks for ruler storage recently also. I attached them directly to my painted plaster walls. I have smaller rulers attached to side of storage cabinet. I havent tried multiple rulers per hook. The hooks and fasteners are rated by weight they can safely carry.
Susan Backus says
If you're lucky enough to have a handy person in your life like I do, you can have any size pegboard you want. We bought a sheet of it at the local hardware store and cut it to the size I wanted. My husband made a wooden frame for it then hung it on my wall. I have all kinds of sewing notions and knitting needles hanging on it.
Amy says
That sounds awesome! Sadly, I don't have a handy handy-person in my life. My husband has other talents, but handy-man is not one of them. lol. I need to find one of these handy-people somewhere!
Lois March says
You can also hang pegboard without a frame or handyman. One way is to stack 1” washers over a half “thick. Find studs and put the crew through a hole in the front. Add the washers on the backside and do this on each corner. Count how many it takes and put the same number on each corner. The other way is to get some 2”x2”’s and have the cut to go across top and bottom of the pegboard use liquid nails or similar product and glue boards on the back of the pegboard across top and bottom corners, then use some 3 M heavy duty Velcro stick ons ( or similar brand) in several spots across top and one on each bottom corner.put the wall side on first and leave it for time specified on package. Then press your board on top first, then bottoms
Mary Goth says
Your EPP is beautiful! I've never tried it, but I've seen so many beautiful EPP lately, that I've considered giving it a try. And, I like that you'll eventually applique it and make a finished project. You've inspired me!
Lucy | Charm About You says
Great solution for storing rulers! I have some shop fitting hung on the wall and I hang mine from there. Wishing you and your family well x
Robby H. says
Command hooks going on my shopping list. They should be far easier to find than hand sanitizer just now. Sending good wishes and healthy prayers for you and your family.
Suzanne Miller says
After a while my rulers crashed to the ground on the command strips. Especially the bigger or longer ones.
Amy says
Ooo. Good to know! I'll make sure to avoid them getting too heavy.
Kay says
A great tip about the rulers, thank you. I love EPP but still haven't settled on any particular needle. These blocks are so pretty, they will look amazing all together. x
Susan Quinn says
I love your idea of using command hooks! I think I'll use your idea as I have a fabric cabinet close to my cutting station. I am also a huge EPP fan. I am currently hand piecing a king size Grandmothers Flower Garden quilt using assorted red and white fabrics. I am not doing it the traditional way though using templates. I am using Inklingo to piece my blocks and it's a very fast way to get blocks done. Hugs to you and your family and many prayers for your son's recovery ❤
Amy says
Whoa! That sounds amazing! And thank you for the prayers. xo
Linda says
I did that year, I buy them in Walmart's. I have a small wall space next to the closet, I put it there, I hang my 16.5" , stripology and my 6 x 24" ruler on it,it's right behind my cutting table. My smaller rulers are stored in a wooden napkin holder.
Leslie K. says
Thanks so much for the command hook idea. We are moving this summer and I will be setting up a new sewing room....definitely using this idea!
I too love EPP. I take it everywhere with me. I have not tried size 15 needles but they sound perfect and I will be trying them soon.
My thoughts and prayers are with your family. We too went through an unknown illness with our daughter and visited so many doctors for about 6 months. In the end, all worked out well. Praying for that same outcome for your son.
Amy says
Thank you, Leslie. xo
nancyangerer says
I love your EPP pieces, and I don't think that one is too busy. Anyway, I am looking forward to the final quilt. Do you baste or glue your fabric to the paper pieces? I also enjoy EPP and have used both methods for attaching the fabric. Right now I am working on a queen-sized quilt using 2 inch hexagons and diamonds making 6 pointed stars. It is all scrappy. I think I started it almost 3 years ago and have about 4 rows to go. We have driven thousands and thousands of miles during those years which has given me a lot of time to whip stitch pieces together. I also work on it in the evenings when we watch tv.
umterp76 says
I use the Command Hooks in a similar way, but on the back of my sewing room door. They work great!!!
Amy says
Oh, that's a great idea!
Lynn Clark says
I recently moved into a new apt bldg. with my adult children. My side of the apt has a large hallway between the bedroom & bathroom and while reading this blogpost & comments, it occurred to me that the inside of those 4 doors would be the perfect place to put the command hooks to hang quilt rulers and quilting/sewing tools and accessories. No one shares my closets so there would be no interference with anything hanging on the doors. I will have to scope out the space tomorrow. If it all works out, I'll post photographs here soon. Thanks for the inspiration and tips!
Amy says
That sounds like a great plan! Don't you love finding simple solutions like that?
Suzanne says
Be careful with the command hooks. I have had them fall off of multiple types of surfaces. Had to replace one of my expensive rulers because it broke when it came off the wall. I use to love using the hooks for this type of storage but something has changed with the adhesive and they seem to spontaneously come unstuck even when following 3M's instructions for use/
Amy says
Ooo. Thanks for the warning, Suzanne.
Margaret Beverly says
Amy, you and your family are in my prayers. God's hand is in this and He will your son through it. I am sorry that all of you have to go through this very trying time.
I really enjoy reading your blogs and great tips. I am relatively new to quilting so any help is appreciated.
Amy says
Thank you so much, Margaret. xo
Anne Richardson says
You and your family are in our prayers. My ruler storage is two tubular towel bars affixed to the ends of my cutting table (a kitchen island with butcher block top from Kmart). I use S hooks to hang the rulers, stencils and my portable ironing pad on them. It is handy, tidy, and doesn’t take up much space.
quiltingdee says
Thanks for your great tips and ideas.
Sharon Dickinson says
Really like the idea of the command hooks. I really don't have all of the rulers I would like to have yet this gives me a good idea on how to store the few I have. Did you have to drill holes in your rulers or did your rulers already have holes for the command hooks? Please let me know how you use the hooks through the rulers thank you.
Amy says
My rulers already had hang holes on them. 🙂
vanseeters says
Icant get my download it just shows name of pattern and it wont download it was6.00 can you help me
Amy says
Hi Dotty - I just sent you an email.
Heidi Barnard says
Yes, I use the command hooks for my rulers and my cutting tools. Love it!
Denise SUTCLIFFE says
I used L shaped hooks which I screwed to the inside of my cupboard door next to my cutting out are, so handy and out of site a sI don't have a designated room.
Rebecca Grace says
I love it when I google "best EPP quilt pattern" and one of my fave bloggers that I've lost track of pops up at the top of the list! :-). Okay, I'm smitten with both this block design and the Tales of Cloth one from your other post, frustrated that neither seems to be available any longer. I'm looking for a slow stitching project that has lower prep work than my applique UFOs, but not boring (this is totally personal preference, but although they are gorgeous when finished I think I would be bored by any pattern where there is only one shape in the block like Grandmother's Flower Garden etc.). So now here is my question/frustration: I am seeing that these EPP projects tend to be sold as kits with the clear templates for fussy cutting and the appropriate number of paper shapes needed to make just one quilt in one particular size. So you can't have the option of enlarging the quilt by making more blocks, unless you purchase an additional kit? I know EPP is a traditional technique; how did quilters get hundreds and hundreds of little paper shapes cut accurately from newspaper or whatever they used before modern kits and die cutters and Cricut/Sizzix etc were invented? Have you done any EPP without a kit where you had to make your own templates and/or your own foundation papers, and do you have any recommendations there? I'm wondering whether EPP might be more trouble than it's worth compared to straight-up hand piecing, since I can print templates for that from EQ8 onto a thick vellum, with the stitching line printed and then my tiny hole punch so I can mark dots at seam intersections... You've done hand piecing too, right? What are the advantages of EPP that I'm missing?
Kathy Gauthier says
Love your website. It has given me loads of inspiration. Thanks
Donna Sproston says
As always, a great post and using the Command hooks for hanging rulers is a great suggestion. I hang my small quilts with Command strips. I insert a straight pin into the the edge of the quilt to keep the adhesive attached. I love your EPP.
Donna Halvorsen says
I wish I could post a picture, but alas I cannot. years ago I bought a cast metal scissor with hooks. I hung this on a skinny wall above a small antique dresser I have. I added braided coding to each rulers loop and hang my quilting rulers and yardsticksfrom them. works perfect and kinda decorative.
Jean Blythe says
Hi, Amy! I’ve been hanging my rulers on Command hooks for quite a few years, too! I might have seen the same post! I have had some fall off, but I think that was due to not cleaning the wall or bookshelf side before applying my hook. I haven’t gone to a pegboard, since my husband doesn’t build things. But he keeps my tech organized!
I put my most commonly used rulers on the side of my cutting table, and the others stacked upright in a bin on a shelf. I should destash some of them that I don’t use.
Love your EPP project colors!