Why You Should Get This Retro Gem the Next Time You’re at the Thrift Store

In just a few weeks it’ll be hurkle-durkle season — you know, when you stay in bed just a little longer past when you “should” be getting up. After leaning into the coziness of your bed, it might just be the perfect time to pick up some cozy pursuits like so-called “grandma hobbies,” which include sewing, knitting, gardening, and other relaxing activities. But where do you put all your knitting needles, yarn, and coloring markers? Well, a new Instagram video shows that one vintage thrift store gem can be a game-changer for organizing your hobby accessories in a small space.

Meg Acuna, romance author and self-professed “granny at heart,” shared a video arguing that a retro sewing caddy is the key to the hobby space of your dreams. Whether you want to carve out a tiny crafting nook in your apartment or have enough space for a crafting room, the compact home staple is actually one of the best storage options for your hobby accessories — all while adding vintage appeal to any area. 

Acura opens her gorgeous cantilever wooden sewing box to reveal several different drawers as well as utensil holder-like compartments on the top level. She quickly fills them with all of her crafting accessories — she puts the markers in the divided compartments, and the coloring books, jewelry-making supplies, yarn, paint brushes, and books in the larger drawers. 

Acura’s sewing box also transforms into a portable crafting surface. In the end of the video she shows herself with the caddy resting in her lap in her bed, while she draws in a coloring book that’s on top of the wooden panel.

The cottagecore antique was previously used to house sewing supplies, but you can use it to create a hobby space for your painting supplies, knitting and crocheting needles and yarn, and jewelry-making resources. Even non-crafty people can use it for book or notebook storage (while also transforming it into a cute lap desk), or even use it to house accessories, jewelry, and other small trinkets. 

You can find these wooden sewing caddies in thrift stores. However, if you don’t want to hunt for this caddy or don’t live near a great thrift store, Walmart is selling a Cantilever Beech Wood Sewing Box with three tiers and four legs for $119.99. The caddy measures 16.5 inches in height, 17.60 inches in length, and 8.30 inches in width, and comes with five different compartments (although you’ll need to add in dividers yourself).

Buy: Cantilever Beech Wood Sewing Box, $119.99