I love a thrift-store project that solves a real problem, and this one absolutely does. By turning a basic metal dish drying rack on its side and crocheting thick sunset coral yarn through the slots, you can make a sturdy outdoor magazine rack that looks cheerful, modern, and surprisingly high-end. It’s the kind of project that feels creative without eating up your whole weekend, which is exactly my speed lately.
This is a great DIY for anyone who wants a small porch or patio organizer, a fun upcycle, or an easy crochet-adjacent project that doesn’t require shaping a full basket from scratch. I especially like projects like this in late summer, when I’m trying to tidy up outdoor spaces before hosting friends, and I want something practical that still adds a little color.
Materials
1 metal dish drying rack, approximately 16 inches wide x 12 inches deep x 6 inches tall
Instructions
1. Clean the metal dish rack with a damp cloth and let it dry fully so the yarn stays clean and the rubber feet will adhere properly.
2. Turn the dish rack onto its long side so it stands vertically, and choose which open face will be the front opening for the magazines.
3. Attach one rubber foot to each bottom contact point of the rack so it sits level and won’t slide on a porch or patio floor; let the adhesive cure as directed.
4. Tie the yarn securely to a lower back corner of the rack with a double knot, leaving a 4-inch tail to weave in later.
5. Using the crochet hook, pull the yarn through the first slot and work a simple over-under path through every vertical section, keeping the yarn snug but not stretched tight.
6. Continue crocheting and wrapping through each slot across the back panel, building a dense woven-crochet surface that will keep magazines from slipping through.
7. When you reach the side sections, crochet through those slots as well, working from bottom to top so the sides create a soft pocket that helps hold the stack upright.
8. If you join a new skein, knot it on the inside of the rack and weave the ends back through nearby stitches so the join stays hidden.
9. Add an extra pass of yarn around the top edge and front corners, using the hook to loop through every opening, to soften the metal edge and give the piece a finished look.
10. Check the spacing and press the yarn into place so the coverage looks even, then trim and weave in the final tail securely on the inside.
11. Test the rack with a few magazines, adjusting the yarn tension in any loose area so the pocket holds everything neatly without sagging.
Variations & Tips
Color swap: If sunset coral doesn’t fit your space, this looks equally good in mustard, sage, navy, or a cream outdoor yarn for a more neutral porch setup.
Yarn choice: For a rack that will live outside often, I recommend a synthetic super bulky yarn or cord that handles moisture better than wool. It’s one of those practical choices I’ve learned to make after a few too-cute projects met Midwest humidity.
Rack shape: A dish rack with wider slots is easier to crochet through, while a tighter wire pattern gives a denser finished holder. If you’re thrifting, bring a small tape measure and look for a rack that stands steadily on its side.
No crochet experience needed: You do not need to know advanced stitches here. This project is mostly looping and pulling yarn through the metal openings, so it’s very beginner-friendly.
Indoor option: Use the same method to make a mail sorter for the kitchen, a file holder for a home office, or a cookbook rack near a coffee station.
Make it sturdier: If you plan to store thicker catalogs or several magazines at once, add a second layer of yarn across the back panel or reinforce the bottom row with extra wraps.