Fresh Start for a Sewing Space
A sewing room has to start somewhere, but the space and the light are good. To come: a sewing table and adustable chair, a cutting counter, a dress form, and more.
For many years, I've worked on sewing projects without having a designated place to sew. I think that may be a common circumstance for Threads readers. Sewing is a vital creative outlet for us, but because of families, careers, community obligations--plus homes full of all the stuff required for daily life--it's a rarity to have a sewing room.
I'm just starting to plan mine, and I'd appreciate your thoughts and tips on organization and equipment. My goal is to have a space that's not just efficient, but cheerful and inviting.
Five sewing room criteria
- Space: I think that no amount of organization, planning or great equipment is going to fully make up for a real lack of space. I've worked around that before, and I despaired of the time I had to put into squirreling things away and getting them out again.
- Light: A source of natural light not only is the best way to discern colors, it's a natural mood lifter. For evenings and cloudy days, I know I need to put in excellent task lighting to reduce eye fatigue.
- Comfort: Adjustable furniture is a must-have. My first purchase was an IKEA table I plan to use for pattern drafting and general purpose. It has trestle legs and a peg-and-socket system to raise, lower or angle the table top. It also has a glass lightbox section, flush with the table top. It will be handy when there is any tracing to do. Next, I'm looking for a sewing table with a sunken bed for my machine, and a comfortable, supportive and fully adjustable sewing chair.
- Organization: No more hunting around for notions, thread, tools or measuring tape. Everything is going to have its place. To keep costs down, I'm looking at simple, stackable plastic cabinetry.
- Cost: I want to keep expenses down (that will mean more to spend on materials!). I'm looking for what works--not necessarily what's top of the line. One trick I know I'm going to use is to keep some of the large sheets of cardboard from my moving boxes as backdrops for planning projects. Last fall, I attended a color knitting workshop led by Brandon Mably of the Kaffe Fassett Studio. Brandon pinned the classes' samples to a giant sheet of cardboard. He said that brown cardboard was a great neutral and they used it at the studio to step back and get a good perspective on color combinations. I like that it is free, too!
When I made my recent move to Connecticut to begin working at Threads, I vowed I wouldn't look around in three years and see any unpacked boxes. Unpacking is a process, though, because it doesn't work to open one of those moving boxes if you don't have a place in mind for the contents!
I'd appreciate your thoughts and suggestions as I work on making a creative space. In the future I plan to share updates and the best tips I've received from the Threads community. Thanks for reading!
Sarah McFarland, contributor Posted on Mar 4th, 2010 in sewing, tools & supplies, fabric, organization, dress forms, sewing room, sewing cabinet, sewing space, sewing table, sewing chair
Comments (51)
Posted: 8:24 pm on April 14th
From IKEA I am purchasing 3-36" 3-drawer kitchen cabinets http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S59814162 with a butcher block countertop and 2 tall glass door cabinets http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S29811867 to go along the back wall of my room. I plan to use the drawers to store my stash instead of the plastic boxes I've been using and books and other fabric will go on the shelves in the tall cabinets. I have a great bookcase, from IKEA, Expedit http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60071358 that houses all of my books that will be placed on the other end of the room.
I want to buy a new table http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S19836095 for my sewing machines and sergers but may wait a bit and use my old tabletops on file drawers for a while.
I have a wonderful old metal music library cabinet that has 30 narrow drawers where I keep all of my sewing supplies. On top I have my cutting board/work table that my Mom and I made out of sheet of plywood covered with an old wool blanket and canvas. I've replaced the top several times over the years and now have a top, with 1" square measurements on top, from a man at the Sewing Expo.
The floors will be walnut laminate and I want to put my Dad's oriental rug in the seating area of the room where I will have some comfy chairs and a table.
Lighting....now that's something we're still working out. I think I might want some cans in the soffits of the tray ceiling. My husband is insisting on 3 recessed fluorescent fixtures up the middle of the room. I want 2 and to hang a family antique chandelier in the middle. Still working on that issue! I also purchased several 3-halogen light adjustable fixtures that I want to put in several places in the room. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20088681
I am really enjoying the process. I will post pictures on my blog soon. http://thelifeofnancyh.blogspot.com/
Posted: 7:14 pm on April 5th
Posted: 7:16 am on March 27th
Posted: 7:13 am on March 27th
Suggestion for an inexpensive decent chair.....Office Depot....the Alvy chair. With coupons and special pricing, you probably could get it for less than $50. I sat in this chair extensively at a sewing class and was very satisfied. I thought the value was tremendous.
Posted: 9:47 pm on March 22nd
(I am not giving specific amounts because this is easily adaptable to make any length. When it is finished secure the bottom ends so they do not slip through the pipe. Making large knots will work. When finished it will look like a ladder you use on a boat. Then you can hang your material over each rung. This could be hung on a wall, hung on a door,
or secured over a hanger and put in the closet. You could also vary the length of PVC for a specific place. I found this idea in a magazine years ago. Great for fine fabrics.
I also save wrapping paper rolls to store material on. These can be stood up in a bin like in the stores.
Posted: 10:01 pm on March 19th
I bought this years ago when a fabric store went out of business. It has been the best. I keep patterns in the top drawers. These are labeled by style such as suits, dresses, tops, childrens, mens etc.. I keep baby items & material m etc.. in the others. I have lots of shelving, plastic bins, plastic rolling drawers, cork on the wall if front of my sewing machine, and thread racks hung where they are easy to reach. My main space is an L-shape so my machine & serger are a twist away from each other in my swivel chair. I purchased a hobby and cutting table for the middle of the room and everything is around it. On another wall I have an old cabinet with my PR620 embroidery machine. I hung thread racks on the side of the cabinet and above it on the wall so all my embroidery thread is handy. Hoops are stored under the machine and next to it is another plastic drawer bin for supplies. When I made the move I have been trying to catalog my material on three by five cards. These are stapled together by content of the box they are stored in. My ironing board sits behind me while sewing and is easy access for quick pressing. I love my studio and sometimes just go there to hang out. I sit and flick through all my magazines (that are stored in a magazine rack (that hangs behind the door) from an antiques store)gaining inspiration for my next project. Seemingly my husband has blessed me with all the latest equipment but I still long for the extra time to use it all.
Posted: 9:47 pm on March 19th
Thanks so much.
Posted: 8:02 pm on March 19th
Posted: 9:32 pm on March 18th
Posted: 11:13 pm on March 17th
I have shared my sewing space with our office space since I took up sewing about 1 1/2 yrs ago. So, I'll have to share again in the smaller bedroom. It does help to know how to do mechanical drawing and space planning, which is my background in interior design, but it doesn't take the place of gathering great ideas from others who have been there; done that and are much wiser for it.
I have been using an old kitchen table as my sewing table which is deeper than your typical sewing table/cabinet. I just purchased a very inexpensive sewing cabinet to replace it, from a well-known discount store. It got awesome reviews from hundred's of people. I knew the depth would be better for the smaller space I am moving into. I found the matching mobile cabinet at another well-known discount store's website. Why either store didn't carry both items--I don't understand. I really don't need a fancy $1300 sewing cabinet that I see advertised at almost any sewing store you may go into.
Someone here mentioned it before, but I'll say it again--ORGANIZATION PAYS OFF. Yes, the initial time you put in can take a lot of time, unless you started organizing from the beginning of planning your space. But the ease of finding what you need rather than wasting time is such a benefit.
I put my fabric stash in clear bins in my large, but narrow closet. And I totally agree with the person about getting all the same storage items--saving your money to get them all at once, for example. I bought about 3-4 at a time and rather often so that the place where I got them from would pretty much keep them in stock for a while--a well-known discount store; not a speciality store. I like that they all match and are visually pleasing. I have to admit that I am not really pleased with having to go into my closet to actually get the fabrics I want to use. I would like to change this............I'm thinking, I'm thinking........
I have a large binder with organizational sheets that lists each fabric with the following info:
-the 'name' or description of the fabric, including color
-fabric content
-source (where I bought it)
-width
-price per yard
-notes (including washing/care instructions and the date I bought it)
I found this organization form for all that information at patternreview.com. It is a great way to organize. I also marked each bin with a letter on the lid and the front (depending on how they might get stacked) to correspond to the letter I wrote next to the fabric samples in the binder. And I change the yardage I have in stock if I don't use all the fabric for a project. So, I just go 'shopping' in my binder.
I keep a lot of my 'stock' info. on different spreadsheets I made on my computer. I have a list of patterns that have lots of info. about them (mfg, what size, the reviews about it, etc.) and know exactly where I can find it in pattern file boxes I found online.
I keep a lot of loose items in clear bins and label them. I want to see everything. I also have stacked clear plastic drawers. I have an 'open' bin with all my various measuring tools. I use ArtBin storage for my construction and some embroidery thread. My serger thread is kept in another clear storage bin. I keep all the brands of thread separate from one another, as I have a spreadsheet of my 'stock' so I don't keep buying duplicate thread. I know it sounds anal, but I can't help it.
I bought a kid's plastic stretch-out coat hanger (the kind that looks like diamond shapes when you expand it) in different colors at a dollar store. I attached that to the wall above my sewing table to hang scissors, embroidery hoops, tape rolls, and whatever else.
After my grandmother's death, I found an old shadow type box (you can get these at craft stores) you hang on the wall to put little trinkets on in the compartment shelves within it. I thought I would eventually find a use for it and did. I'm not a trinket collector. I attached it to the wall and put thread, pins, etc. on it.
My task lighting comes from a light I have saved from years ago when I was in college and had a drafting table at home. This is a table-mounted light with a clamp. It has springs on the arm of it and extends out over your worksurface. The actual part that provides light is a round fluorescent bulb (that I have never had to replace!) with a magnifying glass in the middle of that light. So, I can stretch out the arm to the lamp right over or to the spot needed for doing any intricate sewing or just needing that extra pow of light. It sometimes pays off to save stuff from another lifetime ago.
There are definitely some things I want to improve upon when moving into the other bedroom that I see now. I really appreciate everyone's comments to give other's much needed ideas and ones that can save some money!
Posted: 8:38 pm on March 16th
I am on a redo at present having out grown the area that I had. My new area isn't any larger in wall space but has a bit more floor area. It is however unfinished so now have that to deal with.
Here are a few ideas that have made it to the new room;
I love my peg board. Have used one for 25 years. Thanks for the painting suggestion. That will perk it up. I have everthing from ribbon to needles hanging from it.
I decreased the size of the cutting table to fit but have a basket to halod fabric on the end.
My thread is also on the wall. Only way to go!
Am working on new tables for the machines but like you have planned a trip to IKEA. If they don't advertise in THREADS they are missing out on a big market!
I will anxiously watch this blog. Thanks to all for the hints.
Posted: 8:17 am on March 14th
Have fun!
Posted: 11:47 am on March 12th
Posted: 2:59 pm on March 11th
Happy sewing.
Posted: 11:51 am on March 10th
Posted: 10:21 am on March 10th
I suggest thinking about how you can get usable-sized fabric samples of all your fabrics within easy "eye-sight," so U can see them all at once. I decided this was a huge priority for me as using them together matters a lot for my work. I also decided that samples of everything all 2gether needed to be in my room but the fabrics themselves could be stored elsewhere, as long as they were easily findable and accessible (described in my previous post below). I use kid sized hangers to individually hold samples of each of my 50o+ fabrics, and this is the single most important thing in my sewing room. If I had no closet I'd make hanging rods out of dowels and chains suspended from the ceiling to hold the hangers. In the (leftover guestroom) closet in my sewing room I took out all the original fittings and put in ClosetMaid from Home Depot, so that I can have multiple hanger rods spaced close together vertically to hold the samples, plus a few wire shelves to hold boxes with pattern pieces and fabric parts in progress.
Posted: 12:02 am on March 10th
What I'm learning from these wonderful posts are 2 things. First, it pays to invest in organization for sewing. Investing in organization is always hard, as it's expensive and time consuming up front. Sewing focuses the issue because it takes so many little and big things to do it. Think of how many notions one has! But the payoff is incredible although later. In my room, I actually for the first time know where everything is and i'm comfortable and love being in there. Organization means that you can focus on creativity and productivity and not on hunting. Hunting is stressful and detracts from life.
Second is that having an avocation like sewing forces us to focus on what is truly important in our lives. We have to make choices: a once in a while guest room, or a room to live in and truly enjoy every day.
Posted: 11:39 pm on March 9th
It's on the wall, so takes up no floor space, it can be as big or small as you wish and can be hanged wherever you wish, even on the 'dead' space behind the door!
The best part is it is relatively in-expensive. It looks good too, most professional and organised. No more clutter means more time to sew!
Posted: 10:25 pm on March 9th
I am a visual person and like to see and enjoy my fabrics. I have them in boxes but to compare color combinations etc. is not always easy.
I came across some shelving units (Billy Bookcase) on Ikea.com that come with combinations of glass and wood doors. I am thinking about these units because I could see my fabrics and hide accessories. In the future as I could add more units and also move them.
What do you think
Posted: 7:23 pm on March 9th
I agree w/VMiles - - don't hold back - go for it.
I'm a garment sewer & embellisher - - do some quilting.
I moved into a home in Sun City located in Georgetown, TX five years ago & my sewing room was planned WAY before the moving van arrived. It's not a large space, but organized in a messy way - - I need to see stuff - -
1. I took the closet doors off, had my husband build extra shelves high inside the closet. Brought plastic stacked drawers & put them at each end of the closet facing each other with a stacked wire system between them facing out. The stacked wire system can move from side to side so that I can get into the plastic drawers. Full of fabric.
2. My husband built a cutting table using packaged kitchen cabinets from Lowe's, but he added height at the bottom using casters & a base board - I'm tall.
3. I had a white laminated table for the sewing machine.
4. I set the machine table in the center of the room & the cutting table against the wall behind it.
5. For the opposite & side wall I purchased a mission-style computer desk & hutch, file cabinet, and low TV cabinet from Target for show because this is what people see when they enter my home. But I put them to good sewing & computer use - - I bought black leather & wicker accessories (also at Target) to use for storing my vintage laces, machine accessories & part of my button collection.
6. I painted the walls sage green & put in a wood floor. I hung a quilt & other art work so that my guests can enter my home, look to their left & see a wonderfully appointed room - - never knowing that I'm hiding wonderful sewing items right before their very eyes.
7. On the sewing side I have framed pages from a vintage Vogue Pattern book w/a sign underneath that reads 'live your passion'
8. I also have a white wicker rocker with cushions that I made using vintage bark cloth with a black background.
9. I have fabric & vintage laces & linens stored everywhere in my house in, what I think, are clever & creative ways.
But nowhere do I feel more warm, cozy & creative than in my sewing studio.
I need to see stuff - - some of you who are neat & tidy might not like my studio, but I would like to have y'all over & I'll bet you will appreciate my space.
:)
Posted: 6:00 pm on March 9th
It took me a long time to figure out that I own this house. It is mine. I am not in the motel business. My car is not painted yellow. I am not in the taxi business, either. Why am I trying to accomodate people who are employed and have plenty of resources to stay in a motel? If, they come!
I sold the double bed. I have told people that I do not have overnight accomodations. If they want to visit, fine, but I cannnot put them up, unless they want to sleep in the middle of the living room with the cat.
Finito. I have been in the motel business too long. Too long the room has been vacant and non-functional. Why am I doing that? Who am I trying to please? Certaintly not myself!
For me the answer was, it was a waste of valuable space. Ever looked at what a house costs? They figure the price per square foot. If you have a room that is say, 10x10, or 100 square feet, and your house cost say, $200,000 and is 1800 square feet in size, then you are wasting more than $1,100 a year.
You probably share a bedroom, share a bathroom, while the spouse runs amok in the garage (lattery known as the Man Cave), the kids have their own rooms, and woe betide anyone who trespasses. What are we thinking about? So, you need a new budget item: Money set aside to purchase motel room for mother-in-law's visit. Sound ridiculous? Well, what are you, if not allowing yourself to be taken ridiculous advantage of by family and friends?
And you are going to use this space to make your own clothes (savings) and furnishings (savings) and for hobbies (savings)?
America, wake up! Guest bedrooms are a luxury no one can afford in this day and age.
Posted: 4:20 pm on March 9th
For storage, I like drawers for fabric to keep the dust out, but I like to put notions and tools into clear plastic boxes so I can see them. The Container Store is my favorite for storage boxes. I looked at labelers after seeing Martha Stewart raving about them, but honestly, I think that the Post-it removable labels are cheaper and more attractive.
Then, on the window wall, I plan to build a fold-up table from a piece of plywood that I salvaged, with 45-degree supports. I love the table that Sarah bought, especially the light box, but I want something that I won't stub my toes on. (My graduated bifocals leave a blind spot right where I plant my feet, so leaving the floor clear is preferable.) For cutting out, I'll get two folding tables from Home Depot to put side by side. And one more thing, a ladder-like rack (made from dowels and 2x4's, probably), to hang fabric as inspiration for upcoming projects.
Posted: 2:17 pm on March 9th
Posted: 10:46 am on March 9th
Through trial and error I have found that industrial-type shelving units work great for all types of storage. They come in different heights (I prefer 6ft height), shelves are adjustable, and you can get them in various depths. I use a narrow depth unit for my books & wider depth units for storing boxes of fabric. That way you don't have wasted shelf space. This type of shelving is available in a wide range of prices.
Invest in a hand-held label maker and label everything. It will save a lot of time later on.
Every yard of fabric I own (and I own a lot, as do most people who sew) is catalogued. I made up a sheet that includes info on the fabric (yardage, width, fabric content, care instructions, date and place of purchase, and most importantly, what I plan to make from the fabric). A large swatch of the fabric is attached to the sheet and then it goes into the appropriate 3-ring binder. I have one for home-dec, one for crafts, and four for garment fabrics (woolens, silks, knits, wovens. I also number each box containing fabric, and the number of the box goes on the info sheet. I printed the sheets on index wt. paper so that they are sturdy.
I found some wonderful plastic boxes that come in a huge variety of sizes from very small (great for my bobbins) to very large (I keep large amounts of batting in the largest). The brand is Really Useful Box (I found mine at Office Depot) and they have latches on each handle. They have a couple of sizes that are great for projects I am working on. I put each project and its components (patterns, pieces, thread, etc.) in the box. That way when I have some time to sew, everything is together. It also helps me keep my "works in progress" from getting out of hand.
When you get ready to set up your work area, try to move everything out if at all possible. I rented a "pod"-style storage unit that was brought to my home. I was able to move everything into it and lock it up. Next I gave the walls a quick coat of paint in a bright cheery color. It was easier to set up the room as I wanted because I had the space to do it.
The best advice I have came from a co-worker of mine who is a draftsman. He advised me to measure my work area and draw it out on graph paper. Then I measured each piece of furniture that I wanted to use in the work area and drew that out on another piece of graph paper. With the furniture pieces cut out, I could move them around to my heart's content until I found a plan I liked.
Posted: 9:15 am on March 9th
My suggestions for organization follow:
1. Consider a metal pattern case of drawers, like they store patterns in in stores. They cost less than I imagined, and they store a lot of patterns. I ordered one, maybe from one of the pattern companies, and it only cost $160. It will probably need to be drop shipped, which will add to the cost, but for me it was completely worth it! You can use metal paint to match your sewing room colors. If you choose the same color as the walls, it will disappear into them, and decrease its visual space.
2. Perhaps a door blank would be a better choice than a sewing cabinet or table. I am continually frustrated at my machine cabinet, because there is only space to machine sew there. After stitching a machine seam etc,I want to slide sideways to an open flat area to pin the next step, trim the seam, baste by hand or whatever. Not having the underneath drawers so close would solve this problem. The door blank is large, can have the sewing machine hole cut out, and a shelf inserted underneath. Have a plexiglass shape cut out to surround your machine as it sits on the lower shelf. If you need to use the free arm, remove the plexiglass. The door blank can be supported by simple metal or wood legs, or stacking drawer units. Best are table legs at far ends, with rolling drawer units underneath. This offers the best flexibility. Then you can slide over to a flat table to do non machine work, and slide back to work at the machine.
3. I used two plain bookcase with shelves to organize my notions. I bolted them together in back for stability. I used plastic sliding drawer boxes in them. They come in different colors and sizes. I labeled them with their contents: Closures, Cutting Tools, etc.
4. I was lucky to find a used vintage thread cabinet with drawers. It's made of wood with clear drawer fronts, and labeled with the thread manufacturer's name on it. I put it on top of the pattern cabinet, and it holds a lot of thread!
5. Any large table can be used for cutting out and other work. Look at garage sales, or use a door blank as noted above. Best to use bed risers to elevate it to save your back. More rolling cats with drawers can be used underneath. Or plastic storage bins with lids can be stacked underneath, for storage of larger items.
Happy sewing!
Posted: 8:40 am on March 9th
My husband is a master electrician (now a consultant) so I have (are you ready for this?) 30 electrical receptacles! I am wired for cable TV and broadband Internet service. My lighting consists of four 4' long fluorescent fixtures with four tubes in each. I have two different light switches so my lights either go on with 8 tubes burning or 16!! At night it is as bright as daylight. On the south side of the area is actual attic storage where I can stand up in some part of it. There I have some free-standing shelving that I can move if I so choose. On the north side is a knee wall and beyond that more storage. In that area I have to bend down but I have three sets of shelving for supplies I rarely use. I have my two sewing machines, a serger, a blocking board (which sets on top of a set of shevles which gives me fabric storage,) and my wonderful gateleg cutting table with drawers. There is room for my large loom but if I am weaving, I don't have too much room to walk around but I can at least weave up here if I choose and when I am not weaving, I can fold up the loom and push it to one side. It blocks some drawers but it is easy to move, if I have to.
The ceiling is pretty cool. The roof slants to the north so there isn't too much room to stand. That is where the sewing machine tables and computer desk are located. I sit so I don't need room for standing. Since I didn't want to have to sand the dry wall of the ceiling, we covered it with canvas! It's pretty neat. We stapled the canvas to the dry wall and left a little slack. We then covered the staples with covered buttons so the ceiling looks like a big tufted area. It's really nice.
I painted the room, laid the vinyl flooring, and put up the cork board. My husband did everything else and on October 8, 2001 I moved everything up here with the help of 2 men from a local moving company. I had everything in the lower level of the house, most of it in the laundry room. Whatever closet area wasn't being used, I had supplies in it; under beds; in boxes; wherever. Now it is all in one place. I can move from the computer to the sewing machines. I can plug in anything and not worry about overloading electrical circuits as my husband put a circuit breaker box in the sewing room and it has it's own designated power.
I love this room. I come up here and can stay all day. I have TV, radio, stereo or just the solitude of the cukoo clock ticking. I have a view of the lake outside. There are two windows I can open and hear the birds. There is a crab apple tree in our side yard and the top branches are visible from the window. It's wonderful and I thank my husband all the time for building this room for me. I am so fortunate. Now, if only I didn't have to cook, clean, laundry, iron, errands, take care of the yard----if I only had more time to sew!!!
Posted: 10:58 pm on March 8th
Two of my machines are on "lifts". When the machines are down for storage, I cover the holes with stiff mylar plastic sheeting. I have also attached a portable "swing away" task light under my sewing surface. I swing it into place in one of the lift openings and have have an instant light box without the need for a separate box to store.
Also, it's helpful to have electrical plugs installed at counter height for using craft tools. Extremely handy if you plan on using your sewing surface for any crafting projects...no need to bend over or hunt behind sewing tables looking for an outlet. Of course, power strips mounted on your work surface work as well!!
Posted: 10:54 pm on March 8th
Various places sell sets of drawers that are shallow; and a handy person can route or saw a 'kerf' from the sides of the right sized wood or plywood cube during construction then put pre-made drawers such as those sold at IKEA for holding Kitchen cutlery and tools.
Jam Jars are a pretty way to store Buttons, Hooks and Eyes, Press Studs, and so on. And a standard bookshelf can be sawn in half so the shelves are only 5 1/2" deep, Then it will fit nicely in behind a door because of the door frame!
My scissors live 'tips down' in an old Cutlery Basket; complete with pillows to cushion their tips.
I also make full use of the Label making functions of my computer and printer to label everything; saves opening the container with White Press Studs when you want Black.
A large Kitty Litter Bucket holds a variety of diameters and heights of cardboard tube; yardsticks and such items are stored vertically in there.
Instead of a broom I use a Dollar Store Handle and Bar intended to be covered with dampened static cloths, instead I use 'cut-to-size' pieces of Fleece to catch and hold threads; when it gets too dirty I can wash it or throw it, and it is easier to swoosh across my wood parquet floor.
My biggest regret is that my sewing room does not have enough space for all my machines! So I have 15 or so elsewhere in the house.
Liz
Posted: 10:51 pm on March 8th
Shallow drawers are used for trays with shears, and various other equipment items. I also have bias tape, lace, zippers, etc. all sorted and filed in shallow drawers. Deeper drawers are used to file patterns. Cupboards with doors hold my iron, pressing equipment, bins of various projects, fabrics, etc. I find the drawers units most useful, however.
Later, I purchased inexpensive book cases (also from the same area in the home improvement store) and set the adjustable shelves so I could stand fabric and interfacing or stabilizer on bolts. or stack plastic boxes with quilting or other projects on the shelves. I have the boxes large enough to hold quilt blocks, or pieces cut and ready to sew.I bought 8 boxes, and don't start another project until I get one done and an empty box is available for it. Keeps me from collecting too many UFOs. I can also stack projects for emboidery on the shelves, folded and visible to remind me what needs to be done when I have a moment or get a notion to sew.
My talented brother made a thread rack for me the way I specified. It holds 100 spools of embroidery thread and hangs like a colorful picture on the wall above my machine.I have actually requested another one just like it. I need more room for threads.
My sewing room is in a daylight basement, and on the south side so I have good light from the window even in the winter. However, I have a "sun lamp" bulb in one of the lamps in the room for use on gray winter days when extra "sunlight" is needed.
I think every dollar I spent on the storage units has been worth it--both for storage and for counter-top work space. They are also an attractive addition to my room and don't look like stacked "junk" in the corner.
Posted: 10:48 pm on March 8th
If you are buying plastic storage drawer units, I would suggest that you only buy the IRIS brand. The Iris brand is more expensive, but the drawers will not stick like other brands do. I've had my Iris storage for years, and they are in great shape, have survived two moves, one out of state - and loaded with supplies. I used a label maker and labeled the plastic drawer contents. Also, it is quicker to find things if you organize alphabetically.
I use a sewing machine foot organizer bag. I scanned the info from the catalog and put the images and info about the feet in the pockets. I can find and return them and keep organized. Presentation binders and sheet protectors, organize lots of info. I like the Artbin brand handled boxes which are archival, for storing projects in progress or to be transported, and they are available in lots of colors! and are stack-able. They are really for scrap booking papers. I used a scrapbooking 6 drawer plastic cart, removed the original drawers, and put my embroidery thread totes in it instead.
I found 3 commercial legal size file cabinets on Craig's List, they are wide enough to keep stabilizer rolls and patterns in. A laminated top bridges them. The closet is customized for sewing storage = lots of shelves.
The fabric stash is in an unfinished part of the basement with daylight fluorescent fixtures. On metal shelving. I used archival foam-core board, available at art supply stores or online, on top of the metal wire shelves and also encased the end of the shelving with wood. It looks better! I attached a curtain rod and hung pretty vintage tablecloths to help protect my stash. Finally, my fabric is out of plastic totes. My ironing board is next to one of the shelving units, which means I get to stretch my legs and move when I sew. It's only a few steps away. I have two drop leaf cutting tables (JoAnn's) that each take up a very narrow 16" x 36" footprint. We put a locking device - one that is for dining room table leaves-- so that I can lock the two tables together to be 36" X 120" if I want. I pull them out into a room at the base of the stairs, and my husband doesn't mind the mess. I inherited my mom's Koala Outback cabinet. I love it! I use a lot of the 3M Command hooks to hang embroidery hoops on the side of a bookcase and on the back of the doors and wall. I use old sewing machine needles to hang specialty rulers, etc. Best of all, I have my favorite artwork hanging on my walls. It is amazing how we can find ways to organize. Just think outside the box, see potential, find ways to re-purpose things.
Posted: 10:39 pm on March 8th
To supplement daylight I suggest 48" double silvery florescent fixtures from Home Depot. They're sharp, professional and modern looking and will hang from chains (included), from hooks screwed into the ceiling or beams. They come with plugs and pull-chains, or you can wire them in if you're so inclined. Mine are wired into track light strips that were previously installed on the ceiling. I've put into them HD true-daylight Blue-ray tubes ordered on the web. I have *5* of these in my dedicated bedroom-sewing room and it is wonderful to have enuf light to be able to work anytime *and* be able to match fabrics perfectly.
I have a lot of fabric and store it in another storeroom in clear plastic boxes (all the same), by number. A sample of each fabric cut to the same size (6" wide by 18" long) hangs doubled over an individual kid size hanger (good plastic ones at Target) in the closet in the sewing room. I use a tagger for fine fabrics (from ULine on the web), to put on a tag with the fabric number, and also to tag across the fold of the hanger to keep the fabric from falling off. The saample is big enuf to match fabrics and play with, and the number tells me where the fabric is in the storage space. You can organize and reorganize the hangers any way you want--by color, by prospective projects, etc. It's flexible! New fabrics just get the next number available, irrespective of color so you don't have to stuff the next, say, pink one in an already overflowing "pink" box.
Posted: 10:25 pm on March 8th
The most important feature to me is having the sewing machine in front of a large east window, through which I can watch birds in the large hemlock behind the house and other wildlife in the five acres beyond. My relatively new Janome sits on the table of an antique Singer machine (the old machine is still below in its compartment, and the treadle is helpful in keeping me relaxed while I sew. But I also have an Ottlite beside the sewing machine on the Singer top, as well as another on the bench top to use when hand-sewing or pressing. (The cutting table is a good base for a legless ironing board.)
Because I had serious spinal injuries in an auto accident three years ago, I am unable to get around very easily, but I use a comfortable adjustable office chair at my sewing machine, and it allows me to get around to the other convenient spaces on the same floor and to adjust the height when I am cutting or pressing. Fortunately all our floors are hardwood, and that means that all the thread and clippings can be easily vacuumed with my little "alien" hand-vac while I am sitting in the chair. (The vacuum is actually a Dyson Animal, but it is the only item in the otherwise Victorian room that looks alien.)
I hope these ideas are useful. They have certainly added greatly to the quality of my life--which without being able to sew would be depressing.
Posted: 9:54 pm on March 8th
Also, where it comes to light, you really can't have too many light sources. Better to not turn some on than to not have enough!
Another thing that's worth considering: buying those translucent or see-through plastic drawers is great and I highly recommend them, but does mean two things: your initial outlay will be fairly large, so start saving up so you can buy them all at once...because...whenever possible buy all the same height units. I like the stacking ones, myself, as you can stack them as tall or as short as you like, and dependent on whether you need storage on top of them running across several units, or wall space above them for display, etc.
I found the hard way that if you buy units at different times (on sale, for instance), they're almost never the same height. Buy the drawers in a deeper size rather than a shallow one -- better to have too much room in a drawer than not enough.
Also: take out the carpet. Threads in carpet = mess.
My, let's see, 10 cents. :)
Posted: 9:37 pm on March 8th
SandyDandy
Posted: 9:21 pm on March 8th
Posted: 9:08 pm on March 8th
I have made "pockets" sewn onto a separate fabric backing and attached to the board with a sturdy t-pin pushed all the way down at a severe angle for stability. In these little pockets, I have small 2" strips of fusible interfacing that I have lots of uses for. Another little pocket has my care labels and my name labels. I have a larger pocket that I made for my important notes, and some extra blank papers for notes. You can even make sturdy felt pockets for scissors. There are many things you can make a pocket for, and hang them on a bulletin board or wall right next to the machine. This is the ultimate storage solution for me--I don't like digging in boxes for items I use quite often, and this takes far less valuable real estate in your sewing area. Think of it as the tool wall in the garage, except everything is in pockets instead of hanging free and getting dusty.
If you want photos, go to my website www.sewjoe.com and send me an email and I will send you a photo.
Posted: 8:55 pm on March 8th
Years ago I bought an IKEA desk for my sewing room... adjustable height table, large working surface. I am not sure if the model is still around, but IKEA offers great desks ideal for a sewing room.
Posted: 8:44 pm on March 8th
I am very particular about having things at the right height and avoiding shoulder, arm and neck strain. My need to have a very large, flat surface for sewing and quilting led me to create this system and I absolutely love it. It's nothing more than a large piece of vinyl over layers of custom-cut foamboard but it beats every sewing table I've ever used.
Posted: 8:43 pm on March 8th
Posted: 8:25 pm on March 8th
It's not ideal, but I've made it work and my husband is understanding.
Posted: 8:20 pm on March 8th
Posted: 8:12 pm on March 8th
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Posted: 8:06 pm on March 8th
Posted: 7:32 pm on March 8th
The other tip I would give is to only by clear storage containers so that you can see what is in everything without having to open any containers.
An organized space makes every job easier and more enjoyable. Good luck!
Posted: 7:24 pm on March 8th
Light is critical--I use daylight fluorescents and love love love my ott light.
I like the plastic wheeled drawer units to store projects in progress.
Posted: 6:47 pm on March 8th
Posted: 11:45 pm on March 6th
I'm always on the lookout for items that can be repurposed to solve sewing space problems. Here are some examples:
For cutting and construction surfaces I have gotten great use from my banquet tables, which can be positioned end to end or side by side as needs dictate and then folded between projects.
I sew vintage patterns, and trace the fragile tissue pieces onto paper too heavy to fold. I store the traced-off pattern pieces--and delicate instruction sheets, which I encase in plastic sheets--in giant corrugated cardboard folders originally intended for storing posters. The folders fit into a box with a hinged lid. Highsmith, the school and library supplies company, sells the folder and box sets, which are called "Corruboard Bulletin Board/Poster Storage Systems."
Back when I worked in commercial bakeries I used rolling bakers' racks to store and move baked goods. Now I have a baker's rack of my own, with about a dozen full-size sheet pans perfect for pulling together supplies for projects. Bakers' racks and full- and half-size sheet pans can be found at any restaurant supply.
Posted: 9:48 pm on March 5th
Posted: 10:31 am on March 4th
Posted: 10:22 am on March 4th
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