Tuesday, July 24, 2007

My Sewing Room

When we moved into our current home four year ago (has it really been that long?) I was lucky enough to finally get a sewing room of my own. Sadly, for the the past year it's been more than a little cluttered...a victim of last year's remodel. During the remodel of our kitchen and three bathrooms we needed space to store things so that they wouldn't be in the way, so into the sewing room it went.

Over the past couple of weeks I've been doing a lot of sorting, tossing, and reorganizing, and I must say that I'm pretty pleased with the results.

Here's my sewing table. It's taken a couple of years, but now it's finally made. I bought the table at Big Lots and ordered the acrylic insert for my Designer I from Dream World, Inc. I tried to find the forum on which I got the instructions for making my table, but couldn't locate it. Sorry. Basically, I made a template, cut the hole, and made a box in which the sewing machine sits. I held my breath as I sat my machine in the box and installed the acrylic insert for the first time, hoping that the box was the right depth. I let out a huge sigh of relief when I realized the fit was nothing short of perfect.

FYI...the sewing machine needle is 11" from the edge of the table, which may seem far, but is really quite nice. I wish I would have left a little more room to the right of my machine for all of those things that need to be kept close at hand, but I'm happy to have lots of room to the left so that my quilt tops won't hang off the edge while I sew.
And here's my new cutting table that I put together this week. It's certainly made from a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I found the two cabinets on each end at Wal-Mart. They're 35" tall which is so wonderful when compared to the height of the folding banquet table on which I was cutting. No wonder I always had an aching back! They also have a lot of storage space!

The table top is the same one that I have on my sewing table. I was able to buy the table at clearance price last week at Big Lots, plus I got an additional 20% off my entire purchase. It kind of seems like a waste that I'm only using the table top and throwing away the rest of the parts, but realistically it's cheaper and better than anything I could have made myself. Trust me, I looked! One nice thing I figured out is that I didn't even have to screw the table top to the cabinets. I had a light come on in my brain (yes, big surprise!) and I realized that I could just use that tacky, foamy, self lining stuff that I had sitting in my top kitchen cabinet. I works wonderfully, I might add...and much less work!

Today I bought and assembled the little bookcase that sits between the two cabinets. Of course, once I got it put together I realized it was 1/4" too tall. 1/4" makes a huge difference when you want the table to lay flat. LOL!!! I walked downstairs to the garage to make an assessment of what DH had on hand. Ah ha! I found some shims that worked perfectly!!! The shelf lining is still holding everything in place.

Here are some of my Thimbleberries fabrics that are folded nice and neat. I used the folding technique that Lois L. Hallock recommends in her book "Creating Your Perfect Quilting Space". One problem that I did run into is that I couldn't find a 8.5" x 24" quilt ruler to use as a folding template. Once again, I put my genius mind to work! I went to Home Depot and bought a piece of acrylic glass and a cutting tool (yes, you need the tool...it works so much better than a utility knife) for less than $10.00. You sure can't buy a ruler for that price, not even on sale!!!

For those of you who don't own the above mentioned book, I recommend it. Not everything is practical, but there are a lot of really great suggestions. And just so you know...when Amazon.com recommends that you also buy "Dream Sewing Spaces" by Lynette Black, you can pass on that one. It's not worth your money...you'll get plenty of ideas from the first book.

I think that I'll probably be able to have everything completed by the end of the week. At least I certainly hope so! Stay tuned for more pictures!

16 comments:

  1. Very nice Kairle. My DH also made me a sewing table from an antique I had in the garage. The nice thing is it has a drop leaf that I can put up when I wnat to add borders etc. I love the way your fabrics look folded on the shelf. Check my Picture trail and you will see how I did mine. Hope to see the finished project. BTW I agree about the books.

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  2. What a great place to sew. I think you can think clearer if you are in a nice organised space. At least that's what I've heard, I've never been organised enough to find out,lol.

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  3. What a terrific space to work in, Kairle! Very neat and tidy after the room was taken over while other parts of the house were dealt with. Way to use your head to accomplish the set up.

    I love the picture of your kitty cleaning up the plates after the bday party.

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  4. Gee, Kairle, didn't know you were a carpenter also. Great idea for the cutting table.Big lots is great sometimes.Waiting to see more. What about the walls? Eileen

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  5. That's looking really great, Kairle! I love it! I'm looking forward to more photos!

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  6. Oh, I like what you are doing with your sewing room. You are so clever and so handy. The shelf liner is a neat idea for your cutting table. Enjoy!

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  7. WOW that is a wonderful room...love the cutting table with the bookcase and cabiniets under. Great use of space. Look forward to lots more pictures.

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  8. Hi Kailie, thanks so much for stopping by over at Pieces and leaving such a nice comment..*VBS* When I saw the name of your blog I actually remember it from the early days in blogland. It always sounded like such a perfect place to live...Happy Valley..*S*

    Your sewing space is coming along so nicely...lucky you!! I'm sooo very happy to see you finally getting that much need space!
    And I love the quilts in progress. What great colors! I've bookmarked your blog so I can come back...Hugs, Finn

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  9. Great work, Kairle. Be careful or you'll get everything so neat and organized that you won't want to mess it up by sewing. LOL Your creative mind has been in overdrive.

    Lootysmom

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  10. What a wonderful space - someday I'll have room to have everything all in one room . . . someday *s*

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  11. Your sewing room looks divine! Your cutting table and sewing table seem to be so roomy. I love the wood tops. Getting organized makes me so happy. Funny how it never seems to last long though. I am back to chaos in no time flat!

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  12. What a wonderful sewing space! Someday I will have one as well -- until then, who needs a dining table to eat off of anyway?

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  13. The Sewing Room looks great! As your sis, I am perfectly aware at how resourceful you can be. I still remember the day you taught me to use a jigsaw.......

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  14. Wow, how you can you not make wonderful things in such a wonderful space!! :) I have a Viking Rose and love it. I drool everytime I see the newest Mega Quilter, but my little Rose is just enough for me for now. :)

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  15. What a great table and sewing table. Great job!! You handy girl you!!!

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  16. I love that cutting table! I just showed your table to my husband, and he thinks it's a good idea for my new studio

    Inga

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