Roben

DH is getting ready to start on my quilting table, so I need to have a final plan of it's design. Since I am very new to quilting and sewing in general, I'm kinda winging it :oops: and I'm hoping for some advice from all of you who know more than me :D

I'm starting with a 7' x 4' oak table top without any legs. It expands to 9' with 2 leaves about 2' in from each end. The things I'm thinking of having DH do are:

1. a cut out to drop a machine in so it will fit flush with the tabletop (with an acrylic insert) The cutout will be for the biggest machine, but machines will be interchangeable with the inserts.
2. a light box mounted underneath with a Plexiglas top to the left of the machine cut out (a cutting mat will cover it when not in use for a quick cutting area)
3. Supports for the table will be box units (think kitchen cabinets) - I'm thinking two units of drawers, one unit with shallow shelves for mats and templates, and one wine-rack type unit for stabilizers.

The plan for the entire room includes antique type cabinets for fabric and a thread cabinet with pull out shelves. The embroidery only machine will be up on an antique buffet since I don't need to sit to operate it, and the buffet drawers will hold all the supplies for that machine.

My goal is to have a place for everything (not that I'm good at actually putting things away!) So please help me out here, and let's put those expensive power tools of DH's to work! If you could design your dream quilting table, what would it include?

lin

First of all, I'm green with envy that your dh will be able to build you this wonderful sewing unit! How lucky are you? :D I think the ideas you've shared sound fabulous so far!! I especially like the light box/cutting area and the cabinets with the narrow areas for mats, etc. I have two baker's racks in my room that have wine racks and I put all my stablizers, freezer paper, rolled up paper templates, etc in there and they fit so nice. :)

IF my dh could (would?) build me a sewing unit, I'd be sure to have him add an area to my left to hold the bulk of my quilts as I'm machine quilting them. Right now, I just stick two sturdy tv trays next to me. That works ok for holding the weight of the quilt, but they tend to shift a little more than I like and I have to keep adjusting them.

Someday.....:D

tlrnhi

Ok, I'm jealous!
I don't think I could add anything....I'm still in awe that you are having this built!!

Roben

Trust me ladies, not a day goes by that I'm not thankful I have a 'tinkerer' :lol:

To the left...as in a U shape table? There will be plenty of space to the left of the machine, but in thinking about the space next to me in front of the table, would a roll-a-way cart type unit work for that (as long as I remember to lock the wheels.... :D )

tlrnhi

Mine is a "tinkerer" too. He just does it on multi-million dollar submarines. lol
Let's just say....that's about all the tinkering I allow him to do.

We needed a screen door on our house (we rent).
I told the landlords WE would pay for a nice one and wouldn't want repayment. They refused. So, I thought about making a screen inset, since we can't mount anything to the door frame. Hubby said he'd build it Yea right! NOT!!
So, off to Home Depot I go. I get the 1x3s, screen, little metal do-da things to hold the wood frame together (didn't want to nail it or wood would split) and some wood screws. I get home and hubby says we had wood screws. Sure we did. 4" ones! He said they'd be fine. UGH!!
So, after I finished my coffee, e-mail and whatnot this morning (or yesterday, whichever you prefer) I get out in my carport and put this thing together. I forgot one thing. I can staple gun the screen in, but it will tear if I don't have some sort of binding over top of it. Do I have any screen binding? Nope, but I do have some leftover quilt binding! Let me tell you. Not only did I do a GREAT job on the screen insert, but it's pretty too with the purple binding around it. lol
GIRL POWER RULES!!!

Roben

tlrnhi that is sooo funny! A couple of years ago when Mom and I were going to cake decorating classes, DH decided to have a go....lets just say its a good thing you can eat mistakes in cake decorating! Everyone has their niche, and his just wasn't that!

Give your DH a big hug for me - we appreciate what he does beyond measure! As for the door, girl you just rock! I love the thought of purple binding on it :lol:

bj

Roben, the only thing I would suggest (unless you have a separate cutting area) is to have your cutting area a little higher than your sewing area...saves on the back because you aren't stooping over so much to cut.

Quilting Aggi

I find the height of my deep freeze is the perfect height for cutting.

I have a Horn Sewing Cabinet. Unfortunately it has been in storage for the last 4 years and I miss it terribly! But one thing I do love about it is the extension on the back of my cabinet that I can open up and out to give me another 4 feet of space when I am machine quilting. it supports my quilt perfectly!

I love your light box idea!!!

Say do you hire out your hubby?? I'll be needing a new sewing studio designed when I get my house before the end of this year :)

Cheers

thimblebug6000

Make a board that fits securely on the bottom of a drawer with pegs on it that your spools of thread will fit on, just like in a spice drawer, it keeps the thread right at your finger tips & out of the light & dust.

thimblebug6000

Here's a link showing how this person made their sewing table cut out. I think if you do a search on webshots you may find some other ideas too.
http://www.putfile.com/pic/3753311