Quilting Tables
 

I have seen tutorials where the person has a machine that sits flush with the table. Then when you FMQ the quilt is spread out flat, not hanging off the sides. Where can you get those tables?

I got it from my Janome dealer. I assume those tables are made specially for Janome
but there are other tables for other machines too. I love my table and if I get another
machine it will definitely be inside a table.

There are Arrow brand tables that work like that. I think Joann's sells them as we'll as other places including online. They aren't super expensive.

I have a Horn brand cabinet with the drop-down shelf. There are many other brands available. You can also buy the lift mechanism if you want to make your own cabinet. I like to have my sewing machine recessed in this way for all sewing, not just free motion quilting, since it puts the machine at the right height for me. I have seen nice sewing cabinets with the drop-down shelf available on Craigslist at very good prices.

Quilt in a Day has a tutorial for making one from an old kitchen table. There are also videos on YouTube showing several ways to make them cheaply. If cost is a concern, you might start there.

I bought a sew ezi table and it comes with an insert that is custom cut to fit your machine. I love it. I bought some cheap tables at Walmart to prop around the machine when I actually quilt.

I'm getting ready to cut a hole in a desk we bought on craigslist for next to nothing. It has a keyboard drawer and that will make the perfect shelf for the machine. I may have to add some wood blocks or something to get the machine to be level with the bed, but the price was right.

Here are Youtube links that show how you can make one inexpensively:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g14go...UMMkw&index=35
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAS25...UMMkw&index=36

Thank you for sharing these youtube's. I want to build one of these tables!!!

I couldn't find the Quilt in a Day tute--can you give us the link?

There is sew ezi, arrow, horn koala. The cheapest are the arrow gidget models and sew ezi

Here is a link to the table I have - I still love it!

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...d-t161455.html

My husband built mine. Its 8 ft. by 4 ft. Has the well my machine sits down in, and 2 shelves, all underneath. Lots of storage room under there. The bottom part is in 2 pieces, but the table top it self is just 1 piece. Very easy to dismantle and move. Tabletop fits down over the bottom pieces, so very stable. I love it.

I have a Horn and a Koala Lite, both with lifts. I don't have room for an extension, so I wind up using wooden TV tables for the excess.

I can't find an insert for the PQ 1500. I have one for a Pfaff 2170. Since only one company seems to deal with those who don't need an extension table, but a covering to go around your machine when it's dropped down on the lift, I'm looking for some other solutions. I keep getting told how to make a table to drop the machine down - my lift in the cabinet does that so I don't need to cut anything out. No insert for cutout sold matches the dimensions of either the Koala or Horn. The dimensions on those cabinets are identical. I've also been informed that I need the legs on any table to get the maximum area - the bed of my machine is already level with the cabinet - I can't use legs.

I'm trying a cheap plastic template I had cut - but if anyone has any other suggestions about a machine that is already level with a fairly large surface, I'd appreciate it.

here is a link to a table i saw online at walmart. I also posted a thread to ask if anyone has tried this table.
I would use it as a cutting table and also roll it over to my machine when needing quilt support. the height is adjustable. I just wish the price was lower. I am debating whether to purchanse it. It also folds to save space.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sullivans-...Specifications

They are wonderful in reducing shoulder stress too. I was tipped off about a sewing table that was donated to a local rummage sale fundraiser. $80 later it was in my sewing room, pronto! Makes such a difference in reducing the shoulder fatigue. There are lots of tables on the market at all price points. Good luck searching. Do your shopping online to compare.



Sandy

Can anyone explain why when I reply to a post it doesn't show up below the post, but instead at the end of the thread? Sorry for being so ignorant. I'm new! Thanks :)