I've been looking high and low for a different sewing machine cabinet. The one I have now (was my mother's!) doesn't allow me to sit in front of the needle. Awkward and tiring.

I've tried craigslist and my request is on some Google pages....but no result.

I did find a sewing and cabinet store 80 miles away (I live in the country in SW Iowa) and finally got to see and try some Roberts cabinets. Nice but tooooo expensive.

I'm down to two choices:
A sewing machine table (about $130) that holds my machine flush (I don't want it on top).

A cabinet large enough so I can sit in front of the needle
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/p...DID=xprd398503
And this doesn't have any reviews written about it...

My DH said to get the one I want now since I use it a lot. (He's a wonderful guy in many ways!!!)

So, do I get the table or pay close to $700 for more????

thanks for your help!

Oh, it's costly!!!

others may disagree but i think that price is far too high for a table that provides so little workspace behind the machine. it would be fine for piecing, but would be a major pain once you got around to quilting a top.

I say get the table or keep looking! Just think of how much fabric a$700 would buy!!! LOL

Good point about the fabric...

Hold out. Shop around. I would expect more for my money. Just my view.

Very pricy. My hudband built mine very much like the one at Joanns but with a lot more counter space. He used malmaine (sp?) to do it. It has a door on both end that opens and has to slide out shelves. on the slide out shelves he put pegs to hold my thread. If your husband is handy he could make you one much cheaper. Mine goes along one whle wall so I have plenty of room to do everything,

That would be wonderful!
I already asked my busy husband who farms as one of his jobs. The farm and machinery are constantly in need of repair. So, he said he wouldn't get to it...

He might be more inclined to help if he could see how much moolah he could save by building it for you. My hubby doesn't like to do carpentry things but he would balk at my spending that much for a sewing table. It could be really simple and still do the job.

Another idea, maybe you have a friend who is handy at building things who might be willing to swap his skills for something that you or your husband are handy at...maybe you could make a quilt for him/her or do some cooking, etc. I'm very frugal and would have a problem spending that much but that's just me.

It really is worth it to have one made for you. Here is a pic of the one hubby did for me; it took him just a couple of hours, and the most expensive part was the acrylic sheet for the insert he cut for me (around $30 IIRC.) I love it so much, I had him cut a second insert for my other piecing machine so I can swap them out. I now pair this table with its twin in my sewing room to give me lots of quilting space.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-17094-1.htm

My most favorite sewing table in the whole wide world was the kitchen table Mother had when we were growing up. I hate so much that I didn't keep using it.