Thread: Shopping for sewing table--machine on top or inset?

I have a Juki and took a 6' ft banquet table and cut a hole for the machine. I made a "platform" under the hole and it works great.

I too prefer to have my machine inset into the table. When I bought my Pfaff 7570 in 2000 it came with a Koala quilting cabinet with the lift mechanism. I love it. I also have a featherweight and 2 Singer 301's. I have been lucky enough to have card tables for them that also allow me to have the machine inset into the table. Even without the autolift feature I would prefer the machine to be inset. I rarely have need for the free arm but I still would prefer the inset table.

My main machine is a quilting machine (Janome 6600), so it doesn't even have a free arm. It's set down into the table and for me that's a big deal, I'm much more comfortable sewing that way and my quilt gets hung up much less often. I bought a SewPerfect table and I LOVE it. It's expensive but it's built rock solid and will probably last longer than the machine will.

If I need a free-arm, I can use one of my portable machines, but I don't sew garments so that's not an issue. I can sew small circular things like hot cup cuffs on my 6600 without a free arm just by bending it around a bit so it doesn't seem all that necessary. (In fact those cuffs won't fit over my free arm anyway so it's completely moot for that particular project.)

My table is two doors hinged together. Nice and big all around. My machine is also recessed and I love that as I never have to worry about fabric shifting as it drops over the side of the arm. When doing something like sleeves I just lift it out of the hole and set it on top for that job.

When I'm quilting or putting quilts together I use the recessed part in my Horn table. Makes such a difference. However when I'm piecing I find putting my little machine on top makes it so much easier to see well for that accurate 1/4 inch. Old eyes just don't work the same as when I was younger. I think your body will enjoy a recessed machine when you plan to sew for a long time.

I have a Sew Ezi table. http://www.seweziusa.com/?gclid=CI3B...FQ4BaQodxgsAOw I like it because I can fold it up and take it with me, and I have the top insert for both my Bernina 440 and my Singer Featherweight. If I need to use the free arm with my Bernina, I just have to remove the insert.

Originally Posted by mckwilter

I have a Sew Ezi table. http://www.seweziusa.com/?gclid=CI3B...FQ4BaQodxgsAOw I like it because I can fold it up and take it with me, and I have the top insert for both my Bernina 440 and my Singer Featherweight. If I need to use the free arm with my Bernina, I just have to remove the insert.

I recently purchased the Sew Ezi table and really like it. It is light weight and much more sturdy than the pressed wood tables. A number of quilters got together and purchased them in "bulk" so we had a cut on the shipping costs. Each table was shipped to the person who ordered the table.

I also use a pneumatic massage stool. https://www.earthlite.com/massage-su...age-stool.html Many of the traditional chair have too deep of a seat and I ended up sitting on the edge of the chairs and slouching. With this stool my feet can touch the floor. If I'm at a workshop I can adjust my chair to a standard table. It's easy to put in the car for retreats.