NJ Quilter

My sewing room is an 8 x 10 'extra' bedroom. Has queen size futon; chest of drawers; antique dressing table; 2 end tables. My cutting table is one of the fold down types that JoAnns sells set up in the center of the room. I have a small table for my sewing machine. There's a very small closet that's about 1/2-3/4 height. I do also have a smaller plastic rolling cart with drawers and a reasonable sized plastic tub. Can you read that there's virtually no room to move in this room! Have to suck in the gut to get around the cutting table (which I also use for ironing - double layer towel on 1/2 of top; cutting mat on the other half). Don't really have a stash per se as obviously no room for one! BUT, I have all my fabric/books in either the chest of drawers or the one plastic tub. Readily used notions in the tiny drawers of the sewing desk. All manner of stuff pushed into the miniscule closet. Hanging coat rack on the back of the door where I have stencils on a round belt hanger (along with out of season jackets) and other things. Roll of batting standing between door/futon. Stuff under the futon. Stuff piled on top of the rolling cart and tub. My only saving grace is that rarely do we have overnight guests. When we do it's the mad cleaning frenzy. Can fold up the table to put behind the futon and cram anything left over in the drawers/closet - once it's labeled, of course. I don't think any of us are 'neat' sewers/quilters. But having a small space does require one to be a bit more organized and do things step-by-step.

SunlitenSmiles

thinking the kitchen might make a good sewing room....keep the fridge.....ditch the stove and put the sewingmachine there......plywood covers for the drainboards with cutting mats on top.....ironing board blocking the door....all that cupboard space when you discard all the dishes and cooking stuff.....take out menus on the fridge door

fly these ideas across hubbys radar and see how quick that extra room is built !

Cindy60545

I agree with Sunliten! DH will get the message real quick!

Sew Freak

hubby is going to 'add' on a room this summer and you're fretting about what to do until then......gr'fren......get out a pad of graph paper and D E S I G N Y O U R N E W S E W I N G S P A C E!!!!!! (yes I'm SHOUTING!!!) figure out all you'd need in the way of cabinets, a cutting table w/under storage, ...... oh girl....just go C R A Z Y !!!!!

KarenR

I use the kitchen table to sew!

Ideas: get some shelving, hutch, or a sewing cabinet.

elizajo

I don't have a dedicated sewing room, but most of my sewing stuff is hidden- usually!-- all around the house. Wherever you have a decorative object, think of it as an opportunity to fill a container with sewing tools or supplies. I sew my clothing in addition to quilting, so the fishermen's creel hanging on the hook by the back door is full of zippers and elastic. The old wicker picnic basket sitting on the bench nearby holds all of my serger thread, sorted by colors into ziplocs. Baskets under the mudroom bench hold interfacings. One end table has lots of drawers filled with sewing supplies. The space under the guest bed has all of my cutting mats and oversized rulers. My grandmother's wicker pram usually has bagged projects hidden under the bottom pad. The padded ironing table is covered with decorative cotton twill and can serve as a luggage table. I have command hooks on the closet doors in that room to hold other sewing supplies. My goal is to be able to tuck everything away, except my sewing table, fairly easily when we have a party or overnight guests.

I had to move most of my sewing things out of the guest room last fall when my MIL was staying with us following orthopedic surgery; she was using a walker and wasn't very steady on her feet. During that time, I found that I prefer to sew in my master bedroom next to the picture window and I like to use the serger standing up at the breakfast room counter. DH hasn't complained yet that my rolling drawer carts are still living in his study, long after his mom went home. Last week I moved my ironing station board to the kitchen bar area with a high counter to prevent neck pain. Until my family complains, I guess I'll continue to sew all over the place.

nancyw

I designed my dream house. It has one bedroom and a humongous quilting room so I can put everthing in it that is scatterred all over the house. Dream dream dream.

stefanib123

I'm so glad I posted, you guys always make me feel better!!! I've been so stressed with the move and everything, I can't see the forest for the trees!

Everyone has great ideas! I'm making a list of everyone's suggestions. This thread could so be a chapter in a sewing book! Chapter 7: How to quilt in a small space! You guys are so knowledgeable!

I actually have an "extra" bedroom that my son moved back into....with his fiancee and baby! Honestly, though, I'll lose that space anyday to have my first grandbaby here everyday. He's a joy, even with his stuff everywhere. It's been 20 + years since I've had baby stuff around and it's really nice in a way. Plus baby quilts are a breeze to make so I can bang out several and feel like I really accomplished something, hehe!

We decided that instead of the new room being a well, "new" room, we will add it to the sunroom instead and have a big room. The majority of that will be mine, just have to leave the futon and perphaps a chest or something. Even with sharing it will be way bigger than I had, or need.

It is exciting planning it!! I love the sunroom feel, I also am a amateur phtographer, and the light is awesome for that and for quilting! I will still have one long regular wall that is going to be entirely cabinets and shelves. Storage!! And I want a "U" shaped sewing/cutting/ironing space so I can do it all without having to get up.

I also am having a yard sale to get rid of some of my scrapbooking stuff. I still scrapbook, but not like I used to, so a lot of that can go. I do feel like a hoarder somedays!!! I hate watching that show, I have to go clean everytime I watch it, LOL!!!

Sunliten, that's a great idea! LOL! Actually, I think I will do that in the garage, that's his space, he could care less about the kitchen. I could use his worktable as a cutting table, his pegboard would be great for tools, ........hmmmm....this is sounding great! Alas, no air or heat out there, though, I'd die of a heat stoke!

Thanks everyone, so much! I guess I partly just needed to vent and have someone understand, you know? I feel selfish griping about not having a dedicated sewing space when there's people that don't even have a home. You guys help me to stay focused on what matters, and that I am lucky enough to have all my stuff and to sew at all! Even if it's not perfect!

toi123

I have heard about three women who all went together and bought a long-arm quilting machine, but instead of deciding which house to put it in, they rented a climate-controlled storage shed (you know the ones, right?) and set it up in there. Within a year, they have rented the two storage spaces next to their original space, opened the walls between them that separate the units, and have moved in their sewing machines, irons, all their material, sergers, embroidery machines, and they've started their own business of quilting - in a climate-controlled storage shed. Who would have thought!

T-Anne

I am with you on the "sooner do without a kitchen" and I am not kidding! LOL