Thanks so much for measuring for me! Everyone has been so helpful! I brought one embroidery machine into the computer room today and put it on a counter top there. That helped give me a better idea of having a lower counter top. I'm going to go with 25" as my chairs are adjustable and the machines are all quite high from the thread plates to the machine bottoms. I hope you get your sewing center soon! It makes such a difference to have everything "ready to go!" Now that hubby is on a roll, he's going to put in wire shelving in the closet, too! It's so exciting to make positive changes!

[QUOTE=QuiltE;4799051]I appreciate that you want the counter to do double duty.
However from the ergonomic vantage, it isn't so easily done, as the sewing machine height needs to be lower .... the cutting or work table height should be higher.

A good adjustable chair, might help you. I use an adjustable drafting chair ..... it's lowest is the highest of a typewriter chair. The only problem with setting the countertop higher, sewing on it, and having the chair higher .... you may find it too far to the ground to the foot pedal.

A friend has a set up like this, her DH made a shelf under the counter at the correct height for her feet and foot pedal to rest on. works great for her.

good information. Thank you

Thanks everyone, this post has really been helpful for me.

I am tall so I can have the challenge of things being to low. I do use a computer chair which raises so I can be comfortable at different levels. Good luck. A cutting surface is much higher but depends on your height. Could you cut comfortably at your kitchen counter. That gives you the height you need.

Thanks for this thread! I've been thinking my kitchen counter top is too tall, but according to this it's not.

I just took a FMQ class last Saturday, and the instr went around and discussed proper heights with us which is exactly the heights recommended here.

: )
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I have a large kitchen counter height table that is both for the sewing machine and the cutting. It is a free standing kitchen island actually, that I bought specifically for the sewing room. I use an adjustable drafting stool to sit while sewing. I love it, I like working at that height much better than I did when I using a desk for the sewing machine.