Sewing Table Ideas?
 

Hi! I have a new addiction to quilting...another story for another post. But, as a result, I will be re-doing my office into a sewing room. Yeah!! Right now I have the sewing machine on a folding table in the office - not the ideal situation. When I get the machine up to any speed the table is rockin! So, I am thinking I need something sturdy, with plenty of space on the left side, as deep as I can and with room underneath for storage. Has anyone tried the hollow door on filing cabinet method? My husband is thinking a piece of plywood for the top might also work (I'm concerned about the rough finish of plywood). Any suggestions or other features I should be thinking about? Thanks so much! My first post...so exciting!!!

I'm thinking that the height of the file cabinets may not be right---you really do not want to scrunch down or up for long periods of time!!!
How about an old dining room table?? If it is too tall...have DH cut the legs to the right (for you & your machine). That would give you length and depth!
I do not have a lot of room so I went with a sofa table--length to the side and a decent depth!! And I cut the legs to fit me!! And cut some plywood for an extension table for the sewing machine---works great!!!

I am thinking that the thrift shop or garage sale might have a table or desk that is the same amount as the sheet plywood and would be much nicer to work on.

you can get plywood that is real smooth you want it about the same height as a desk.

I'm using a big office desk which is very steady and it has drawers. I really like it.

What about this, I hear a few people on the board have said they have this table and they like it, it seems relatively inexpensive
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sauder-Sew...ishes/15690337

My mom uses 2 wooden file cabinets on the left side and one on the right side. Then she laid a flat wooden door on top. Gives a ton of space to work on. She uses it as a desk. She has room for a printer, computer, television and more. See if that might work for you.

I have an old desk that I use. I also have my old office chair that can be raised or lowered. It all works for me.

If you use plywood just have him use a router around the edges, works great!
Good luck, Penny.

My DH made my sewing table out of plywood, router edges, round off corners, sand well, use 3-4 coats varathan, then Min Wax for furnature. It is just the right heigth. he cut a hole in the top so my machine sits leavel with the plywood. have lots of storage under left side. The furnature wax helps fabric slide easy.

What's holding the machine level with the table top? Did he buy something already made up (like a bracket) or did he think of a cleveer solution?

Pictures would help if you have time.

I'd LOVE to have a larger level sewing area. Thank you

I would love to post pictures but can't seam to get them to post. Best way to discribe it is he made a droped shelf attached to the bottom of the table.

You can also use a sheet of MDF, instead of the plywood. MDF is heavier but can be sanded much more smoothly, then painted.

Here is what my FIL did for me, on pg. 3 (last on there anyway lol) I actually posted how he did if for the set in insert.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/pictures-f5/2in1-fmq-info-help-kitchen-table-insert-made-into-sewing-table-insert-t189626.html

Thanks for posting this link. I had not really seen this but I like it. My sewing room/office is already too full but I also like to sew in the living room but hate the messy look with folding table and machine just sitting out. This would be an attractive piece of furniture when not in use. I might just order it myself!!

I got my tables at Ikea. it was perfect because you can get the sizes you need to fit your area and they have different options to put under, draws, shelves, cabinet

You can get a better grade of plywood that is smoother. I've been quilting for 10 years and I now have a Horn table that my sewing machine sets into. I like it a lot. However, my sewing room has evolved over those 10 years. I started sewing on a desk in our guest room, graduated to a drafting table that my husband cut out the center for my machine and then finally the Horn. I actually think the door or plywood would be a good and inexpensive solution.

Thanks everyone for your ideas! Although I would love to find an old table and repurpose it, I have to move on the re-do of this room while I have the window of opportunity with DH, family schedule, etc. I think we will look at MDF tops and something to go underneath. But perhaps a field trip to Ikea might be fun! I will keep you posted!

I repurposed an office desk that I found on craigslist. If money allows, you might try a Lowes or Home Depot or a local countertop shop and have a laminate countertop made to your size. You can buy pre-made countertops, but they will have a backsplash, which I would not want.

would love to see a picture of that

I picked up at kitchen table at Wal-mart for less than $100. Works out good. Have my Janome 11000 on it.

I bought a piece of plywood, sanded it and beveled the edges. Then put 2 coats of varnish and it sits on top of my
old treadle legs. Love it. It doesn't wobble at all and looks good, too. Very cost effective. I use it for my FW.

Hi, My DH found an OLD teacher's desk that a local school was clearing out and snagged it for free----solid oak! After many coats of poly, he set it on table legs from a big box home store (am thinking of swapping table legs for filing cabinets at some point). I have loads of room for what I'm working on and the table was as close to free as you can get. It's so solid I think the house could fall down and the table would still be standing. Only extra thing we did was add a large Olfa mat to the top and hang pegboard on the wall where sits on for extra storage. It's great!

We bought an inexpensive door - covered it with 1/4" foam rubber, then covered it again with heavy muslin. It is now an ironing board plus I put my cutting boards on it. It can be put on top of 2-drawer file cabinets or whatever you have that is tall enough.

If you have to use plywood, you could cover it with the vinyl fleece-backed tablecloths that are inexpensive. Cover and staple underneath.

I got a computer desk at a consignment shop for $75.00! Score for me. It is a wood top with 3 steel legs. Wide to the left with ample room for a quilt and I can even have an ironing pad behind my machine. I love sewing/quilting now!

I have peel and stick tile on the top of extra thick ply wood..works great. We fixed it that wy for my daughter to practice her tap dancing years ago. Gotta love the scraps!

you can use a small piece of ply on the folding table, it will absorb alot of the vibration especially if the machine is over the legs on the right side. If you use plywood for the top with file cabinets or elfa drawers you can cover the board with fabric and clear vinyl or a flannel back table cloth. I now have a sewing desk that my machine fits in. But before that I used one of these which I still take to me to sewing classes. http://sewingmates.com/ The thing I like about this table is that it will fit more than one sewing machine. Since most of us tend to get more than one.

I bought the one from JoAnn's when it was on sale for 1/2 price. It has a leaf that opens up to make it extra large. A swing out door that gives me space to either put a small ironing mat when piecing or an extra machine, drawers and storage. It was easy to put together and it has held up very well. I can have it with my embroidery machine going and I'll be sewing on the other side with no shaking going on. Before that I used my dinning room table and an old wood desk bought at a thrift store.

Here's the one I got but it was at JoAnn's 1/2 price

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sullivans-...Table/19518214

We took a folding table and used some wood for the top to stabilize it. I sanded the board and stained it. It looks great. I also can now put the plastic cabinets with the little drawers underneath it. It works out great fro me. It gave me more room for sewing and now I have storage too. The board made it stable. Without that the table vibrated too bad. This is a good way and cheap too.

I'll be honest my sewing room is an absolute wreck! I have been trying to get it set up so that I have a table long enough to accommodate my embroidery, featherweight and serger. With this in mind I have purchased 3 sewing machines with cabinets from Goodwill. The most I have paid is $29. right now they are all sitting next to each other. If the machines didn't work I would have him buy some boarding and make a smooth level top accross all 3 cabinets. What I like about this is the cabinets are inexpensive and the ones I chose have storage space for thread and odds and ends. So far it is working for me :) I don't mind that they are not the same style.

I have a piece of plywood. It is covered with 1/4" jute carpet pad, then covered with a piece of canvas. It is stapled to the under side of the ply wood. I have had this for just years and I love it. You can iron on it, pin to it and put your machine on one end and sew. Under the whole thing you can have small cabinets, storage, etc. I went to a drapery class once and that is what the teachers recommended for making drapes. I could not sew with out this table.

I used plywood. I had it cut to the size I wanted, 3ft x 5ft and 2ft x 4ft. I also had some louon, cut the same size's. I used an adhesive and glued the louon to the plywood. I let it sit with pressure for 24 hours. I then refinished it with an Ebony stain, then used poly to seal it. Again letting it sit with new stain for 24 hours. I then attached 2 table legs on one end of each new table top and chrome metal 2-tier shelf on the opposite ends. Which you can get most anywhere, cheapest at Walmart. These made a perfect L-shape sewing and work area for me, in the corner of my quilting room. The table leg ends are inside of unit with the chrome shelving on the outside ends. I use the larger section for my sewing machine. I am able to store things I need quickly on the selving, just to the right & below when I sew. I am then able to turn in my chair to the left side of desk to piece, cut or what ever.

My father picked me up an L-shape computer desk at an auction...after the auction was over this desk was just sitting there and my father asked if it was for sale. The man said sure, give me a price...my dad said: "$15.00"..."SOLD"...lol So, I am very lucky indeed! I can have my computer on one side and my sewing machine and rotary mat on the other side. This way I can watch the tutorials and sew at the same time. My daughter and I went to a few garage sales and we picked up some baskets. I have my odds & ends in them/books/etc... I also have lots of room under my desk and it sits in our living room!~~ :)) Just look around, especially since garage sales are in season. You may want to check out Big Lots or one the Office Max stores. Maybe in your area a scratch and dent store? Just be patience and make sure you get what you need and ask family and friends to help you search. Good luck!!

There is a new post on here this week where one quilter's husband bought a desk at Goodwill (I think) for $5. He cut out and set her sewing machine down into it - it had lots of room and is the perfect height - cheap too! I use a desk, my machine sits on a fabric placemat so I can move it back and forth to have room in front when laying things out - that works best for me in the space I have - I would love to have a larger desk but there isn't enough room.

In My sewing room my Hubby made my sewing table out of a sheet of 4x8 ft AB 3/4 inch PLY wood.( ABS All that means is that one sides smoother than the other.) He sanded it, He even put a 1 inch grid But I never use it because I have a Cutting Mat over it. then he put a Coat of clear Verathane. As to legs I have old Tables/ Dressers Fabric storage ete....

I really like my Sauder cabinet!

Card tables are wide, sturdy and cheap. Check Staples or Office depot.

I used 2 4 drawer chests n plywood







I used 5/8 plywood on 2 short dressers glued n nailed n then covered w the heavyest plastic I could get from WM. has worked for me for 20 yrs. Keeps my "notions" close buty un seen

I just went to Good Will a week ago and bought a beautiful extremely large office desk. It measured 90 inches by 45 inches. The finish was fabulous and the cost was also great.I paid 50 dollars for it and it also has 4 drawers