I am just completing a new sewing quilting room and need ideas for a large cutting table. Can any of you post pictures and ideas that have worked for you? I need a little help with this part. I don't want to make any mistakes since I will only get the chance once. Help me if you can.

yes, I would also like to know what is the ideal height

yes - can't wait to see responses.

I have a cutting table that I just love, I ordered it about 20 years ago but don't remember where from. Saw a picture in quilting book I think. Anyway, it is 40 wide x 72 long and 34-1/2 high. Center section is 18 in wide with drawer under the table and storage below that, and a leaf on each side that can drop down.. when you don't need it up. I keep one leaf up all the time, giving me a 45-1/2 x 40 cutting surface.. I am about 5ft 2 or 3 in tall and do not have problems at the 34-1/2 in height of the table.

I'm not exactly sure what the height should be but measure the height from the floor to the top of your kitchen countertop and that should be the right height. I don't have a cutting table, use the kitchen island.

I have the cutting table from Joann's. I love it! and with the coupons its not to bad as far as price goes.

Kitchen island here as well. Perfect height and mine is 5 ft long and 42 inches wide....just great for me.

I am considering a premade island at our local building supply store. It is the perfect size and has drawers too. Just waiting to save up..LOL

I've used the kitchen counter cause there's plenty of room for the extra length.
In my sewing room I have an old dress that is the right height with a 3' mat on top.

depending on your height... i'm 5'4" and i find that the kitchen counter works very well... i have a large peninsula.

I bought two very cheap bookcases from Staples. They're just short of the height of a kitchen counter. Then I bought a 36" solid core wood door from Home Depot. I put some felt on top of the bookcases to protect them, laid the door on top, and voila! A nice big cutting table that is just the right height and that comes apart easily if I need to take it down. It's also big enough to sandwich quilts (before I got a longarm). The only problem is that I tend to stack stuff on it and have to move the junk off (or down to one end) before I can use it for cutting.

I can't post pic's or anything because I want one too! But I can suggest that in addition to here you check out Ikea.

My husband made me a table that is belly button high, 92 inches long and 42 inches wide. He put formica on the top. My sewing friend and I love it.

Hi Guys,

Gotta still shout about the Horn HiLo Table. Doesn't matter how tall or short you are.... the table can be adjusted to your perfect height!



Hugs

I like the idea of using bookcases for the base. Frees up more space for fabric on your other shelves! I've bought two pretty little bookcases from Target. They are 36" tall which seems a good height. If I push them together, my smaller cutting mat fits right on top and it is usable as a cutting table now. But I have a large mat, 24" x 36" so I am looking for a top now. I'd like formica but that is probably more than I want to spend, plus I don't want to add much more height to the table.

My bookcases aren't pushed together - they're almost 6 feet apart. I store things under there as well as in the bookcases.

I have something similar to the hi-lo table for my ironing board.. I lower it when Im using it next to my sewing machines and raise it when Im standing to iron.. has wheels so it moves easily from one side of the room to another..

I use my kitchen island to cut the height is good for me

That is exactly what I have, and I love it. I also have the largest cutting mat that JoAnns sells. It is there permanently. The door is long enough that I can have my sewing machine on the far right end, by a nice sunny window.

My DH just made me a cutting table and used a solid door. It's 34" wide and 6'8" long and 35" high. sanded it and put a coat of polyurthane like they use on GYM floors. Makes a great table.

There is no one perfect height. Because it depends on your height. Kitchen counters are too high for me, guess that tells ya I am not tall...LOL. Experiment with different height surfaces in your home and then measure the best one for YOU! Good luck.

Kat

I have 6 of the pattern cabinets, 3 back to back, then a 2 piece counter top on top of them, this is my cutting table, the drawers are full of fabric, sorted by background color. It's 5' wide and 7' long. I know that most people can't get these cabinets, but I would say go with something that has storage and maybe put a couple of doors or a large piece of nice plywood or something over them, then you have a large cutting table and storage.

I have read that the best height for cutting, should be no lower or higher than 3" above your elbow.

That's another thought I like!

I have an old drafting table that I picked up 2nd hand. The top lays flat when you don't use it for it's original use. It is the perfect height for me however I wish it had a bigger top. I would like a table like Caroline has. It looks great.

We were remodeling and I had a small table with drawer and a shelf under it. The table measures 2' wide and 5' long. I had an old door that was 3' wide. I centered the table under it and my husband glued and tacked some screen molding on the underside of the door next to the sides and ends of the table to keep it from scooting off. I got 2 cutting mats at JoAnns with a discount coupon to cover the top of the new table top and used some double sided tape to keep them in place. The shelf under the table is used for bolts of fabric and rolls of batting. On the floor under the shelf I keep plastic bins that contain scraps, patterns, and misc. Ann in TN

I use my dining table a lot, need to bend over a bit, but leaning onto the ruller a bit keeps it steady. I have base cabinet with an 8 ft. counter and sometimes I use that, sometimes the kitchen island. I quess I use whichever, depending on the day. Dining table also has a glass top, I make quilt sandwich on that.

Mine is basically an unfinished oak cabinet that my hubby put an island top on and pegboard on the back for my rulers. Lots of storage...here's the link to pics I posted not too long ago....
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-138293-1.htm

I found my cutting (and everything else, too!) table at a second-hand furniture shop. After looking for ages for something affordable but with some character, I finally went back to the "furniture barn" and came home with a antique, solid walnut table that's about 3' x 4' without the leafs, and 3' x 8' with them! I use that table for every task in my sewing room and just love it. The height is probably 30", which I could boost with risers but since I sew on it, too, I'm good to keep it lower.

Oh, and it was $100. :)

We use a Lifetime Commercial grade plastic table from Costco. It's very sturdy, and the legs adjust to several different heights. It's also quite reasonably priced.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...=P_CatalogName:BC&Sp=S&N=4000487&whse=BC&Dx=mode+matchallpartial &Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D= tables&Ntt=tables&No=25&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&s =1&topnav=&Nty=1&s=1

I found 2 dining room servers at a liquidation place, took off the feet and they are perfect height...for me...I am only 5 feet tall...

I acquired an old conference table..took off the feet and just plunked it on top..no need to secure down as it weighs a ton...and so it ends up being 34 inches...at first it seemed so tall but now I love it....

I did a little reading about what height to have before getting mine because for years i used my kids' ping pong table and it was about 30 inches high...my back would be killing me and so I decided I had to replace it...I read something that said ago good height is an inch or 2 lower than you elbow..when you bend your arm...that way you will never bump your elbows into it..and you should bea able to reach to the centre...mine is 60 inches wide which is perfect for my decorator fabrics at 54 inches...and the length is 90 long..perfect for drapery, which i do a lot of...the picture below is the 2 servers put together without the top I added...they are 60 inches long and 20 inches wide...I have separated them now and so use the space in between for storing...and the drawers are a bonus...

You might buy two 6 ft long folding tables and put them together to make a large table. Since they fold could be stored when not in use.
IdahoSandy

If you find the perfect table but wrong height elevate it. I use a kitchen table (wrong height but great for space) and I put bricks under the legs (or you can use those furniture risers). I just used what I had available around the house. The kitchen table I used cause I had limited space to work with on my studio space.

I have a wonderful table! I used the self healing cutting mat from Joanne fabrics as a table top! It already has a grid, angles marked, and measure on two sides(we had to cut an end and a side off) I love it!

I took the wire baskets and put six stacks together and then my husband put a top on them so now I have storage and a cutting surface. The top is 50" X 63" and he made it overhang the baskets so that I can still sit on my stool if I want to.

I didn't mean to attach my ironing surface too but it's the same idea.

I love the look of this table but can't find a sales co over in the States that sells one...shipping is too much fromUK.
I think this would be IDEAL!!!

arolinePaj]Hi Guys,

Gotta still shout about the Horn HiLo Table. Doesn't matter how tall or short you are.... the table can be adjusted to your perfect height!



Hugs[/quote]

I use a kitchen island that is on wheels, it was in our old house and we did not need it when moved into our new house. I am 5ft 4 and it is the perfect height for me and the top is marble with a large drawer and a shelf for storage. We got it at Lowes Home Improvement store.

Love your set-up!

I bought a folding table from Staples which is very sturdy then bought Bed Risers to put under the legs. It makes the table 34 inches off the floor. I am very tall and this is a perfect height for me to cut on.