I saw one at IKEA that I really liked and took a picture. Now I can't find it online (we don't have one here but I saw it in NC).

I got mine from Joann's w/coupon. It is about 60 inches but the two sides fold down to take up less room if needed. It's high enough that it doesn't bother my back and it's on rollers

Sounds like you have a nice table. My problem is space which I suppose is almost everyone's problem.

Why not get one that has sides that can flap down whilst not in use?That way it is more versatile.

Thanks for the info!

When I really set up my first SEWING ROOM (!!!), I bought two IKEA kitchen, butcher block cabinets. Sometimes I have them pushed together, for a 6'x6', sometimes they are against the wall for 3'X6". I have them on gliders, as they have big deep cabinets filled to the brim underneath. Here are pictures.

Thanks so much! Nice room.

I bought a folding height adjustable table at Sams club for $33. It's only 2'x4' and my mat is 24"x36". It adjusts up to counter height which I like for cutting, then I lower it to table height when I'm machine quilting and put it next to my sewing table to hold the bulk of the quilt. However I would like a bigger table and mat so a 4' x 6 or 7' would be great.

Do you use a normal sewing machine to machine quilt? I'm wanting to do some machine quilting but can't afford to buy a bigger machine for it. Going to try to use my regular machine to do it.

Cindi, I use several machines to quilt. I have a run of the mill Singer with electronic stitches that I bought about five years ago at Kohl's for around $69-79. I sew for a living and believe it or not, this is the one that I use most often. I don't know why.

I also have a Babylock Sofia2 embroidery machine that has stippling and the ability to use a crateload of quilting designs. I haven't used it for that yet. Mostly use it for embroidery on my veils and other products.

My other machines are
(1) an estate sale serger that I use quite often - but until I bought it I had no idea what a serger was or why I'd want one. I use it to piece quicky quilts for my dogs or patio table clothes.
(2) a rather old (1960s?) Tailor Made machine that is actually a Singer made in Poland and sold for use in schools. I use that one when I sew outside.
(3) a 1931 Singer that had a dual treadle/electric option that has no bells, no whistles, but sews like a dream.
(4) a really old and beautiful treadle which is currently in my garage. Shame on me!

So, to answer your question, no you do not need a fancy machine at all. Think about how early quilters did it. Well, those who quilted after the invention of machines. Not fancy at all.

My daughter took four short bookcases, turned them back to back and put a laminate top over them. That's her cutting table and she has storage underneath for bolt fabric and/or shelves.

Thanks! I'm going to tackle it this weekend... :) we'll see how good I am. I have a Kenmore.

go to daystyledesigns web site; she does FMQ with a requalr machine and has lots of tutes for it

I have a referbished table. It could be a little highter, It's about 5x3 1/2. Could be a little bigger, but I would just pile more things on it. It's really just right.

I use a piece of plywood covered with oilcloth on top of the pool table

mine is a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood with a 4' high book case on each end and shelves in the middle! remember that the HEIGHT is most important....to know how high to make it, stand up straight, place your arms at your side and then bend at the elbow palms facing down..that is how high your table needs to be!

This is the one DH made for me. It is 4' x 5' and 36" tall. I love it.

Just make sure your cutting table is high enough - believe me it makes a big difference. A friend of mine ordered cabinets that they put together in a square with a large top at least 5 x 5 and I think bigger. It is on wheels and is absolutely wonderful.

Great thinking!

There are so many people on this board with sooo much space....envy !
The whole of my sewing room is just 8"x11" and even that has a chunk out for the stair bulk head....so we had to think practically....Like others bought 3 units from ikea but the work surface is just laid on top and not secured. Usually it is up against the wall but if I am doing a big project just need to pull the cupboards out out slightly, put the worksurface back on and I can get all the way around.
Biggest thing for me was storage....love my room though

I'd like to have maybe 3 cutting tables. I think mine is about 5 foot by 7 foot and a very good size. My cutting mat fits the table.

Mu cutting table is from Tracey's Tables in Wisconsin and I got the mat from him too. They are online and very reasonable. I have their quilting table set up and ironing board and couple of chests as well.

I have the cutting table from Joanns, just love it just the right height, I keep one half up and my large mat fits it.
Doesn't take much space when folded down...I saw the one at Hancocks last week and it has 1 deep drawer on each side. Really liked it also..

My husband and I moved around a lot so whatever I have has to be portable. I have 4 storage cabinets 34" tall. I laid a sheet of 5/8" plywood on top and covered it with an old king sized sheet, then some left over batting and then another king sized sheet. I used sheet straps to hold it together. I have my cutting mats on one end but I can use the whole thing to iron large pieces. It gives me a large, flat, stable area to work on.

That is exactly what my mom did when I was growing up! I had to laugh!

That is exactly what my mom used to do! I had to laugh!

Great idea. I have a wonderful cutting table I bought years ago when living in California. It has a leaf on both sides, so when not in use, I can drop the leaf down out of the way. So far, I seem to keep it up most of the time. However, I wish I had bought a dining room drop leaf table instead. You can always buy some risers if the table is not high enough. GiGi

Mine is an old school table - from chem lab. Good height and totally indestructible but it has to be against the wall - so too bad I can't walk around it.

love the cabinets that pull out and havae storage in. told my sil to look for a kitchen island to have, but have not gotten my sewing room addition built on yet that dh promised. someday ? whenever the farm gets out of the way.

my boyfriend made my cutting table and sewing table out of oak, then stained them and put a few clear coats to protect them from me... The sewing table is 54" L x 25" W x 34" H and my sewing table is 63" L x 20" W X 29" H. He did a wonderful job, more than I expected.

My cutting table it a door with drawers under it. It works great. At first it was too high, but we have cut some of the height down. Now it's just the right height. It may be too long - I do pile lots of Stuff on it. ;-(

If my table were that low, I would have to give up quilting, I'm 5'6.5" and mine is at my navel. It is perfect for my back.

I use my son's ping pong table. He is at school!

I'm on my second one from Joann's. I love it and use it everywhere. It fits the large cutting mat and I am able to drop one of the leaves to fit in my small sewing room. Buy when on sale or with the coupon. You can't do better for a cutting table.

My cutting table is an old church banquet table. It is the standard 6' x 3'. I inserted the legs into approx. 7" PVC poles with end caps. That brought the table up to a decent height for me and my back, arms, and neck never tire. I found an industrial stool to sit at when working on things that I can sit down for. Works great!
Sometimes I wish my table were 4' wide, but I can accept the 3'. I can still cut from one side to another and I can walk around if necessary.

I have 2 pattern cabinets from JoAnns with board over them and cutting mat

My cutting table is the size of a door somewhere between 7 and 8 feet long and 3 to 4 feet wide, laid out on top of six unfinished cabinets that i finished and store fabric in, sew very handy, my hubs stained the door and put trim around the edge so i could align my rulers for cutting, I have sew much room, and the storage is tremendous.

I'm dreaming of a cutting table that would "straddle" the full size bed in my guest room. The bed is seldom used, so the space would be better utilized if it could be turned into a cutting area of the appropriate height to cut and not bend over - plenty of work space to have needed items close at hand.... As long as we're talking CUTTING TABLES, what do you all think?

If I had the room, yes make it as big as you can. My mom has 3 banquet tables put together and she has them on stilts to make them counter height. The height makes it so you don't get a back ache from leaning. The area is great for laying out blocks or sandwiching.

I don't know about so many inches below your elbow but I'm 5'2'' and the kitchen bench is about the right height. I don't cut out there though. I have a 6' x 30" table on which I have my 6600 and my embroidery machine. I also have a small table 4' x 2'. I can raise either one by placing an ordinary house brick under each leg and they are just the right height. I find that the height is most important for my back.