How much room would you like on the right side of your sewing machine?
 

I'm ready to order the formica for the top of my sewing center and looking for opinions. I can have 21 to 34 inches on the right side of the sewing machine. I have a 21" and a 24" cabinet that can be placed there and you can over hang it by 1" - 10" and anything in between. Please let me know what you think. Have picked out white with a sparkle finish and the cabinets are dark. Material should glide over it.

If you are quilting a lot of larger quilts, you want to go with the 34". Now I just quilt small items so I have 24" from Bernina sewing needle.

My sewing machine will set in the middle of the opening underneath. From the right hand edge of the sewing machine there will be four inches and then the 21" - 34" start. I guess it would really be 25" - 39 from the right hand edge of my sewing machine.

OK, I"m confused. Do you want the extra space on the right or the left of the machine? On the right I only need enough room to safely put a water bottle.

You do not need much room on the right at all. I have about 12 inches from the cabinet from my Mom's old machine. I keep some notions there. You want lots of room to the left and behind if possible for the weight of the quilt.

If you are going to use one of those cabinets then I would go for the bigger one ( always can use the storage space!) but otherwise I only need 6-10 inches for a drink, scissors etc.

I guess I am in the minority, I never seem to have enough room on the right of the machine.

I don't use much room on the right. Only for supplies-none of what I'm sewing ever goes to the right side. On the left, however, I need all the space I can get.

Guess I wasn't very clear which is normal for me. It is the right side where you place your pieces to sew together. I have two cabinets for my sewing center and DH will put a top on them with a space 30" between the cabinets so it looks like a desk. With the sewing machine in the center of the opening, I can have from the edge of the right side of the sewing machine to the outside edge of the top 25" to 38" to stack and layout the pieces I am sewing together. I have put together quilt blocks that had 21 units and pieces and I do make king size quilts. The cabinets are considered 29" high so after the top is on it will be the correct height for me to sew on. I also have a third cabinet that will be 36" high for cutting. The top on it will be 60" by 40".