I'm not if Ikea is in your area, but they have a bookcase/desk unit for about $150 that is really sturdy, has a lot of storage space that you can eventually buy boxes, baskets etc that can organize your sewing stuff, and it can be put together in numerous ways. It comes in 3 colors, brown, black and white.

DITTO I LIKE THAT IDEAL THAT WAY YOU WOULD A LARGE SPACE TO LAY YOUR QUILTS ON AND MAKE IT THE HEIGHTH YOU WANT IT TO BE.

Check out local thrift stores in your area for used, or I have seen some use computer tables, or folding tables. The biggest consideration is the height of the table, it needs to be around 30 inches from the floor to the top of your machine bed. So ideally you should be able to add the height of the machine to the table top to get 30 inches. Thats why most tables have a "well" or two levels. Also Walmart used to carry a sewing table on line, that you could have shippd to the store for no additional charge. It one of those you have to assemble, but it doess fold uo when you are done sewing.:)

I started with a small student desk, it was all I had room for. Since then my DH built me a large table with an inset for my machine and storage all around.

My uncle made me a sewing table from a counter top piece and put legs on it.

Check out your local Goodwill, Thrift, etc. type shops and go to yard sales. Sometimes you can find a good desk or suitable piece of furniture for $50.00 or less and you can repaint or stain it to suit yourself. Or Wal Mart usually has some tables located with the card tables that are no square but are oblong, (come in different lengths) that are handy too. Invest in a good office type chair. You will probably spend many hours in it.

My first sewing area, 45 years ago, was a TV tray and a lawn chair. Now I have a 20 x 20 sewing studio.

I would check out the local goodwill/thrift stores. Buy desk or small table add alittle paint and you have a table. Put you money towards fabric. Haha

I did the same thing, only I used the inexpensive white bookcases as "legs". I covered the plywood with white contact paper and then ironed freezer paper on top of the contact paper. When the freezer paper gets grubby, just peel it off and iron on some more.

[quote=auntpiggylpn]I have this table and have been really happy with it!

http://www.amazon.com/American-Cherr...8372245&sr=8-1

My family gave me this cabinet for Christmas several yrs ago. I use it! Lots of storage and work space.

A real "review" from a "real" person. : )

I use my FIL's old desk that was given to him when he graduated from seminary in the early 50's. He wanted it to stay in the family and none of his son's wanted it, so he gave it to me. I had my husband shorten the legs so that it would be a good sewing height. I sometimes have to take the center drawer out to sit nice and close to the desk comfortably for long periods (like when FMQ) but when I'm up and down piecing and ironing, the drawer doesn't bother me. It is a huge desk with drawers on both sides and little
flat surfaces that pull out on each side above the drawers.
I think you could find something like this in a thrift or resale store in your budget.

Two years ago I ordered two folding tables from shoplet.com. One is 6' long and the other is 5' long. They are very sturdy (I have a 4-needle embroidery machine on one of them and the table doesn't vibrate at all.) I got the tables that look like wood on the top and have brown metal legs. I also got free shipping on these. They were much cheaper than buying them locally. You might check their web site out.

I use a folding table. That way I can put my cutting mat
LC

I use an old typing stand that has fold down leaves on both sides (makes table longer) and a dollar store car garbage bag clamped to it for my loose threads. Works well and is portable (on wheels)...total investment $5

You've come a long way baby! LOL

hello,
here is the link to the Gidget sewing machine table. this seems like a small table and not storage.

http://www.homespunhearth.com/Gidget...e-by-Arrow.asp

i bought a mid century sewing machine at a thrift store for $60. check them out first before you purchase the Gidget.

That is how I started out sewing...best part was I could wheel it into a closet when I was expecting company!!! Couldn't do that now. Too much stuff!

Warning - take care when using an office chair - I have "fallen off" my chair several times - sat down and it rolled from under me. Any ideas how to avoid this - other than being very careful?

Desk works really great
Try re-sales and Goodwill
for the desk you can always refinish
make sure the desk is open where you sit
like it does not have a bottom to it like mine had
now you have more money to spend on what you
need for your sewing/quilting
Good Luck to you

I got mine at Goodwill for $10.00... it is a Sauder actual desk with three drawers on the right and a slide out middle drawer and hubby just added two inch pieces of wood on all sides..that holds my smaller items. The only damage to the entire thing.. was on the side panel..way down at the bottom. It has a scratch.. can't see it anyways.

I found a great table on Craigslist and DH and I cut a hole in it for the sewing machine. We had to put a shelf under it to support it but it left lots of working room. It cost us $20.00 and a few hours of sweat equity and it is in great shape. Ann in TN

If you have an IKEA near you, check out their desktops at the discount area. Have someone add legs to make the desktop the right height for sewing. Then cut out a rectangle for your machine and with metal braces add a shelf underneath to hold your sewing machine. It will put your sewing machine at an even level with the top of the shelf and you will have lots of table space around your machine to support your project.

I found a sew machine cabinet w/o machine for $15, with drawer and it's just perfect for a small area to put my FW on top....then i got an small, portable iron board for $2 at flea market that can be standing on side when not in use. But what auntpigglin suggested is a really nice one.....

I use a plastic table that folds in the middle from Home Depot or Lowes. It's about 6' long. It's sturdy, light, easy to store and move around.

I have this table as well. Got it at Walmart. Love it!

I bought (2) matching student desks from World Market (Cost Plus).. got them for $99 each on sale. They work great back to back. I have cutting table on one side and great sewing surface on the other. A great, low cost solution and they match and look great.

I found a tutorial on You Tube that a lady made a table out of styroform insulation. I liked it because you can cut it so you have a flat surface on which to sew. i got a 2 in and a 1 in thickness at Home Depot and my husband showed me how to use jigsaw to cut the opening. I traced around my machine and I put a piece of vinyl over it so fabric would slide. I now have a 5X4 ft surface on which to quilt. I love it. You can make it any size you want. I have mine on a portable table from walmart.

You can get the metal tables in 4 ft and 6 ft dice for about $30.00 to 50.00 and they work great as I have a 4 foot one. Belva Stratton

I had this table (purchased from Walmart) and used it for several years. I'm short and we took off the wheels to make it a bit more ergonomic. If you are taller, the table will be a better fit.

It has excellent worktop space and can be folded up to take up less space when not in use.

It held up well. We decided recently to replace it was a more adjustable, ergonomic sewing table which I also like.

I miss the large work area to the left of the machine that I had with the Sauder table.

I think you will like it if you get it.

Check out the resale shops for a desk with a center drawer. If hubby is handy he could make a shelf buy cutting the space out where the drawer is. You would then have a level sewing area and storage in rest of drawers.(Cut out desk top to fit machine)

While I admit that I don't have limited space I would still recommend a U shaped table. Mine has two spaces for machines so I have my sewing machine on one side and my serger on the other. DH bought it for me when we did have limited space and it actually saves space. The table is about six feet. At the time I put a fold up cutting board on our bed to cut things out.

Someone recently had a great idea for ironing. Use a tv table and cover it with the padding and cover of an ironing board. You can keep it close to your sewing table and it doesn't take much space.

This is the link to Ikea's Expedit series, It's $129.00 for the large bookcase and $50 for the desk attachment, you can attach the desk to either side or the center, on the bottom of this page you can see the differnect storage containers. The possibilies are endless. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/pr...75/#/80071319/

If you are going to make a purchase and space is limited, I would suggest that gidget table.... it allows your machine to be recessed and will give you more work space.
I used 2 matching end tables and put a piece of coutertop on it, works great but wish my machine were recessed for working on larger projects.

I have limited space too. I went to WalMart.com & they had the best selection and reasonable prices. They (also) have free shipping to your closes store. Delvery to the store was fast, with a no hassle pick up. Just follow their instructions. You'll need a print out for pick up verification. Nice and easy!!!!

I have found this to be the best solution :!: If you have to, you can disassemble it real quick to move to another location, clean, or whatever. AND the drawers in the cabinets are great to have right at hand.

I've seen so many desks at Habitat For Humanity and Goodwill. Those would be my first places to look.

Dont rule out Goodwill or thrift stores - I had picked up a lovely cabinet for $30 that was perfect. Good wills usually have a lot of older sewing machines and tables.

desks are great to sew on

try hayneedle.com-they have free shipping and lower prices than Amazon

Trift store, Salvation Army, Goodwill...think beyond what it was meant to be...and what it could become.... use a used strudy wood TV tray as a mini ironing board. used two draw metal file for storage.....have used what is called a personal size folding table when I am quilting....
Do like the look of the unit from Amazon....and everything closes up....