Quilting room organization--advice needed.....
 

Ok.........so we are now officially empty nesters! reorganizing son's soon to be empty room to be my quilting room.
Thinking about getting an L shaped glass table to use for my sewing machine on one side and the other side as my cutting area..........BUT I'm wondering if the glass will hold up to the the cutting in particular...........any ideas?? Does anyone have something similar?? If so, how does it do for you??
Thinking about something like this:
http://www.wayfair.com/Altra-Furnitu...6-HQZ1411.html

just dont want to spend the $$$ and then have the glass shatter..........(would be my luck LOL)

Ginny

Personally I would not use glass for several reasons. If you are going to use your sewing machine on this top you will have a glass rattle all the time and the vibration could cause problems with the metal fittings Needless to say one wrong hit against the glass and you could have glass everywhere. Putting pressure over and over in the same area as you are cutting fabric could also be problematic. I know it looks really cool but I think it is not practical for a sewing area.

yep.......those have been my second thoughts...... guess it falls in the category of "it seemed like a good idea at the time" LOL
sigh ........... back to the drawing board

Interesting table. I've never thought about using a glass table as a permanent sewing ironing cutting station. I did use an outdoor glass table as a cutting station for a couple of months when I was visiting at a friend's house. It worked well, and was strong enough for what we were doing. Now, would I set my Big Brother on one in embroidery mode and risk it cracking? I just don't know.

I do use an "L" shaped area, but it is a wood table on one side and an oversized TV tray type folding table on the other side for my iron and an ironing pad. I have a different area to cut on if I am doing serious cutting or squaring up, although I do have a 12 x 18 inch cutting mat next to my sewing machine. It works for me.

If you have an Ikea near you, they have a corner shaped desk top and you can choose the length of desk top to put on either side, which would give you the same set up.

Glass? No. Wow! From a safety point of view and the nightmare of keeping it looking nice. Machines get heavy and they can vibrate. Why take the chance? I used to have a glass topped coffee table and after I would Windex it my dog would lick it!

Sandy

I agree. Check out ikea. I got my tables there and they're wonderful as well as economical

Glass is not stable enough. Any desk is not at the right height for a cutting table. I have an L shaped desk as a sewing table to be able to leave the biggest part of quilt to the left side. You will be sorry for the glass.

Have you looked in the section Mission: Organization? That is where board members post photos of what they have made into their own quilting room. Check it out and you might find something that works for you. I thought this was a very interesting table:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/pictures-f5/$20-sewing-table-t256777.html

Try checking your local Craigslist. There are always some kind of tables and desks on my local one. There is usually one or two L shaped desks on it also. I keep looking at them but I don't think they will fit with my current set up but they are enticing!

No ikea anywhere near here.
I have back issues and am tall so I sit to cut......so height of table/desk is not an issue.
I've been looking at the wood L shaped desks.......but they tend to be larger than my new room will accomodate ...
have had many second thoughts about the glass. steering away from the glass.
Thanks for all your suggestions and comments......g

Just a thought, the correct height for my sewing machine is lower than the height I like for cutting. If my cutting area was the same height as the sewing machine, that would be one huge backache for me.

Not sure what your budget or space limitation. You answered my thought since I stand to cut and sit to sew need two different heights. You may still want them slightly different heights. But agree glass top is not the best option.

However since you are sitting, what depth of cabinet do you need for that side of the L since you may not reach the back side or you can use it for storage containers. Or is the L going to be something you can access from both sides is another consideration. I would look for something that is sturdy enough to deal with the vibrations from your sewing machine.

Ditto on this. Check your thrift stores. I have a utility table 30x60. My 401 in the desk cabinet sits to the right of it. I can drop the 401 into the cabinet and use my domestic on top. I have my cutting mat on the utility table.

The ad for that L table calls it a writing desk. I guess that's what I'd use it for LOL. If you 're tall I'd want a different height for cutting a sewing. The older I get the harder it is to sit and cut even a few pieces out. My thought is just keep looking, and you'll find what you want.

My thought is wouldn't you want to be able to recess your machine so that the bed is level with the table top?
I really just can't sew very well with my machine up on top of a table and I surely can't do any kind of FMQ that way.

I like the L shaped table idea. Mine started out that way and is now a C since I added another table. I have office type tables that we bought from a used office supply fairly cheaply. They are sturdy and do fold up if you ever need to do that. They also come in all sizes.

yep all valid and good points : )
I cannot stand still for even 5 minutes or my back spasms. so I've always rotary cut my fabric sitting
and for the 35 years that I've had my own sewing machine, I've always sewn with it sitting on a table or desk....I do very little fmq ......
here's what I've decided on........I currently have 23 X 48 folding tables; so they will sit one behind the other so that the long sides are together ......... when I'm piecing a large quilt that will give the fabric someplace to go
to my left will be my cutting area..........on a desk I got today that will fit my largest cutting mat perfectly
to my right will be my ironing board
now all I need is a GREAT chair I'll get a new chair when our son's car sells. (anyone need a car??? LOL)

Repurposing furniture is a great way to save money. As far as the height of what you want to use for cutting and sewing, that is strictly a personal preference combined with ergonomics. There are several ergonomic sites for sewers online. Many pieces of furniture can be lowered by shortening the feet or legs, or raised with the use of locking wheels.

Also remember the height of your sewing machine to the bed of the machine. Some of my friends did not make their sewing tables with recessed areas for their machines. Instead they bought larger fitted acrylic table tops and feet to keep the acryllic table top the correct height.

If you get a complete room to designate as your sewing room consider other items to incorporate in your plans: fabric storage, tools, rulers, pattern storage, possibly a TV or computer nearby.

I set my studio up so that I could watch the TV in the living room by just rolling out the sewing cabinet. I rarely put it back as most of my friends know I quilt/sew.

I had a great U-shaped crafting table but it was so big for my room, I gave it to my brother for his computer. It was 70" across the back side and it just took up too much room or I collected to much stuff? LOL! Now I have an L-shaped setup of my Gidget II with a folding table to the left of it and one at the back of it. It makes quilting easier and gives me extra room if I'm not quilting. I also have a Sullivan 36" tall cutting table but only use half of it because of my small room.
Can't wait to see your set-up sewing room when you finish it. Like the other posters, I don't think you would like the glass top table in the long run, especially for safety. jmho...

I'd go for a U shape, to include area for an iron. I can break anything made of glass.
Still not recovered from cleaning up huge heavy crystal vase filled with marbles. And that was 6 months ago!

me too grannieAnnie if it's glass I'll find a way to break it..........another reason I was seriously rethinking the glass tables/desks.
let me see if I can walk you thru my planned set up I'll have a 10 X 12' room to play in........the door is in one of the 12' sides and at the end of that wall. so you'll walk into to the room and on the left you will see the desk I got today to be my cutting mat surface and that's it on the left 12' wall..that wall is the only unbroken wall so it will be my design wall......once I figure out what I'll put on it to hold the blocks. ......in the middle of the next wall is a window so my sewing table will be centered, but slightly to the left, in front of the window; and the ironing board will be to the right of my sewing table
now turn the corner for the other 12' wall.........there will be a 42' wide lateral filing cabinet (tomorrow's planned purchase) to be used to store my stash; then there's a window and under it will be a chest that I've had for years and next to it will be a 38" wide amoire. the 4th wall has a 5' wide closet and a second smaller amoire (also purchased today) the amoires are to store my notions, books, rulers etc
let me see if I can attach the plan the ironing board is not in the plan I'm attaching ..........and there are 2 tables in front of the window........the second is for large quilts to continue onto

i found this while searching for something else... probably sturdier than your glass one
http://www.novisti.com/34-awesome-co...ial-desk-ikea/

Before I put a lot of money into anything, I'd take a trip to a local thrift store (even 2 trips) to see if they might just have what I needed for less dollars!!

I would want wood tables.

There is nothing wrong about using glass for your sewing table as long as you get the right size glass - not less that 1/4 inch thick. I used one for years at work with a manual typewritter (remember those?) on it. I have one on my hobby room table right now that came from work and has had my sewing machine on it for the last five years. It is easy to clean - forget windex and just use a damp papertowel (unless you spilled the latte or melted the chocolate). As for the vibration problem - use 6 or 8 rubberbands: one under each corner and the rest scattered evenly underneath the glass. For cutting - just put your mat on top and go for it.

I use banquet tables from a office supply co. and roll chairs from Walmart that way you can move them around to any angle you want...

And if you don't have Ikea near you, go to Ikea online and look at their desks and tops to get ideas. But glass would be a big mistake and just think about the time you drop the scissors on it! You can make yourself an Lshaped work area easily. Just do a google image search for L shaped sewing table.

Another thought regarding the design wall and the desk...it's going to be difficult to reach very high on your design wall if you have it behind a desk. Was that your plan? or does it sit to the right of the desk so you have full access?

gonna put some sliders under the desk so that I can easily slide to to one side or the other to get to the design wall
purchases for this set up are the lateral filing cabinet, both armoires, and the desk for a total outlay of $350 the armoirs and the desk are all solid wood.....

On my last leg of converting spare bedroom to MY sewing room, tomorrow DH is laying the tile! Hopefully by Sunday evening I'll be moving things in there, just what I have now crammed into a little room now so this thread is giving me some great ideas about future items to get and your layout crossginny is about what the new room measures so you've given me some great ideas along with everyone else on the board. So my hats off to The Board again & you too crossginny! BTW ginny I too am tall 5' 10" and a very bad back (several surgeries) so I can relate to the pain, but I find it more comfortable to stand at a taller table to cut so I don't have to bend over and lower desk to sew so my machine is at about 45 degree angle to elbows.
Jeri

Instead of an L-shaped desk which may work very well for you now but not in the future.
Buy 2 tables and put wheels on them that are lockable. Then buy some drawers and put them on castors to go under your tables. Ikea has some great choices for that.
This is how I have done my sewing room and I couldn't be happier. If we move I can put them in another configuration. When I need more space to cut material and baste I move the tables together.
Cleaning is also easy as I can move things around easily.

Have fun setting up your sewing room! Get as much natural light as you can and make sure you put some lovely family photos on the walls. (I spend a lot of time in my studio and really enjoy having my family photos there as I feel their love, support and inspiration!)

I have a glass table (used to be a dining room table when glass and chrome were popular) as my cutting table. I have two 18 x 24 mats on top side to side and it works perfectly. I also taped a yardstick to the underside of the front edge so I have a quick measurement guide. It sits to the left side of my sewing table ( which is a metal/formica top 24x50). I put my ironing board to the right side of that table, making a 'L' of the whole set. I can sew, then just swivel the chair to iron. I have a 9ft overhead light which provides me light for sewing and cutting.

I got a L shape glass desk two years ago from Staples. The right side was for my sewing machine. The left side is for my large cutting mat which covers the entire surface. The little corner piece is used for a rotating caddy for sewing stuff. A floor lamp is in the corner behind the curved corner piece so the desk is well lighted. The glass of my desk is heavy and on plastic pieces (size of a dime) so there is no vibration. It is a little too high for me (I'm short) so it isn't very ergonomic but I got a better chair and now am very happy with what I got. I have my ironing board close to the desk setup but not right up against it so it forces me to stop sewing and stretch. Hope this helps!

c. What kind of car?

What kind of car?

2006 Hyundai Sonata only selling it because son has been stationed in Italy for the next 3 years