We are looking at ordering a shed (barn style) in a 10x16 for fabric storage and quilt frame. Opinions if this is large enough. I still plan to do my piecing in our home, but need the extra space.

Looking to retire next year and currenly have fabric filling 2 rooms in 3000 sq ft home and will be moving into a 14x60 mobile home.

Good Luck.

I would suggest a larger shed. just because you don't want to limit yourself with storage and space. especially since you are downsizing sooooo much.

I live in a three bedroom mobile home myself. I changed one bedroom to my sewing room and the other one next to te LR wall was taken out to make my LR bigger so, we only have one bedroom used for us to sleep in :) All of our children are married and have homes for themselves so, no problem. LOL I really like my small sewing room :)

JOY

Checked out sylviak's shed size, maybe you could PM her for some input too, it's 14 x 20.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-103882-1.htm

Yikes... that IS a big change in space. Just remember that you will need to have insulation and heat in the 'shed' to keep out the damp. I'm not sure that 10 x 16 will be quite as much space as it sounds once you start putting a frame in there... How much space does the frame need? Will it fit along the 10' side?

I really don't think you will be happy with that size. When you get your stuff in it, it will be crowded. I'm about to open an embroidery business and will be getting extra room for a long arm in the future. The building I am looking at is a 16 x 24. I'm hoping that will be big enough.

Draw it to scale on graph paper and then use cutouts for all the things you'll be putting in the shed. This should give you an idea how crowded it will be. Be sure everything is to scale.

do we EVER have enough storage space? i am de-stashing right now because i can't afford to buy the new stuff i want and the older treasures are not getting made into quilt :-) I know this is not a helpful post... I do emphasize with your dilema.. my only suggestion is see through plastic containers

Mostly I want shelves/storage for fabric stash. I could go as large as 10X20, but the spot would be awfully tight. I have a new joy frame and never had become friends with it. The thread on the Brother 1500 breaks and have spent a total of maybe a half hr. sewing with it. Maybe I should just sell it.

you need MORE space for a decent frame. UNLESS you want to keep it simple and not do KING size or larger quilts..some prefer not to tackle them this big as they are heavy and harder to load!

remember it must be climate controlled just like the house...

If you are going to have a long arm in there, you need to allow room to move around it.

You might look into a larger shed, at least a 12 x ?. Where I live there are some rent-to-own places. They have buildings you can view to get a better idea of the correct size. I have two a 12 x 20 and 12 x 30. The 12 x 30 would provide room for a LA and lots of storage space. When I purchased my 12 x 20, I had originally ordered a 10 x 16, but decided to upgrade to the 12 x 20 and am very happy I did.

Aurora

I have a new joy frame, but have never gotten it to work properly. I may give up and sell it.

well, 14x60=840 sq ft max. so your new space will only be 1/4 of your current space. i can't even imagine doing that. 10x16 shed is only another 160 sq ft, so a total of 1000 sq ft, 1/3 of your current space. where your mobile home is located, is there a restriction on the size of the shed?-just a thought. All I can say to you is Good Luck!

I put my 10' frame in my 12 X 16 porch. Barely fits. Remember, you need to get around it to the back, and have access to the sides, especially if you have to raise the take up roller.

We will be selling and or relocating alot of our furniture. Sorting out alot..... My main thought is the shed will give me one central location for organized stash. It is currently spread out all over the house. We need to start clearing stuff out so we can list our home maybe in early spring. Going to be a big job.

I wonder is replacing windows with skylights would help with available wall space.

We have a 12x24 and most of it is taken up with our longarm. My fabric is all in the house in my sewing room.

Id get the largest one you can afford...you never have enough space

You can't have too much room is my motto! Get the largest building you can afford!

Sky light are great for light source, but sometimes you just want to see what's outside. I would put in at least one small strategically placed window. I have worked in places without windows and did not like the 'cave' affect. Maybe a window in the door?

The only thing I would be afraid of putting things in a "Storage Shed" is the critters that can chew through plastic containers and destroy your material?

I think you will need a larger shed. By the time you put shelves in for your fabric and your quilting frame, you will not have much room to move around in.

Nope! Not big enough. I had a nurse comrade at the hospital where I worked who ended up buying a WHOLE house next door to house her long arm, stash, work space... Well, that's a bit much, but I think if you collect any stash at all, organizing supplies, and having enough room to work, the small shed would be insufficient. Of course, if you are ridiculously organized, and have no UFO'S to speak of, then it may work. Wouldn't for me, though! (29 UFO's...yikes!)

I would say go as large as you can afford. I could fill the one you are looking at with just fabric and books.

i would go 24 by 24 i have 4 machines and also a long arm and that is in a different room. that way incase someday you get a long arm and more machines they would all fit and lots of storage. i dont have one but that is my dream.

I have a storage shed, we call it my attic. I keep my fabric in the house. The things I do keep out in the shed I put a dryer sheet in each tub. It doesn't keep bugs out, but it kills them before they can do any damage.

I would buy as large a shed as you can afford.

I have a ten room house and still got the 12' x 36' shed. We put a wall up to make a 12' 24' and a 12' x 12' space. The larger became my workroom for my miniatures and the small space for storage. Have had it for 15 years. It's gone thru rain, a hurricane, a hail storm and is still going strong. In Florida, I had to put a ventilator fan in one end of the work room. Outside temps 65 and up are okay, but anything over 80 is too hot to work. This was one of the best investments I ever made besides DH.

if you plan to get a long arm you will need a large size. Plan for at least 3 feet all around the table you want for space, plus addditional for storage.

I think that you'll need a bigger "shed". My old sewing room was 20x20, I had plenty of room, my new sewing room is 9x15, not even CLOSE to being big enough, what doesn't fit goes into the container my husband's brother bought.

Not sure what type of weather you are moving to but living in Michigan, we get all types. I put a bag of clothing in the shed and forgot (about a year)about it...when I opened the bag, the smell was really musty and the mice had also found it. Just be careful what you put out there.

I'd want more like 14 x 18. The 10 ft. width is much too narrow. Don't forget after you get your shelving and cabinetry in there and your long arm etc., you need "walk around" room of at least 2 ft. or you will be very cramped. Don't forget to send us pictures when you get the project all done, many of us wish we could have a separate "girl cave". :lol:

Several years ago I went from 2500 sq feet to 1100 and I had to get rid of many things. I used one of the bedrooms for my sewing, computer etc and it was okay. Now I live in a single wide with one bedroom and fortunately a room added on. I have a 14 by 20 room and it is about the right size. I would reconsider that size.

Definitely larger. Even with great shelving for fabric you are going to be limited on space for your frame. I am making the assumption that you are going to set your frame up but if you are only going to store it and prop it up against the wall that is going to be limited space. Usually shelves take up 18-24 inches and that would only leave you 4 feet. You need at least 3 feet for decent access and walking area. That only leaves you 1 foot on the other side. Ann in TN

I was just thinking if you have two rooms of fabric in your current home, what size are those rooms? Just with the fabric storage you'll be compacting a lot. If you have a room in your house about the size of the shed you are thinking of getting, try to imagine how you would arrange everything in that space. But maybe in the moving process, you will get things more compact and organized to save a lot of space.

You can NEVER have enough space! Try to find the extra money for a larger shed......(speaking from experience!)

I'd do at least a 14x20 if not bigger - when you figure fabric and a quilt frame - plus I'll bet it becomes a place for more storage - the above mentioned dimension may not even be big enough!! I can relate to this size as I had a livingroom once this size - loved it - lot of space, and if I got company, we weren't in each others face and could spread out and still have a nice space to not trip over one another if we needed to get a cup of coffee, or if the guys left for a smoke - or ???? but space is deffinitely the biggest hindrance in downsizing, and don't regret going bigger to catch the overload... believe me - been there, done that!

I live in Minnsota and I know that you will need a permit for certain sizes of sheads. It depends on your local building codes. You should check into it before you build.

I have an 8 x 17 for JUST my longarm (12 foot table) & customer quilts and wish it was a lot bigger. I want to add a cutting table for a bolt of batting or two and I want an ironing table. I just don't have room for that now. If you're adding fabric storage, you would need to add a lot more room. I have a long shelf that is behind me that has all my working tools and 2 5-shelf shelves for storing customer quilts. I also have a stool for those times and a small table for putting the paperwork and pen for calculations, etc. My longarm also has a separate bobbin winder....that had to go on its own little table near the electricity...........so -- long story short -- I wish the room was 12 X 24 or so!!!!