Setting up a Sewing Room
 

This question may have already been asked but.....I'm turning one of my spare bedrooms into my sewing room. It's a pretty small room. I have a little money to put into it. So, what is a must have in your sewing room?

Hope you'll enjoy creating your sewing room as much as I did.

Design wall (I have two)
Cutting/Pressing Table (I made a top for my cabinet that serves as both)
Lots of storage so that I can keep the work surfaces clear

Have fun!

Well, let's see. A sewing machine in a cabinet or desk, an adjustable ironing board to the right which could be slipped in behind the SM for quilting, a cutting table of some sort, and a simple design wall. Some natural sunlight and supplemental light for sewing (but maybe your eyes are better than mine....). You could put some shelves or a tall dresser in the closet for material and supplies. A source of music and a lounge chair would be nice but definitely no telephone!

That should do it. How does that sound to you?

PS Just about all of these can be bought second hand or with coupons to keep the price down.

lots of good lighting and a cutting table that is the correct height for your body. (maybe thats just because my eyes and my back aren't what they used to be! lol) have fun planning your space!

you might also want to check out our forum dedicated to organizing sewing rooms http://www.quiltingboard.com/mission-organization-f23/

I recently reorganized my studio and was able to purchase very reasonably priced cabinets for storage and sewing desk area. I think a cutting area is very important. For that I am using my late Mother in law's little desk. My husband put it up on blocks for me so it is high enough for me so that I can stand in front of it and cut easily.

I use to store all my fabrics in those rolling storage bin drawers but it wasn't fun digging in them when I wanted to find a specific fabric that I knew I had. I recently purchased two identical cabinets that I love much more. You can check in my profile for my studio pictures if you'd like to see my set up. Since I took the picture of the inside of the cabinet I have since reorganized my fabrics by wrapping them in bolts like in the stores. We had a lot of pink foam insulation sheets and my dh cut them for me and I do prefer to be able to open the cabinet and see exactly what I have.

Think Goodwill and resale shops. ESP for shelves etc. a can of paint makes it your own!

Sandy

Thanks everyone. I'm going to check out the discussionQuiltnNan mentioned as well. My back and eyes aren't as good as they used to be either so I appreciate the suggestions.

It all depends on how much you can afford.
Im poor so had to go cheap. Got cheap metal shelves at Target and put clear plastic bins in it for fabric. I have a big closet so these fit in it perfect.
Bought the F&P design wall and hung it but a flannel backed tablecloth works the same way.
Do buy a table that your machine fits flush in, this is a must have for me. Handling quilts is so much easier.
My cutting table was $59 at Joanns, they cost much more now. I like having the drop leaves so it dosnt take up to much room when not in use.
I love the plastic drawer units that are small with 3 drawers in them. They are expensive but hold all those little things you need. I put labels on each drawer. I stacked three sets of them.
Also have a couple of larger roll around drawers for storage of works in progess, stencils etc.
Have a cheap bookcase for my books and magazines.
Hung my rulers and etc on peg board. Smaller rulers that dont hang are in letter holders from the dollar store.
Have my fat quarters in baskets also from dollar store and sorted by color. Stored in a cheap bookcase.
For lighting I have an old floor lamp with four lights on it that can be moved into whatever position I need.

My sewing area is in the basement. It is small, but I love it and this is what I have: along the first wall are two second hand dressers from my neighbour that hold everything from threads to needles to patterns and UFOs and yadrage of backing fabric and muslin. Above are simple shelves with clear plastic shoeboxes holding my small, but ever growing stash and boxes of scrap. My ironing board is on the next wall perpendicular to the dresser. I have a large, Costco size ironing board. Perpendicular to my ironing board is a counter high cutting table which my husband build out of 2x4s and plywood. It is purposly not finished so the fabric does not slide. Under the table are boxes with batting and pillow stuffing. Along the last "wall" (shich is not a wall but edge of my carpet) is old dining room table from Ikea that was refinished with slick varnish to help quilts move when I am quilting. That table holds two sewing machines and a serger. The area is small but cosy. I am thinking about putting a small design board above my ironong board but I never use it anyways so I may pass on it for now. Above, on the ceiling are two long flourescent lights with daylight rods in them. The whole area is 9x10. The cost was minimal - all we had to buy were the lights and the lumber for building the cutting table. Everything else was second hand, or we already had it serving some other purpose. The wall and the furniture is white, just by chance, so it gives the whole room look of much bigger space. good luck and make the room fit your needs. It is so important to feel good in your space.