My sewing room is the basement. I have't had any moisture problems at all. My hubby painted the wall light yellow and put up extra lights for me. I can leave the mess and no one sees it. It's cool in the summer and I just turn on a heater when I'm down in the winter, sometimes I don't even need that. No problems with smell.

My sis's sewing area has been in her basement for 20 years and she has no problems. She runs a dehumidifier.

I have my sewing set up in my "dungeon" (unfinished basement) and it is damp down there so the dehumidifier is running all the time and I have no problems at all with my machines or fabric. I do store all of my fabric in rubbermaid containers to keep the moisture out.

If you are worried about a "basement" smell on the fabric, you could put out a small dish of dessicant that will absorb moisture from the air. It isn't harmful and will help in that regard

My sewing has been in the basement for years. I do run a humidifier but have had no problem with my fabric or the machines.

we have storm cellars for that. little hidy holes that make you almost wish you'd stayed topside.

I would make the move. I redid some of my room a few weeks ago to move in a new machine. I also am moving but in about a year. Put all your things away and mark the storage real well what is in it. only keep out what you think you will work on. This way you will be packed when your house sells

Since I started Quilting I have sewn in the basement. Granted they were finished basements. I have never had any problems with my machines. Sewing in the basement keeps my mess out of sight.

My dream would have been to have a room with very large windows. But I can't see that happening. we downsized a couple of years ago.

But I have a computer and 57" TV down there so it is not too bad. We need to get better lighting down there. Which is on my husbands long list I have for him.

Quilterfay in Sunny Saskatchewan

Been sewing in my basement just fine...

Why not put a window AC unit in the upstairs room? That will give extra cooling in the afternoons and save you all that moving. I bought a small unit at Walmart for $139 for a large very hot dog kennel and the unit works great.

I've been sewing in my basement for over 50 years and no problem what's so ever. What's nice is you don't have to put everything away when you want to stop sewing for awhile. It's always there, right where you left off.

I, too, sew in the basement and it's especially great in the summer time as it's nice and cool. I have a space heater for the winter and that works out fine.

It's a walkout basement so do have two windows. Run the dehumidifier a lot and haven't had any problems with machines or fabric.

I'm not sure about the moisture control containers, but I don't think it would hurt a thing, especially since they are from med. bottles. Those things usually contain charcoal type stuff I think. It might really help and they take up so little space.

I always sew in the basement. I use a dehumidifer in the summer. Never had a problem.

I sewed in the basement for years and with no problem to machines or tools. But I began to feel like a cave person becasue we don't have any windows. Well, one of those 12" things but not enough to produce any light. Finally had to toss a kid out of his room and move back upstairs.

Oh I sooo agree I am in the basement without windows and really do not like it. My husband made a room for me but not big enough and there would have been more room available but he doesn't seem to understand why I need more room.

invest in one of those devices that measures the humidity. They are not expensive and are worth every penny. You would ideally like to keep your humidity level around 50 percent or less. The other major thing is to have light. I leave lights on in all the dark corners. Mildew loves the dark and damp. I live in a raised rancher and the whole lower level or basement is my studio. I do have to have the dehumidifier on all the time. Enjoy the space!
peace :D

I sew in the basement and don't have any problem.

I love my sewing space in the basement. When we built the house, we had the builder put in two 3 ft square windows in the southwest end, and there's a standard little basement window on the W-n-w side, so I have some pretty good natural light. Then we added a great number of florescent shop lights, a piece of carpet, some old but not dead storage pieces, and couches and a TV and radio. My old dining table which is huge is a perfect work place for cutting and whatever. I love the floor for making the quilt sandwiches, and laying out big stuff my design wall is too little for. Since my personal themostat has changed so much, I am quite comfortable down there in the summer, and it doesn't take much more than some sweats or a sweater in the winter. I can walk away and leave it, and no one's the wiser!

I do want to get busy this summer and finish painting the walls- my arms got tired before completion, add a way to hang my quilts for decor (most likely a board near the ceiling that I can hang things from,) and redo my improvised curtains into something a little more workable.

I do love it down there!

I had my sewing in the basement for years and my machine rusted up in and around the bobbin area! Too damp even with a dehumidifier running full time!

I loved sewing in the finished basement in my old NY house. It was so nice and cool and my machines were fine. Actually I think there's more humidity in the main floor of my Florida house where they are now. I stored my fabric in that same basement, but off the floor on a stainless steel wire shelf unit so there was air circulation.

i think she meant big plastic tubs, not tote bags. as for the
desicants, i might wrap them in cheesecloth (i don't know why) and pop them in or sprinkle some cornstarch in.

Sounds like a basement would be ideal this time of the year. We don't have a basement.

I sew in basement..no problem, except no natural light

I sew in my basement...no dehumidifier...no problems. It's actually at least 10 degrees cooler than the first floor (ranch, no second floor) during the summer (which I doubt we'll be having this year) and quite comfortable in the winter....fabric makes good insulation. :wink: :wink: :wink:

I have my longarm, embroidery machine, and 2 sewing machines in my basement. (it is finished) I do use a dehumidifier in the summer. I have not had a problem at all.

I live in a mother in laws apt in the basement It is just like any other apt but only 1 window I have tons of fabric 2 machines computers and various othher electronices No problem no musty smell no meldew it is like anyplace else to live. Not even half my fabric is stored in totes most on open shelves I love it no worry about storms

I just moved my sewing room to the basement but have not sewed a thing yet still arranging..............it will take me days............even weeks.I am not a downstairs person but now they call me the celler dweller.hehehehehe

I have my main sewing room in the basement. It is in the largest room in the house. It is a love/hate relationship. I love that when I am sewing in there I don't usually get bothered by people a whole lot. I hate that the windows are smaller and I lose more of the natuaral light. I have two smaller dogs and if I don't make them go to the sewing room with me then I have to constantly check on them. I also have a large sewing desk and area upstairs so that I can quilt while MIL is awake. (I am her caregiver and need to be upstairs with her when she is awake.)

i sew in the finished part of my basement and the only thing it seems to bother is me. i never had any rust or damaged fabrics.
i store my fabric on shelves off the floor and in tubs with cornstarch sprinkled in, more for freshness than anything else. i have three machines and a longarm down there and the only thing i really miss is natural light. in the summer i do run a dehumidifier, sometimes two, but that's new jersey, home of wet air. in the winter i have gas wall heaters, and they work very well. i like being able to do laundry while i sew. that's a big time-saver. i love being separated from everyone's demands on my time.

I HAD A SEWING ROOM IN THE BASEMENT (with dehumidfier) Never had any problems with mildew. Did keep everything off the floor (on shelving) One nice thing the ironing board could be left set up and I could walk away from my sewing w/o having to pick it up. We moved to the shores of Lake Michigan ---no basement. Sew in a converted garage. Can still shut the door. Mess out of sight.

I sew in the basement year round. I set my machine under the heat/air vent so I'm warm in the winer and cool in the summer. I also run a dehumidifier all the time. That way it doesnt make my fabric smell or my machine sweat.