I am brand new to this wonderful board and am redoing my sewing/quilting room. It is small - 12'x12'. but it is a blank slate right now. I would like to know what you love about your sewing rooms and what you would not change or could not do without. Thanks!

I like the fact it has a door on it! :D

To maximize a small space, put up a peg board. This way, you can hang up all your tools and rulers and they don't need to take up precious table space.

You have a great size. I always think they need to be set up like a kitchen, with the triange of fridge, stove & work surface idea. I like to reach the ironing board with out moving far from the sewing machine(lower so you can press when seated), get to the cutting table quickly. Of course you need you office chair on wheels. I agree that you need peg board, I have mine over the cutting table. I have a book case, a few shelves to hold so Of the items that I use all the time. Get a shoe hanger, the one with the pockets for notions. Keeps all of my notions in plain view. Love my rolly carts with the drawers for threads.

My husband took our under bed drawers from our waterbed and stacked them up. We then made a top for it covered in several layers of cotton batting and I covered it with teflon fabric. I don't think I could live without my storage in the drawers and the nice big ironing surface. I can iron a lot of fabric at one time. Almost all of my sewing, quilting and misc. "stuff" is stored in those 12 drawers.

What a wonderful idea!!!!

:thumbup:

I just posted pictures in another thread of my seing room, hope it helps.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-68009-1.htm

My design wall is an essential for me -- I used the rigid foam insulation panels (from hardware store) covered in felt. Mine's 80" square, and I find it extremely helpful in design.

I also love having a cutting table that is the correct height for me -- reduces back and shoulder pain.

RST

mine is smaller than that...I would wish for a 12x12 LOL

Wood Floors!

I love the idea of the drawers with the ironing surface on top. Your sewing room seams to be very neat and functional.

Featherweight, I love your room! And what a clever idea to repurpose the bed drawers! Good thinking!:)

Re:Ken's comment--- I also have a small ironing area next to my machine - but also use the bigger board in a room at the other end of the house. Quick pressing gets done... -quickly!, but I need to move around a little also. Walking to the other board is a good excuse to get moving & lessen the chance of stiffness (which is easy for me to get:) My Dr yelled at me when he heard I had the board close enough to roll over to, so having 2 areas to press keeps us both happy! :thumbup:

Try to get as many electric outlets as possible - the more you have, the more freedom to rearrange things.

I only have a couple - old basement - so it limits where I can put things.

Lighting, good big cutting surface and a good big ironing surface are my top items. Then a good TV, and my computer come in next. I used a used dresser and made my own ironing surface on top. I store my FQ's in the drawers and have one drawer for my secret pal stash. I then purchased the plastic clear shoe boxes when they were 10/$10 at Krogers and keep all of my projects in process in them. Joann's sells in the scrapbooking section clear 12x12 boxes for paper for $4.99 and they are usually 40% off. I use those to store blocks for past and upcoming swaps.

If you plan on doing any machine quilting, plan ahead as to where you position your machine so you can have a large surface to hold your quilts. I arranged my machine cabinet so I can put my ironing board to the left of the cabinet and lower it to the same height when necessary to add surface area for machine quilting. It "lives" across the room except when I need to machine quilt. I also have a small table back to back with the machine cabinet which holds my serger and baskets of stuff. This can also be cleared off for more surface area for quilting when needed.

The most important thing about my sewing room, aka The Eagle's Nest, is the fact that it's mine. It's upstairs. When I am working on a project, I can leave it right where it is and get back to it later. If it were downstairs, I would certainly want a door.

Already bought the wood and waiting to install!! Thanks all for the great ideas!!

I have a table similar to yours and never thought of opening the drop leaf and putting another machine on it. Great idea thanks for sharing the picture. Love the whole sewing room. Is it always that neat?

An ironing board attached to a door, wall or cupboard is ideal. Nothing worse than to have to go to another room to iron, or to clutter your sewing room with a wobbly ironing board. A sink is handy for water, coffee etc.

Two tables set in an L shape; sewing machine on the one under the window for that wonderful natural light! The tables are plastic cheapies (banquet tables, I think) from Sam's Club but are ridiculously sturdy. I keep one for sewing/cutting and the other for "whatever"....

Mine is teeny tiny! But it looks out to the east. I can sit and sew and watch the sun come up. I can watch the neighbors walking their dogs, holler "Good Morning" or whatever time of day it is. Some come up to the house and we talk a while. I have my computer desk, a file cabinet, my sewing table, a commode (not a toilet, but a piece of furniture with three drawers, a towel rack and a shelf with a door to keep the chamber pot in) I keep my tools and books in and an Amana Rocking chair that I can sit in and do my handwork. I don't like being in the basement (I could have all the room I need down there) because then I can't see my husband or the dog. If I am cooking or baking, I am a hop, skip and jump from the stove. I have three windows that give me a lot of light. The space is about 6x11, give or take a few inches. But hey, I can hear the phone ring, I don't burn the dinner, dog wants out, I let her out, husband needs this or that, I am there! Besides climbing up and down the basement steps is enough to tire anyone out! I can work and listen to my audiobooks and I am in my own little world. Edie

It does sound cozy, efficient, and accessible all at one time.

I love and could not do with out my design wall! I love to get a project 'up on the wall' as soon as I can! It's 6ft x 8 ft., right now it has parts of 3 different WIP on it .
other things I can't live without; 8 ft sewing table full size ironing board, cabinets for storage.
The one ( 2 things) thing I would change... more square footage; this room is 9x9, and I would love a closet.

Number one priority for me is a comfy sewing chair and good lighting. I have a 4 foot long suspended fixture in my ceiling, the type of light you would see in a man's workshop. Fills the room with light and is cheap. Also helps to have two ironing boards. A big full size for the bigger things, and a small tabletop size for quick pressing as you're sewing.

I latched onto an entertainment center that one of our customers was giving away and have it in my sewing room. The upper part has some shelves, and so it houses my serger, featherweight, and little Brother machine, along with miscellaneous items, the 3 bottom drawers are the home of scraps!
I think the thing that I would not want to do without is my cutting table! I can sew ANYWHERE in the house, but that cutting table is always a mess, sometimes being a catch all, sometimes a mess because I'm actually using it for cutting! It's a 3x6 foot folding table.

Love the sound of this room!!

I can't do without my Sam's table - I use it for everything then fold it up when not is use!!

I like my sewing machine in front of a window so i can get natural light. I have a blind so if it is too sunny I can close them up a bit. I also have a ironing board n my right so I can swivel in my chair and iron the block pieces as I sew. I have my cutting mat on a dresser that I use for storage. It is just the right height for me. I have a peg board on the wall under the window so my cutting tools, rulers, etc, are right at hand.

awesome room. my husband made me a "thinking" table . It is about 42 inches tall. and I do not have to bend over a short table to cut fabric and squares. works really nice to stand up to.

I love the fact that I have two windows. It allows me to sew and work while looking outside. Mine is small as well.

Yes a door is nice. My sewing room is right across from our bedroom so if I want to be in there sewing I can shut the door so the light and noise don't bother my husband.

Organization! Organization! Organization!

Design Walls, Great Lighting, Lots of Electrical Circuits, Cutting Table that Doubles as Storaage.

I wish I had easy storage for projects in progress. I often have several projects going at the same time and don't want to always fold things up and put them in bins to keep my workspace neat. Some sort of large doors or hangers or shelves (or all three) where projects can go and be neat, but easily accessible is really important.

I notice that someone said a closet. I'm glad I have a closet to keep the miscellaneous stuff I don't want to see constantly, but I wish it had folding doors or something other than 2 sliding doors. If what I need to get to is in the middle its hard to get out and half the time I have something on one side and another thing I need to get to is on the other side. That means I'm constantly sliding doors one way or another to get to stuff. also, sometimes its too easy just to shove stuff in the closet, which means it gets junked up. Be careful to have an actual place for things.

I would love a sewing room that was just mine. I share my 10 x 10 room with my 2o y/o daughter who scrapbooks. There's never enough room.

I don't really have a sewing room yet, but when I do get one, I really want a large drawer for putting all the components of a project, without having to fold the heck out of it.
I'd also like a closet of sorts, because it seems like I always have a quilt top or some interfacing that I'd rather hang than fold.
A large ironing board, a large design wall, a sturdy cutting table at a height that's right for ME, oh yeah, and a long arm machine! I'd want all those.

My sewing room is the same size as yours. It's a bedroom I requisitioned after all the kids flew the coop. I repainted, stripped the carpet and installed wood laminate, fitted three white bookshelves from WalMart along one wall for fabric storage and a small flat screen TV. The closet is storage also. I love my Koala sewing table. It has a leaf that extends for cutting and helps to hold a big quilt when I'm machine quilting. I positioned it near the window for the view and natural lighting. One thing I really love is my wall mounted folding ironing board! DH calls the room the Woman Cave. I just love having my very own space to sew and be creative in. If I'm deep into a project and things get messy, I just close the door. Lot's of great ideas here. I'm sure you'll love your space and I hope we get to see the pictures!

My design wall is wonderful and takes up no room !!! I also have hanging shoe caddies over my doors. They are see thur and again take up no precious floor space.

Woman Cave - I like it!!! Loving these wonderful suggestions!! No closet in my room, but I have lots of bookshelves and a dresser with large drawers commandeered when my kids flew the nest. I have a small sewing table but am thinking of getting a Koala or something like it. I will send pics when it gets done.

Please do share pictures when you're done, BetsyB. Good luck with everything.