I am trying to set up my sewing room, currently my sewing machine sits on top of one of those 6 foot long plastic tables you get from Sam's Club.

Does it really make a difference to have the machine sit down in a cabinet for quilting? I do not have an extension table for my machine.

What type of table do you use?

It doesn't have to be in a fancy cabinet, but it makes a HUGE, (well at least to me) difference that the machine bed is level with the surrounding table/surface. It might seem a little different at first, but you soon adjust, and realise how much easier it is to sew on the same level as what is surrounding your machine. If you can't afford a cabinet, then a sewezi table is a reasonable price, or just buy the plastic insert available from the cabinet manufacturers or the sewezi people, that fits around your machine, and get a handyman to cut a hole in a cheap table and fix a shelf below it at the right height for your machine.

Another thing about having it in a cabinet is the height of the machine. If I use my machine on top of a regular 30" high table, then my shoulders have to raise in order to guide fabric into the machine. After a while, my shoulders and back ache from it. Sitting on a pillow helps. Like Lesley said, it is much easier to have the surface of your sewing machine bed be the same as the table/tabletop.

You will probably find that 6' plastic table "bowing" after using it for awhile. Having a table surface that is level with your machine makes a HUGE difference in not only your sewing but also your shoulder/back/neck pain. Cabinets take up a lot of space but they're worth it. There's also custom made (to fit your machine) acrylic "tables" that level the sewing area and they're portable. They come in several different outer sizes.

I agree that having the surface even with your machine is a great help.

My mine sits on a dining room table. I have enough table to be able to stretch out the quilt as I go instead of it hanging down and having to wrestle it under the presser foot.

The picture shows 2 machines, one now resides in the closet. I haven't figured out if I want to sell it or hang on to it.

Check out this Youtube video on how to make an inexpensive surface for a sewing/quilting table.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g14govA4pIM

That is exactly what I use. It's just the right height for me.

Chasing Hawk,

I love your picture!

I love your idea with the easel and bulletin board for your design board. I need to find my easel and I will put some flannel on it to have the fabric blocks to stick to it.

Karen "Craftybear"

That is SOOOO COOL!!! I'm going to get some of the foam and do that. I'm going to do the cone thing too.

for those of us on dial up, would somebody mind describing the 'cone' thing?
I have a sewezi extension...and my other machine came with one.
Hawk, hang onto your second machine. you never know when your fav is going to need to go to the 'machine doctor'. :-D

The woman bought a toilet tank repair kit and used the long arm thing with the hook. She taped it to the top of her machine and ran thread from a cone through it. She sets the cone in a large coffee cup and sets it on the back side of her machine. She also used blue foam insulation board to make a sewing surface level with her machine and covered it with heavy clear vinyl. She said that the fabric glides over it like warm butter. She had her machine on a folding table with adjustable height legs from Sam's Club

I want your sign about the "Parking"...lol :thumbup:

My design board is off frame. I use the cork-board and easel for my instructions for whatever project I am doing.
Thanks for the compliment. :)

Haha!!! It says it all doesn't it.

Down at the bottom it says..."All others will be slapped"

Chasing Hawk,

Just have to tell you..I love your parking sign :!:

Thank you,
It was a gift from my husband. My daughters told me once, "Mom, you know how to be a b-word with out actually being one."......

LOL

I saw that same video. I was thinking about making one myself, and put some sticky back Velcro on the pieces to secure them together.

I bought an adjustable height table from Staples. (Delivered to the house free BTW) .
I have it lowered almost as far as it will go and with my machine on top it the perfect height. I couldn't afford the sewing cabinets that I wanted so had to make do. And its worked fine.

I use a large folding table from Sam's - actually have 2 of them pushed together - I also have the large clear sewing extension for my Bernina. That works fine for my quilting - and the folding tables can be put away easily when I need that room for guests.

I have two of the tables from Sams Club. One is for a cutting table, and the other is a 4ft. for a machine.

At first I bought one of those 79 dollar plastic tables that the quilt gets caught on all the edges. So I broke down and bought a cabinet with the lift. What a difference.
Dont cut corners its not worth it.

I had my DH take the old dining table with the removable leaf and he did a great job of making one my machine fits in. Now its level with the top plus I get plenty of sewing room. And I can still use it as a table if needed by putting in the old leaf.

I'd like to know which cabinet you bought since I'm also thinking of buying one sometime this year.
Any pros or cons with it, so far?

I bought a table from Ikea with adjustable legs. I made the table low ( I am a bit short from the waist up) and have an office chair that was also adjustable. It is great. No neck strain at all. Total cost was $89.00 The legs cost more than the table! l0l

I agree that having a table that the machine sits in is better for your shoulders and back. I bought a small table and I butt it up to a larger table for more working surface. I also have a small table I'm able to put to the left side when quilting a large quilt.

I bought the Bertha table from Arrow for oversized machines.
It was 500 dollars and so new on the market that it was a bear to put togather. It had flaws in the instructions also.
Regular size machines have many models to choose from.

I bought a computer table and can adjust the height of the bed of my machine.

Me too!! That's the first thing I noticed. :lol: :lol:

http://www.sewperfecttables.com/

After researching my options, I bought this table last year and love it. It is strong...like a commercial table. I bought the quilt professional with the extra space on the right side.
I also bought a plexiglas blank insert as an accessary and can use it as a light box.
The company was good to work with.
Good luck.

Wow...I like the freemotion table alot! But not in my budget right now... :cry:

I purchased an adjustable table at IKEA. I chose the size that fit in my space (4'x3') and it is low so my elbows are bent at throat plate level and I am not reaching up. I use an 18"x24" clear extension table with my Bernina. You can use the space underneath the extension for scissors, pins, etc.

Hubby made me the table in picture #1 and then made me the extension table for the machine in Pics # 2&3.

Table when opened completely is 4'x8' and wonderful for pinning finished project.
..other than really LARGE ones.which I don't do too often.

MaryJane

All those tables are great, Wish I could get something like that. thank you for sharing everything. Penny