Updating Sewing Room Tables Need Advice please
 

I currently have 2 sewing tables that measure 30" x 72". My sewing room shrunk when we moved to our current home...so as much as I love these 2 tables they just don't fit well in my sewing room.
I have been researching.. ad nauseum...lol different DIY sewing tables so I can get just the right height and length tables to fit my room.
I have 3 machines to take into consideration, 2 Embroidery machines, my Babylock Elli is quite large and my Designer 1 along with my Babylock serger. When I am not embroidering I have my Sew Steady tables on my machines, the largest one... so they do take up quite a bit of width side to side. I figure I need at least 5 ft for my Babylock which is what I do my quilting on... my D1 I could probably downsize to 4 ft. The depth, front to back on my tables as I mentioned is 30" I am wondering if 24" would be cutting down too much space. My room is 11'x 11.9'.... any space I save will be a bonus but also need my sewing space to be 100% functional!!
Could some of you share the aproximate size of your sewing tables/desks??
I really appreciate your input! Thank you!

Only you know what space works best for you and the type of sewing you do.
Some people sew in very tight spaces, and are comfortable.
And some can't function without lots of space.

My suggestion to you would be to try it! .... perhaps take one of your current tables and measure out the smaller sizes you are considering ... then put a barrier to keep you with in that space and see how it works.

Another possibility ... could you L the tables for your machines, or put them back to back, so the space does double duty for both machines?

My tables are all custom built by my husband. The table in my main sewing room is built into the closet. The cutting table is attached to the wall in the corner. And my embroidery machine sets on a cabinet we bought at Lowes for 10 bucks cause it had a chipped corner on the base.
In the annex as we call it, mu Bailey pro 15 sits in a table my husband also built.
Is there a way you can have something built into your sewing room? Perhaps a "U" shaped table that runs along one wall.

When my sewing area was smaller I bought two old vintage dining tables that are drop leaf. I would put a leaf up when I needed more working area and back down when done.

I have sewing space along two walls of my sewing room. We used long sheets of wood put on top of some really pretty file cabinets that I use for storage. I have a Large cutting table in the center of the room with my quilting machine and frame on the other side. Cabinets on the walls for storage even managed to get a desk in. I love it.

Thank you for your thoughts. After posting I thought about doing more research via google. I checked out the depth, front to back... of sewing cabinets by Arrow & Horn of America. I discovered they are not more than 21" in depth front to back. It has been so long since I have had a built to fit sewing cabinet I had forgotten there isn't much room behind the sewing machine.
I will keep researching, measuring and thinking so I come up with the perfect for me sewing table combination. Any further thoughts are very welcome.

Jeanann- Me too! Solid wood vintage drop leaf tables are readily available at garage sales and Craigslist for a pittance. I have 1 of mahogany (free) at the small family summer cabin, and 2 of oak ($30 total) at home. I keep 1/2 of the table open for regular sewing, and flip up the other side when more room or cutting space is needed. I don't sew much so this works for me. Got tired of a plastic folding table bouncing when I sew. Perhaps keeping an extra folding table available to put behind you sewing table would work? Or if you have a kitchen type countertop cabinet along one wall you could roll your machine cabinet over to it when extra depth is needed? Height matching might be an issue. Good luck with your research.

I feel your pain. Sorry I can't offer much in suggestions but I have the same problem---too much "essential" stuff for my little room. My husband also has his hobby (gun reloading) in the same room. The plan is for him to move his to his shop one of these days but that hasn't happened yet. Good luck!

I have been redoing my sewing area all evening.. Maybe I can post some pictures of it tomorrow!

I don't know what would meet your needs but having a small room similar to yours, I am looking at this Perfecxion 30210 at the website below. It's a little costly but I like the drop leaf at the back, the height of the table, and the machine can sit even with the table. Still not sure about all the measurements for my room yet. Might not be a choice for you... Good luck with your new sewing room and organization.

http://www.kenssewingcenter.com/perfexion-sewing-cabinets-c-195_202_3552.html

My tables are banquet tables and are not stackable at all. The problem is they are just too large for the room and about 6" too high for me when I am seated, chair is high as it can go and I'm sitting on pillows.. my Ellisimo is a large machine so my hands/arms/shoulders end up with my shoulders/neck all scrunched up. The amount that needs to be taken off from the legs to lower the tables is too much for the leg configuration.Good thoughts though!
Seriously, I think I have tried every configuration there is!!!.... just ask my hubby....lol

My current thoughts are to run a long countertop along the 11' wall under my 6' window. All my machines would fit along this wall. This would be sitting on 3 sets of drawer units. Then have hubby build a new cutting table for me utilizing bookcases and another counter top. This would be quite large and incorporate a pressing area. The only other thing left in the room then would be a double set of cubbies with baskets from Home Depot. As I draw this out it seems to be the best layout for my room. My question still is the depth of my sewing 'table' area. If it's 30" deep as it is now and I run it along under the window... I can't reach the window to open it or the blind... so thinking 24" might be better.
Keep the thoughts coming!!:)

Could you put them against your walls? Then you could use them that way or pull whichever table you needed to use out from the wall.I wouldn't cut the tables down or get rid of 1 of them without trying this way first.

How about kitchen cabinets and a 24" counter top ? After I was reading this I went in to make lunch and noticed my bottom cabinets. They come in sections. You and your husband could put them together along one wall in such a way with a leg opening for you to sit at for your machines and you can cabinets with either door or drawers

I did have a small sewing space, this is the setup that I have, I love the fact, that I can put my machine down and close it all up.
http://www.kenssewingcenter.com/arro...k-p-27463.html