What to look for at IKEA
 

I'm heading to NC and while the grandkids are in school I'm going to IKEA. I know the store is huge and will have some time but not hours. What are some things that would be good for using in my quilt cabin? Thanks for your ideas. FB

I have several of the little lamps they sell. I'm not good at finding and adding links, but maybe someone who does will know what I'm talking about since I heard about them on the board. They cost about 10-20$ and they have a bendy stem so you can point the light right at your needle. I keep one on my at home machine, one with my travel machine and one on my long arm.

They have great storage ideas and work area pieces that you can customize to your space. Happy shopping.

I would look at the catalog online so that I would have a really good idea what I'm interested in....

I did not find in the store many of the cool things I saw online. I found a small section (in the store I visited) of fabric, mostly heavier weight. There was also a good deal on thread and scissors, which I bought. I also checked the sheets because I was looking for 100% cotton in white, but I wasn't able to find any deals on that.

However, I have heard of great deals on fleece and cotton that others have found. Happy hunting!

I've only been to one IKEA in my life and it was huge. The store is set up so you basically HAVE to walk through the entire store to get to the "hidden" registers (at least the one in Stoughton, Mass was). I bought terry bath towels there, but won't buy again - they don't absorb at all (no I don't use fabric softener or dryer sheets). DD has bought bookcases there and loves them. I liked the look of their "office/desk" chairs. Lots of interesting gadgets, too. You should be able to get through the entire store in under 2 hours. One suggestion: if you see an item you like - pick it up then and there (or take the tag for it) or you may not be able to find your way back to where it was located. I found the store very confusing to maneuver around. Enjoy your trip! (I think they may even have sewing machines!)

Anita

I've only been to the store once-it is huge. You really need hours. I have ordered from them and my favorite item right now is the raskog kitchen cart. I bought one and it is so awesome I might buy 2 more for my sewing room. Strangely, though, shipping is cheaper if I buy one at a time. When I put two in my basket they wanted something like $250 (or was it $350) for shipping. :shock: But if I order one at a time it costs $21 shipping per cart.

eta link: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30216536/

I think you can even create a wish list online and then go pick the stuff up at the store. At the very least you can find out if the items are in stock at the store you're going to.

We have one here in Phoenix. I definitely wear walking shoes because I love to look, there is so much to see, and it is very big.

A friend and I go early to have the 99 cent breakfast, browse and buy, then visit the nearby LQS's. I take my large travel coffee mug and fill it up so I can have the coffee while I shop.

I bought a rolling 4 tiered coated wire basket item called Antonius. I don't think that name is available now but they do have something similar. I have 2, one on top of the other, in my studio closet to hold my stash. I can see what I have very easily. Love them.

Definitely check out the catalog online and write down the item numbers

I find the kitchen and bathroom organizational stuff is useful in a craft and sewing room. I like the magnetic knife bar-- I use that to hold tools and pins. I use the expedit cube storage units with baskets inserts to store scraps and batting pieces. If you're looking for bookshelves or organization, go through the store with an open mind for ways to repurpose items. An inexpensive spice rack is a very hand unit for storing buttons and small sundries. I love using a lazy susan ($9) under a cutting mat for ease in cutting tricky blocks.

Most of the fabric is decor weight or canvas, but keep an eye out for duvets and sheets in prints that might work for a backing. You can't beat the price. They also do have a couple of cotton light weight fabrics suitable for quilting in the yardage area, and again, the price is great, particularly when you take into account the fact that each bolt is wider.

I like the as-is section for picking up inexpensive finished boards to be used as shelving in my closets. I also found a slightly damaged table top which I purchased for less than half price -- not an issue for me since a cutting mat would cover the scratched areas.

They have good prices on picture frames, photo ledges, office supplies like magazine storage boxes and file boxes. Curtain rods and mounting hardware that make good quilt display.

Obviously, I love Ikea.

I bought an IKEA kitchen table on Craigslist - for less than half the price in the store. It is solid, sturdy birch wood. Beautiful!!!! I sunk my sewing machine into it. I LOVE it. I think it was $125 or so in the store, but I got it for $50. GREAT DEAL!

I've also been to IKEA once...I felt claustrophobic!!! Had to take an elevator as soon as you get into the store and start at the top floor and then work your way down. NO exits ...it felt like it anyway. Had to go through every floor before you could get outta there. I was with 3 or 4 other girlfriends and they were stopping and shopping like they had all the money in the world and I just wanted to get outta there. Don't think I'll go back unless I have plenty of time to shop....it's not an 'in/out' kinda store, but you can get some good deals. Just bring lots of $$$ and leave your claustrophobic tendancies at the door!

Gale, that kitchen cart is adorable! I would love one of those in my sewing room!

Be sure to bring your own sacks. They don't have sacks unless you want to buy them. I finally went to one in Austin when visiting my niece. It took forever to go through the store. I liked the storage section. I knew I couldn't buy anything as I was flying home, so it wasn't so much fun for me. There is an IKEA 5 hours away that I should go to. Maybe I would like it if I knew I could buy some things. I was so tired after going through the store that I went back to my niece's and took a nap.

I have this rolling cart and it is very handy. I store lots of small things -- needles, screwdriver, spare bobbins, etc. in the drawer.

We also have Ikea bookshelves -- lots of "Billy" for open shelving, and my dh has some in his office with the glass doors on them. If you think you might want things like this, be sure to bring your room's measurements with you. Some of the styles even have corner shelving units so you can wrap a bookshelf around an inside corner. Ikea furniture is also wonderful for cabinets -- for tv, bedroom, etc.. Friends of ours just installed cabinets in their living room; they have a large TV sitting on the middle cabinets and then cabinet/bookshelf combos with glass doors standing tall on each side.

I am not a fan of their dining sets, our Ikea has only thick, heavy drapery-like fabric so I would never buy quilting fabric there, and I don't care for most of their bedding. However, they have a wonderful selection of long curtains -- both sheer and opaque -- if you are looking for an inexpensive way to cover windows (most you hem yourself

In our master bedroom and bath we also have their woven window coverings. If I can find the name of them, I will post. These are flat woven panels that are attached from above (ours have 3 layers of slides) so you can "stack" the panels. I can't describe them, but they are wonderful and look as if they were custom-made. These are good for windows where you want permanent coverage but still want light to come through. (The fabric will pull out of shape and distort if you move them back and forth every day.) If you are in the store, it does take quite a bit of work to figure out which fittings you need for these panels.

Anyway, if you are interested in window coverings, be sure to bring your window dimensions.

I agree with the posters who said the kitchen and storage sections are the best.

When you first walk in the door, grab a map. There are shortcuts throughout the store, so you can skip the sections you have no interest in, and you will find it much easier to navigate with a map. I've been to both the Portland and Seattle stores, and the registers were not hidden at all.

It's called Jansjo led work light, I rave about them every chance I get. :D

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/images/pro...E240312_S4.JPG

I agree...Great storage ideas. In my store, it is located near the exit !!

This is funny because I am also from Indiana and we are in Hilton Head Island, SC right now!!! We will be stopping at IKEA on our way home at the end of this week. I asked for and received this cart from IKEA for Christmas this past year. I put all supplies for my current project(s) and I can roll it around from my cutting table, ironing board and sewing machine. Plus I loved the color!!!!

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30216536/

If it is the IKEA in Charlotte area, afterwards, head west/south (I think, I'm in CA) about 30 minutes (google it for directions) and you will come to Gastonia where Mary Jo's is. Blow your mind fabric store!

There are so many different things you might want....you should take measurements of any furniture pieces you might need. Also...be sure to eat there...cheap and mostly good. I love the Sweedish meatballs...even though they were recalled once for using horse meat! I guess that has been corrected by now..

I have the greatest cubby system with a large work table attached. My supplies are all at hand. What is great is you can add to the system if more room is needed. I do not remember the exact price, but was very reasonable at ikea

I like the scratch and dent area . At my local store, it's located near the checkout.

If it's storage or furniture you need and you can bring it home same day (?) , make sure you have all measurements with you. Everything always looks smaller in the big store compared to the real space of home.

The kitchen dept has great see-through containers that might me something you wish to keep stuff in.

I highly recommend you take a written list and prioritize. I always spend WAY more time in IKEA than I intend, even if all I come out with are a toilet bowl brush and a gardening kneeling pad!

I go in the back way, directly to the kitchen/bath area. That's where the fabric is. Take a look at it, you might find something you like. Also the sheet sets and duvet covers. The fabric is really interesting. Upstairs is the cafe and the kids toys. They have the wooden train sets that connect to the major brands, at very reasonable prices. The rest of upstairs is settings of furniture. I wouldn't go there unless you want to look at desks/tables. Be sure to look at the map and look for the short cuts. Bookcases are available in the self surface area. I wouldn't be surprised if the table tops and legs aren't there, too. We like the Billy and Ivar bookcases.

[QUOTE=yngldy;6388682]If it is the IKEA in Charlotte area, afterwards, head west/south (I think, I'm in CA) about 30 minutes (google it for directions) and you will come to Gastonia where Mary Jo's is. Blow your mind fabric store![/

We stopped at Mary Jo's Saturday on our way to Hilton Head!!!

I was just at IKEA a couple of weeks ago, shopping with my son for his new apartment. I tried to talk him into that Raskog cart to use as an end table, but he thought it was to, "girlie," for him. I was tempted to go back and get it for myself! It's so cute! We didn't find much for him that day, but I've found lots of things at IKEA over the years. I love their lighting, lamps, storage stuff and the kitchenware down in the basement. (Wine glasses $1.50, plates and cereal bowls 79 cents each, cutting board for a buck...it's kinda like going to a hip dollar store.) The furniture is more hit and miss. Some of it is great and other pieces we have owned have fallen apart quickly. It was used in the kids' rooms, so I can't really complain. They were pretty rough on things and it was cheap.

oh my gosh, you MUST go to Mary Jo's. Forget IKEA, Mary Jo's is the place! The IKEA in Charlotte is huge and you have to wind through the entire store. No just running to a partucular section....but they do have a lot of cool stuff.

The Jansjo lamp is great. It sells at IKEA for $9.99 and works great. Bonnie Hunter recommended them.

I have been a huge IKEA fan for many years and have often referred board members there for any particular item, especially Expedit or Billy storage systems. When you walk in, you do have a choice of stairs or elevator after grabbing a specialized cart that easily holds their shopping tote bags. After exiting the elevator or reaching the top step, you will see more shopping bags, rulers, pencils and catalogs on display. Every IKEA store I have ever been to, and we're talking ALOT!! has the choice to skip a department with 'short cut' signs hanging from the ceilings. I NEVER shortcut, as you never know what's waiting for you just around the next bend!!
I purchased my daughter's (both of them) bedroom furniture sets more than 22 years ago and now that they are both out of the house, that furniture went with them and is all STILL holding up beautifully!! Yes, it was very inexpensive, but very STURDY as well. I remember paying $69 for one of the 3-drawer dressers in a soft gray color. It was super easy to assemble. I also bought the double dressers, nightstands and beds to match.
Less than a month ago, while in Florida visiting my parents, they donated their $1,600.00 Sleep Number very uncomfortable mattress and replaced it with the Sultan Finnvik memory foam queen size for less than $400. After sleeping on it the first night, they were so completely happy with their purchase!! No back pain for mom!!
I could go on and on, but I know some will love IKEA, some not so much. If you have not been there, treat yourself, but prepare to spend a couple of hours. And have a meal there!! The food is amazing!!

You will have a great time at Ikea!
I Love, Love, Love the Norden Gateleg Table for my sewing room. I put wheels on it so I can roll it to my sewing machine to support the quilt while quilting. I also use it as a cutting table. I am only 5'3'' so with the caster wheels added, the height works well. I saw this table on a quilting blog. The 6 drawers hold all the quilting supplies...long and deep. The table is solid birch-wood. Beware, the box is heavy. The best feature is the long sides that extend fold down and the table doesn't take up much space. Love That since I have a small sew room.

Go to the Ikea web site to see the table and its dimensions. I purchased the Natural wood. The White was more expensive. I paid $179. sku/product # 201.047.18 Have a fun time in NC. I live in NC.

The just under $4 fleece blankets make excellent backings for charity quilts.

Cannot find the bendable lamps on the website, but go to Bonnie Hunters Quiltville and look around. She uses them.

If you go to their web page ahead of time, you can sign up for the IKEA FAMILY program which gets you a few additional discounts & perks. http://info.ikea-usa.com/FAMILY/?src=ikea_web

The first time I went was a little overwhelming. At my store (and I think most), the top level is the show room. If you are buying furniture & bigger things you'll need to write down the numbers about where the actual units are downstairs. Downstairs is the Marketplace that has tons of things for sale - from spoons, cups, linens, picture frames, etc. And then after you get through the Marketplace is the warehouse area where you pick up all the larger items. You'll need to know what aisle & bin the items are located in. Then you go through to the register area. The scratch & dent section is usually right before the registers.

Have fun!

Ikea
 

I bought a long table that wrapped around a corner. It was made for a computer but I used it as a sewing and quilting table I have two sewing machines and one embroidery machine so I have room to leave them all out.

Hi Fabricbug, if time is limited then get a catalogue if possible.They have great storage ideas and provided most of the fittings for my very small sewing room.Letty x

Check their fabric selection in the drapery department. They have a line of solid colors that may be ok for quilting.
I bought a piece of fabric with white back ground with angles in silver/grey - like the weathervane which is quilting weight. I will quilt it all over and not cut it up. Their fabric is 60" wide and it was $2.99 per yd. Our local no longer carries the lighter weight fabric - more drapery weight but you might be lucky. I also bought a 4 pack of thread for $2.99 that is primary colors and good thread.

I just went to the one in Charlotte, and got a chair for my sewing machine that was on wheels, it was on sale for $20.00 I was thrilled since I don't have a lot of $'s also a floor lamp

IKEA is one of our favorite places to spend a few hours. We've found chairs, lamps, fabrics, kitchen supplies/equipment, bulbs for the lamps, furniture for the living room and even the bathroom. I made my sewing machine using two of the three-drawer MALM chest of drawers. They are nineteen inches deep, so I had a sheet of 3/4" plywood cut into two pieces eight feet long. I stacked them together to make a table top 1 1/2" thick. The eight-foot length allowed me to spread the chest of drawers apart enough to give me plenty of knee space. [The extra piece of plywood made an eight-foot bookshelf for my older grandson.] The extra bonus using this method is that I have six (!!) drawers for holding my tailor's ham, extra thread and fabric, jars of buttons, etc. I will try to get my daughter to come over with camera and take pictures. The whole thing was less than $200 and I don't even have to think about the table wobbling or "dancing" when I really want to do a fast seam. One warning about IKEA: it is not a fifteen-minute stopover. My wife and I usually plan on at least two to three hours -- and we pretty much know the layout of the store and the shortcuts that will take us where we want to go. Just plunge in and have fun!!!

I think I wouldn't even want to walk in the door with out a list. You can find things in the on line catalog or you can go on line and "join" and they will send you a catalog - it took a while to get a catalog but we did get one. That light is really nice - I found mine in two locations in the store. We also bought a light that hangs on the wall - we like them both. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20169658/ you can search IKEA and what ever item you are looking for. It pays to shop on line ahead of time - they do have people who will help you find things. There are a lot of impulse buy items. I think you might also like to look up "IKEA hacks" and "IKEA hacker" on line for some really great ideas what to do with IKEA stuff. Some people even 'hack' the IKEA bags. You can also search on line for IKEA sewing room ideas and then hit images.

youngduncan: waiting for pictures of your sewing "desk". Sounds interesting.

lamps with bendable arm
 

I agree! I got 2 of these lamps and LOVE them!