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Ideal quilting area?

Ideal quilting area?

Old 03-12-2013, 08:37 AM
  #31  
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We live in the top of our nephew's barn! We are in a one bedroom, almost 1000 sq ft apartment that has been their guest quarters. Before I had sewn in the great room of our cabin, using the dinning table as my work space and the guest bedroom walk-in closet and dresser for storage. After moving the wife the a craft room right here across the hall? WOW!
I didn't buy new new matching things, but went the good will way also.

I really like my 4 fold down roll away tables (3'x5' open) that I can put into different configurations for cutting, piecing, sewing, and doing my own quilting. I also use the pingpong table for laying out "colors". The family spent a day up there re-organizing and left me a 3' by 6' table on which I have a lot of sorted boxes of templates, backing materials, rolls of paper, etc. Underneath I have packaged rolls of batting and bins with batting leftovers, which I use for appliques, etc., and at the end I even have a full roll of Warm and Natural. There are two big dressers, one with 4 drawers that are each the depth of 2 regular drawers which holds "patterns" of past quilts and other stuff; the other dresser holds my tools and threads and some beautiful ethnic clothes from our years in Asia. I have a 4'x8'x20"deep cabinet which houses most of my stash, along with 2 pastic 5 drawer stacks, sorted by color, of less than fat quarter size on which are boxes of sorted "strings" and "blocks", plus, on a shelf that runs above the windows that DH put up for me) about 14 matching boxes (found in a dump, all clean and waiting for me) that are labeled according to the pictorials on the fabrics, so that I can get already cut up baby prints, animal prints, little kid prints quickly; they also hold other fabrics that have some specific theme. Those boxes have mailing tape closures for opening and resealing I have two insultation boards with an old fitted sheet over them for my design area. I have a 8"x24" metal shelf that holds my quilting books and magazines. My washer and dryer are in an alcove nearby, ironing board near by tables. I use all these spaces almost every day.

The washer/dryer area is 12.5' x 12.5' (has a deep sink which I use for checking color fasness and put my fabrics in hot water for shrinking... love it!). One double window there; the wall opposite has metal shelves with basketry things that are not mine. The main part of the room is about 24' x 20' + 5' more feet when I'm using all of the ping pong table. The two outside walls are fully lined with the dressers, cabinet, plastic drawers, bookcase, etc. If it were a single room, w/o the washing area I'd really want it at least 24'x24' I love having 5 windows in my part of the room, but I'm careful about letting sun get onto my design wall or fabrics left out on tables. There are 4 more double windows on the other side and end of the room so I can really have the place open and fresh on hot summer days.

The kids are older, doing their own thing and the mama is concentrating on tri-athalongs so the family crafts have cut down or are in the house more, so this is pretty much "my" space.

If you do get a room above a garage, or even upstairs think about having railings on both sides! You don't want to have to figure out which arm to empty if you step on a toy or trip on fabric! Which brings us to the fact that your avatar has two very young people in it. If you plan to have a family that will make a huge difference in the configuration of your sewing space!!! You'll want a crib or a play area near by, and baby monitors when they aren't right there. I trained my kids to be pin hunters when they were just todlers, first showing them how sharp pins are and how important it was to NOT have them on the floor. They were so proud to help! Hope this helps.

Last edited by Sierra; 03-12-2013 at 08:47 AM.
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Old 03-16-2013, 03:57 AM
  #32  
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You can never have to much space but you dont want to have to put thing away every time you sew you will spend more time cleaning than sewing, told with experience haha
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Old 03-19-2013, 05:08 PM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by Skyangel View Post
This is a pic of one I have seen online that I told him I want one like:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]400349[/ATTACH]
I want one too!
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Old 03-27-2013, 07:56 PM
  #34  
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I personally wouldn't want my quilting room in the family room, I wouldn't want people to see the mess that I make (and I can make a mess) and I don't want all of my stuff around (I have little kids). I have my sewing room in a retreat room off of our master bedroom. Ideally one day I will steal the bonus room which is twice the size or more of my current room, nevertheless I am comfortable in my current room of 11 by 14, albeit I might have to find extra storage somewhere.
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Old 03-29-2013, 08:59 AM
  #35  
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for 22 years I had 900 sq feet on the lower walk out basement that was so wonderful! All mine. Just close the door upstairs and you wouldn't know it was there. Am currently using the family room in a rental and it works out but there is no way to close off the mess when creating the next masterpiece. Ha! Will be building a new home for myself soon. Widow. It will include a very large studio for all my stuff. Can't wait. I prefer to have limited access to my studio from family and grandkids.
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Old 03-29-2013, 09:38 AM
  #36  
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I think personality makes a huge difference in whether or not people want to be close to the rest of the family or in their own private space.

Also whether or not you work outside the home, whether paid or volunteer work comes into play as well. I work with the public all day 5 days a week. My other job I only work with one or two people. By the time I get home I am ready for my own space. I do keep my one day a week I have off for my family and we eat dinner together each night at the dining room table.

Having said that I do have a basement sewing room (with one NW window) it is not quite 10x11, and not nearly big enough. The ironing board is in the adjacent family room. There is fabric stacked in totes behind the sofa there too.

I could easily use twice the space.
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Old 03-29-2013, 09:39 AM
  #37  
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I moved into my daughter's bedroom when she moved out. It's a tight squeeze since I quilt and make jewelry.
I prefer to close the door and work in peace and quiet, but my husband's office is next to my workspace.
I do handwork while we watch TV. I would suggest you make sure you have good light, both natural aand artificial.
The best part for me is being able to leave the sewing machine and work in progress out all the time, after years of using the dining room. Have fun!
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Old 03-29-2013, 04:41 PM
  #38  
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I turned our formal living room (who uses those anyway?) into my sewing room. I added 1 bookshelf and store all my scrapbooking supplies there, and the rest of the room is for sewing. Works for me!
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Old 04-05-2013, 05:00 AM
  #39  
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we live in an old farm house and I sew downstairs in the living room-the dining room is now our living room-both rooms are equal size.we did not need a dining room.the longarm is in 1 bedroom upstairs and my fabric is in another bedroom.the grands have a room with a futon and a tv and my honey has a man cave .my hobby takes up 3 rooms-I so wish it was all one large studio-but this works fine.allow way more room than you think you need-you will fill it quickly
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Old 04-05-2013, 06:34 PM
  #40  
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A loft sounds really good to me, but I'm too old and decrepit for the stairs anymore.. Fortunately, my bedroom is huge, so one end is my sewing room and the other is my bedroom.. It's convenient! And my sweet hubbie is always in calling range when I need his help.. He has been my darling for 42 years and I am so very blest to have him!
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