Does anyone use purchased quilter's furniture?
 

Not sure if we can use brand names...but... I have fallen in love with sewing furniture in a catalog. If I sell my blood, my soul, and an organ or two I can get a piece (maybe two?) of dedicated furniture for my machines and cutting. I wonder if I am being seduced by beautiful matchy matchy sewing rooms. Does anyone use professionally made sewing furniture?

I don't currently but I am moving and have been looking at this furniture for my future sewing room. I'll have a dedicated sewing room (Currently Room is a combo office/sewing room) so I want to set it up right from the get-go. Some of that stuff is gorgeous but I've seen some beautiful layouts using IKEA and Lowes's stuff too. I haven't decided. I may have it built-in to my specs....will decide when construction is done. But it is gorgeous!

I refuse to spend tons of money for "specialized" things, including furniture. I use a office desk for my sewing desk, I have 7 pattern cabinets, 1 of the tall Butterick cabinets, and 6 of the shorter ones, they're back to back, for fabric storage and a 2 piece counter top for quite a large cutting table. The 6 shorter ones were free and $50 for the other one. I'm not much of a "matchy-matchy" person, when it comes to furniture or sewing rooms.

No, I’m vertically challenged and most of the quilting furniture that I’ve seen is too high (in both senses of the word) for me. My studio furniture doesn’t match and a lot of it is stuff I’ve either cobbled together myself, or repurposed, but it all is the right height for me to be able to sew and fmq comfortably for long stretches at a time and was within my budget.

Is there some way you could see the pieces in person to get a feel for whether they would work for you before committing to buy?

Rob

No, I use long banquet style tables purchased from a used office furniture outlet for a song and an office chair. I have a lot of machines and move things around so this works best for me.

My sewing room is a very workman like room without a lot of ambience. I like it that way.

I have a sewing table that allows me to drop my machine into it and has an insert so my sewing surface is level across the table top. I've always wanted a professional sewing table but was put off by the prices. I found mine on Craigslist in perfect condition for $400. I love it and wish I hadn't waited so long. I'd watch CL - they aren't listed a lot but you might get lucky. Also, it would help if you're willing to travel a few hours to pick up, so you can watch CL across several geographic areas.

I purchased a sewing table from a Canadian company which I really like. It has a hydralic lift, and some extensions which are helpful to support your quilt as it grows. It all collapses to a small footprint and is on castors. They also make cutting tables, if I had a larger sewing room I’d probably get that as well.

I dream of owning horn or koala whichever comes first lol. No fund for another 5 years as I just bought a longarm

Somewhere on this board there was a px of an ironing board made from a changing table. So the first changing table I found at a garage sale i brought home. It doubles as a hidie-hole for all my jelly rolls and charm packs. Will post what it looks like later today.

I hope I don't sound like a snob, but all of the furniture in my sewing room is purchased. I have a Koala machine cabinet with the pneumatic lift. It holds 2 machines & 2 Koala adjustable chairs. I also have a Martelli cutting table, it is the best purchase I ever made.

I also have a Koala sewing table with a pneumatic lift. Mine is sort of specialized since it's taller than the "norm" height. I am tall and long waisted so standing over any table to cut is dreadful after a short period. Also, I am more ergonomically positioned when I sit to sew (higher adjustable chair, too). The height is the only reason I got the table but I Love it. The rest of the furniture was intentionally bought at IKEA and it's fabulous, too. I consider it "dedicated" because it was intentional. I bought a workbench at Harbor Freight and made an ironing board.

I have a an old office desk for a sewing table, an old ping pong table for cutting and design wall, an old changing table for patterns and fat quarter storage, an old metal filing cabinet for storage using the magnetic sides for hanging supplies, an old China cabinet for fabric storage, an old hutch for storing jelly rolls, charm packs, and threads, an old lady Susan for a rotating cutting mat, an old bar turned backwards for storing Art Bin boxes for various projects, an old armoire for storing batting and quilt tops, and an old couch for storing baskets filled with fabrics. The only furniture I have that is being used as it's original purpose is a bookcase used to store, you guessed it, books! Going to remodel my sewing space this spring. Will be getting rid of the desk (too high for me) and getting NEW countertop to hang from the wall at the correct height for me for a sewing table.

I have a mixture of furnishings in my sewing room. My Bernina sits in a Horn cabinet, but my cutting table is a solid core door resting (not attached) on two short bookcases. It is the perfect height for me. I have bookcases and garage shelving that hold fabric, carts from Ikea, storage units from Walmart. Whatever works...

I posted this back in May.

https://www.quiltingboard.com/links-...e-t288380.html

I love mine. Best purchase ever. The quality is excellent. I bought another one after I posted and sold it new in box for $850. I bought the Arrow sewing chair and a couple of inserts for the table to fit my machines.


The link of course doesn't work now but here is what I got for $400.

The price was $400 and free shipping. This one: https://www.arrowcabinets.com/shop/k...-joey-cabinet/ No Joey in stock to fit under it so the cabinets were marked down to get them out of the warehouse. I found several online dealers that had the Joey that fit but I don't need it.

I outfitted my sewing room with a little imagination and IKEA purchases.

Such a hard question. There is likely a different or variation of different from everyone responding to this question. A few years back I bought a Bernina 525 and a Koala sewing cabinet from Craig's List. It was a very good deal and I don't regret it. But there are aspects of the arrangement I would change, starting with the height. It's too low. Koala offers different heights you choose when buying new but I didn't have that chance. Plus I would not have paid the full price for a new Koala cabiner. They are just out of my price range. I wish you well in making this decision. May the Force be with you.

These pieces are tailored to a person's height/desires, so short or tall isn't a problem. I have not gotten close enough to doing this to look for where to see them- I just wondered if people are happy with high end sewing furniture.

Thanks for all of your responses- I wasn't really looking for 'should I or shouldn't I?' as much as 'if you did it are you happy?'. So far the responses to that question are positive!

I may go buy a lottery ticket, but I will watch CL.

Sort of a crappy sewing room but I have purchased a Martelli adjustable cutting table. Very helpful for the back!
Baby steps. My theory is I am not going anywhere, Lord willing, and have time to figure what will work... and our needs constantly change. Thought I had it all figured out. Then I purchased the embroidery module for my machine so another change for me......

No different then furnishing the rooms in your house with nice furniture. Why should a sewing room be all make do and hodge podge? I have the same pride in my sewing room as I do the rest of the rooms in my home. If my sewing room is junky and raggedity then I feel like I don't value what that room means to me.

I have a Horn cabinet for one of my sewing machines. It's one of their low end units, but it allows my machine to sit flush with the top of the cabinet. It was designed for this purpose so works really well. I did get it at a thrift store, so keep checking CL. This is the only 'official' piece of manufactured furniture specific to sewing use, however, I have a handy husband who has made purpose built items and adapted other pieces of furniture for me. Having something specifically made or adapted for a purpose does make the whole process easier so more fun!!

I was fortunate enough to find a cabinet with pneumatic lift in the configuration I wanted on CL for $25. It was about a 40 min. drive but well worth my time! Not a name brand and not particularly high quality but good nonetheless. I've spent the last 25 years sewing on a $10 little pressboard table w/drawers with no issues but I wanted the machine flush with the top so I could try MQ'ing. Haven't taken that plunge yet but I'm getting there!

About 10 years ago, at a quilt show I bought a Horn work table which is 36 in high and has a place for my machine and a manual lift. I love it because I can put the sides up or leave them down...when I'm standing and cutting for long periods, my back doesn't hurt. the chair which is drafting height was included...I think I paid around $1600 at the time and it was wonderful.
Then I got the big Bernina with the large harp and the old lift in the table really didn't work with this machine. Also, I was tired of scooting up on a drafting chair. So I looked around for a basic sewing table with an electric lift and I wanted another Horn.The one I settled on has an electric lift so I can position the machine perfectly and it's around 32 inches tall....now I have the best of all worlds with both pieces. I can sit low and piece or I can move the machine over to the old table and spread the quilt out to quilt it. I'm happy that I made the investment in myself. And all the rest of the furniture in my sewing room is Ikea. And while I love what they have to offer, I really like having my machine recessed and even with the table top.

Saw your post in May and bought one also but am just now getting ready to put together since my husband had just had major back surgery. Have to get room organised first as it's been the dump room for years. Have to thank you for posting the link for it.

Just as One by One and Three Dog Night, I purchased an Arrow cabinet in May when they offered such a great deal. They only sold about a dozen at that price. I don’t know how I managed without it. I have also purchased two of the Alex IKEA storage cabinets. I just refinished an Ethan Alan desk for my sewing studio that I was going to cut a hole in for another machine but it turned out so beautiful I don’t want to cut into it. : /

I have a friend who treated herself to some of the sewing furniture seen in magazines. Her sewing room is in the far side of her formal living room so she wanted to close it when company comes. The only problem she has had with it is she ordered an extra top to put her serger on a wing of the unit. With the extra top, the unit can't be closed. The height of the serger top is the same as the tabletop and it is screwed on. So she lost the ability to tighten it all up and fold it away. Other than that, it's beautiful. But not what she intended.

I have furniture from Arrow/Kangaroo and I'm so happy I got it! I first purchased an Aussie so I would be able to have plenty of room to free motion with my machine at the right height. I really liked it, so I've been able to catch some additional pieces on sale now and then. I've got a few Joeys, which I stacked, plus their cutting table which I use for both cutting and ironing larger finished tops. And you'll see my quilt on their website hanging above many of their cabinets. They had a contest to design and make a quilt that matched their colors, and the prize was a certain amount towards their furniture. That's how I was able to get the cutting table. (Here's a link: https://www.arrowcabinets.com/shop/b...s/emu-cabinet/)

For me, one of the big advantages is the ability to fold up the furniture with the machine in it and have a nice neat look. We recently did some remodeling, and my entire sewing room folded up and rolled out of the way. Awesome!

I have a Koala Table and I ordered the extra tall one as I am tall and it kills my back to have to hunch over to cut and sew, this is the one I purchased.
http://www.koalacabinets.com/index.c...ategory_id=303

I love the height and the storage, I will say I was not happy with the materials used to make it. If I ever redo my room, I will go for a handcrafted solid wood table, and forgo another Koala. As far as the rest of my sewing room furniture, it’s all IKEA and it works well for me. I regret no purchase that lets me enjoy my hobby in comfort.

I bought a Horn table when I got my Bernina and I love it. It's large enough to be able to use the other side for cutting. My machine goes in it and it has a manual lever.
I also have a large table for my Juki (for machine quilting)

I'm negative on the koala. I bought one as a 'soon to be retired' present to self. I really liked using it, but we moved and although I always kept in in the house (my bedroom, so it was heated - it was not left in damp or severe heat) When I started using it again I found out that all of the rounded edges were delaminating. I take responsibility for the lift mechanism failing, my son didn't see the instruction before he put the top down. But delamination REALLY this was a top of the kind purchase

Amen! When I had the chance to use a spare room for a sewing room I bought furniture for it, like I would have for a bedroom, sitting room, or office. If all the other furniture was make do then I would have no problem with it but I have nice furniture in my other rooms why should my sewing room be only good enough for the free or cheap stuff? I take pride in my sewing room.

I have always sewn with vintage machines that came in wood cabinets. Until I started quilting in the spring of 2017, I did not even realize that the modern machines did not come with cabinets. All of my machines except for my 99k handcrank are in the original wood cabinet that they came in and so far for my needs, they all work well. I am lucky to have a Featherweight card table and I do use that to help with the large quilts. I was using my dining room table to cut on, but it was too low. I found a folding cutting table on CL for a good price. I need to be able to swap the cutting table and the dining table in and out depending on what I am using the room for.

In my other house I had a large desk that had been modified but it would not fit in the new house. I loved the Koala cabinets but the price was way too high for me. I don't have a lot of room for a table so I got a folding one that fits my machine. I would really love to have one with a hydraulic lift so I could have a flat surface -- when I looked at the Arrows a couple of years ago, they did not handle my machine. This one looks like it would fit. I am thinking hard about getting one but need to save up for it. Thanks for the link One by One.

Keep a eye on the Arrow flash sales. You never know when one may show up. Usually they are posted on Facebook and sold out by the time the email gets out. Arrow has give aways every week too.

My Bernina sits in a Horn cabinet, too...and having the surface flush with the table is a dream, it really is. I think each person must decide what their sewing area looks like...I need a bit of order (just a bit), and I like to look up and see some of the cutesy things I've placed about...but that's just me. I STRONGLY recommend cutting on a tall table, even if you must use bed risers to achieve the height! Doing this has saved me from countless back aches!! Good lucK!

I have an old pine kitchen table my husband made a cutout in for my machine to drop into. Also used an IKEA hack for a cutting bench/ craft table using 2 2x2 cupboards and an old desktop on top. My cupboards are an assortment of white drawers/cupboard and plastic filing cupboard.
Bit of a mish mash but doesn't look too bad all together really. The most I paid for any piece is $80 AUD.
Bargains.

I have purchased furniture, cabinets and shelves. The cabinets have storage with tables don't. And I like the unified look. It's another priority thing.

Those fancy furniture is great - for those who have a high bucks job, huge retirement or rich husband or relative. The rest of us just sew on what we have. REMEMBER it's not what you sew on, but the outcome of your sewing. I've seen some of the most amazing intricate quilts, made on a card table in the corner of a very small apt. So, IF one can afford it without debt.. GO for it.

My dining room is my sewing room. I purchased a Kuala so that I could close it up when I used the dining room for company meals. I love, love, love it. If I had room, I would get another for my serger and second machine so I could keep them out and convenient.

Different folks have different taste-- you might view my sewing room as looking junky because my space is cobbled together from things I've repurposed or made for myself to suit my height and my way of working, but I view it with pride since it looks (and is) very functional and workmanlike. Different strokes for different folks, but please don't think that just because folks don't have the same taste or perhaps budget as you do that they don't take pride in their workspace.

Rob