has anyone made a Large sewing table?
 

I'm trying to come up with how to make a large (approx 50x90) sewing table on the cheap. My DH will cut the place out for the sewing machine to drop in. I've discovered that the perfect height for my sewing machine is 29 inches, so kitchen cabinets won't work underneath because they are too tall. I want to be able to put drawers under both sides for storage.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I've got the bee in my bonnet and won't be able to concentrate on anything else until I get this planned.

Michelle

My table was made for me. I don't have any drawers in it but that sounds nice. Here are a couple of things to think about. If it's that long it needs extra support or the table vibrates as you sew. My guy put extra support around 3 sides of the table leaving 1 side for my legs to go under. When I have a quilt friend over she sits on the opposite side of the table at the other end BUT she bangs her knees on the reinforcement...something to watch out for. Also make sure you have enough room to raise or lower your chair as needed. I raise mine when I'm FMQing (it's easier on my shoulders). I put a 3 drawer plastic container under my table at 1 end instead of built-ins.

48X90 is a sheet of plywood round off corners just a bit so things don't snag, sand edges, check second hand stores for kitchen drawers or chest of drawers you can cut down to fit your height.

I'm lucky to have a large sewing desk, but I found something similar to what you're asking about on a blog. She doesn't have a drop down for her machine, but she does have 6 legs on it for support. http://theborrowedabode.com/2012/12/...ble-with-trim/

That'd be about the right height to slide double drawer filing cabinets under.

While a 50"x90" surface might be perfect, you might want to think on the long term as to whether it is practical. Eg. if you move ... or if you want to change the layout of your room. We quilters do tend to change things, when we get better ideas, or see that our needs have changed.

Also, it puts it all at one height ... if you are wanting this one table as a cutting and sandwiching surface, ergonomically, the heights for those two are usually higher than for sitting to sew.

You might want to consider separate pieces, that could butt up to each other for one continuous surface when needed, but when apart the legs could be extended or bed risers used , to give the additional height.

Just some thoughts ... and yes, maybe you have thought this thru and know that one continuous is what you want/need.

I am using the table from my old patio set.It holds the large cutting mat from JoAnns and I have it on those bed raiser things. Do not have sewing machine set in though cause it is glass top but a good way to recycle.Good luck. Show pictures when you finally settle in.

I think the cubes I used for my cutting table are about 14.5" tall which would make a surface just over the 29" you require. Here's the thread with my table: http://www.quiltingboard.com/mission...e-t239351.html

plywood comes in 4'x 8' you could use part of a sheet and put hinges on so you can use it or drop it when not in use ....i hit the re-stores,good will , or salvation army and see if they have any thing for a base i have bookcases under my cutting table ...

oh ...i just came from biglots the bed risers are $5.there .....

Bookcases and metal filing cabinets under would be great for storage...

Y'all are great. Thanks for the ideas. I'm now going downstairs to sit next to DH with my drawing, a borrowed book about perfect quilt spaces and my big eyes to find out when we can get started!!

50x90x29 is a huge size to get around corners, through hallways and doorways. I'd really recommend making it in 2 sections that can be fastened together. 50x45x29 should go around most corners and doorways.

I had an old heavy 30x60 table with fold out legs. My DH put 1-1/4" PVC pipe (probably 8-9" tall) on legs to raise it to a good height for me. He then purchased two of the white pieces of wood 2x4' (It's like finished shelving) and glued those two together with gorilla glue and placed on top of table. I now have a 4x6' table for cutting, stacking the cut pieces, etc. with lots of room. I do not have my machine on that. My table is against the wall. We may put "rails" on the under side of purchased white pieces in case I want to move the table away from the wall to walk around it. This would keep it from sliding. I have 2 lg green cutting mats on top, rulers & templates I use often and love it. I am using the sterlite rolling cabinets under for storage. The white cube boxes would work well, too.

My husband made mine from a sheet of plywood, 4 ft by 8 ft, and I love it. The base is in 2 sections, held in place underneath with C clamps. 2 layers of shelves underneath, on very large casters. The top is all one solid piece, that lifts off, and has the well for my machine. The corners were rounded off and everything was sanded as smooth as glass and then stained and sealed. He even designed it so I have leg room underneath. It never jiggles when I sew and does not give when I am cutting fabric. He did not have a pattern, designed it himself.

My brother built this table for me. I love it. It has lots of room for a large quilt, and acts as my cutting, sandwiching and quilting table. The extra table space to the left of the machine slides in and out. I had my local glass store cut a plexiglass insert to fit around my machine for a couple dollars. Add I got one insert with no cut out so it makes a nice smooth table top when I'm not using the machine, such as for sandwiching. The supplies cost about $100. I chose a laminated plywood for the top so its finished and smooth. I bought the plans online at Keepsake Quilting.

Wow, all these ideas are super. I am so glad you asked the question. I am thinking of redoing my room but just can't get it all in my head yet. Posts like these really help things along. Thanks again to all of you.

I just love your table that gives me something to think about I need a new one myself thanks for sharing

I had a table made for me. It was a 4 by 8 sheet of plywood with a cut out for my sewing machine. The table was on 2 open ended "boxes" that were made of plywood. They had 2 shelves each and were not both the same size. They needed to be different sizes to make enough room for my feet.
It worked really well. Unfortunately I can't use it right now, I don't have enough space in this house. Someday....
I'll try to find a photo.
Cindy

My husband put drawers on each side by buying the regular kitchen cabinets, but cutting off the toe kick. He made a 2" high platform that I put the foot pedal of the machine on because it still ended up about 2" too high for shortee me.
I thought cutting off the toe kick would be harder than it was, but after watching him do it, it wasn't. We bought the unfinished cabinets at Lowe's.

How about saw horses and an old door? Easy to move, large enough.

This is sort of on the topic.

Not my sewing desk/table, but my "other table," can be raised and lowered! My personal creation: ta, ta: an inexpensive table and exceedingly elegant concrete blocks and assorted sets of wooden blocks (when needed for more "up and down") to fit the number of legs to raise and lower said table.

Think of the possibilities. No having to get onto someone else's creation list. No having to satisfy anyone other than yourself (your sewing place, your pick). No needing help to accomplish the up and down motion. And "right this very minute" for "when?". And on and on.

Yesssssss followed by hand pumps!

Pat

Somewhere on her site, Eleanor Burns has directions on how to change a "farm" style kitchen table into a sewing table. It's not as big as you were asking, but I love mine. You can cut down the legs of the table to the right height for you.

I recently saw an article where a sewist used two hollow core doors placed on top of three standard file cabinets. She had her husband miter the ends of two doors to form a 90 degree corner and placed a filed cabinet at each corner and under the miter. She had plenty of room for a couple of sewing machines - brilliant!

I bought a 4' x 4' x 1/2 inch particle board from Home Depot and covered it with contact paper and put four 3' x 25 inch book cases under it and use a my cutting table. The book cases work to hold extra supplies and my 300+ quilt books I have.

I like the notion of making the table adjustable in length for convenience of moving, etc. I'm in an old farmhouse and have purchased 2 solid wood dropleaf tables. The are 14- 16" each with the leaves down. When I have a large gathering or need to sew I flip up the wings and slide them together. The total for the 2 tables was $85- found on Craigslist and Freecycle. Instead of a dropleaf you could salvage the expansion hardware and trestle legs from an old dining room table. Construct your table so you can add a leaf or two when you need the longer length. Using bookcases or filing cabinets as proposed above for the base of your table will give great storage options. Also check out free workbench plans on the internet. Rounding the tabletop corners slightly will avoid fabric snags and bruises.

Perhaps cheap is a relative term. Years ago we purchased a 4x8 sheet of melamine. It is about an inch thick and cost around $30. I covered the rough edges with quarter-round wood edging which I painted with a glossy white paint. It has worked all these years without fail or splinter. This was raised to work height for cutting, sewing, and storage--a do it all work space. It was held up with old milk crates, boxes of fabric, and empty boxes. A couple years later I purchased inexpensive pre-fab shelving to hold it up. Then when we retired I finally splurged $1500 on pre-fab kitchen base cabinets. We sought out sizes to make a configuration that was both useful and fit under the melamine sheet. It is great storage as I have a combination of drawers and cabinets. The top is large enough to pin-baste a king size quilt with less effort than crawling around on the floor with my old back. I absolutely love my work table.

For my machines we purchased pre made melamine shelving. This is held in place at the correct work height for me by a 2x4 frame and nothing else. My machines sit on top but I do have a few of the clear tables specific to the machines.

My sewing table is half of a piece of 4 X 8 plywood.resulting in a surface of 2 X 6 feet. It is supported by 2 end tables which were $20. ea. I am tall so 29 inch tabletop height is not necessarily ideal for me.
In the center of the room are two long folding tables. At Home Depot they cut pvc pipe that fits over the legs of the folding table to my description to elevate the tables for when I stand. I use this setting for two different quilt club meetings and workshops quite frequently. I use the folding tables for sandwiching quilts, cutting and, sometimes family dinner buffet style. This is set up in my formal living room next to my dining room with a dinner table and chairs. Because I live alone I don't have to listen to anybody's criticism abouy my space. It's an old house with big rooms and high ceilings and hard to heat & cool. But I love it for sewing, quilting and entertaining.

My long arm sits in a table that is 48 x 60 , with one of the corners rounded off. It is attached directly to the wall and has a bookshelf for the leg.

My Home Made Table
 

My hubby and I went to a Salvation Army store and bought a drafting table ( I think that is what the table was used for ) and he cut a hole to the left leaving about 3 - 4 inches of the table and then boxed the hole in leaving the end open for my cords and used Plexiglas to close in around sewing machine and table is great for regular sewing as well as for free motion quilting. Will try to add pics. We ended up paying more for the Plexiglas than the table and am still looking for just the right drawer to add on the right hand side of table, but all told I don't think we have more than 60.00 in the whole works. Good Luck

Here are the other two pictures ,hope this helps.

My sewing table is a very old Steelcase desk. It is very heavy, and never vibrates when sewing fast. It has drawers underneath. For a sewing chair, I bought a not just an office chair - but a drafting chair. Looks like an office chair, but it goes up higher. I can sit at the perfect height.

You can cut the bottom off cabinets to make them shorter - just leave enough for the drawer or door to open. Another option is ordering cabinets for bathrooms. Most cabinet lines make shorter ones for vanities. Also, the countertops add ~1.5". Forgot to post this info before.

I really like the light that looks like it's attached to your longarm. What brand is it? It really seems like one that would help in my situation

I have total table envy!!

I love the idea of doing it yourself. I hate to wait for someone else to do something for me.
Cindy

It's just a clamp on light we bought at Target. It is LED it works great, nice and bright.

I found a large executive desk at one of the stores selling used office furniture, $25. My husband then cit the legs to the height I liked and made a space for my sewing machine. Works get, I even have room on the other side for when my daughters com over to sew with me.

My husband made my table & it measures 76X48. It is fantastic! He made it in 4 pieces so it would be easy to move if necessary. It has a "well" for my machine and 4 small drawers with adjustable shelves. We painted the bottom portion white and stained the top. I would love to post a picture but I have no idea how to do that.

i needed a shorter than kitchen cabinet once... i just cut off the bottom toe kick for the right height.

Mine is only 48" x 48". I'm just using those little short book cases from Walmart on each corner with a 4 foot sheet of wood from lowes on top. It's working great. You would probably have to have something extra in the center.