Barb in Louisiana

I am in the bigger is better crowd. My long arm (Nolting 24" with 12' frame...wish it was a 14) and all it's supplies...batting, thread, pantos, etc...have half of a double garage unless I back the car out and then I get lots more room. I have my ironing board set up in this room too. I do my piecing on a kitchen table underneath the double windows in that room. I thought I would look out some. Not!!! All my fabric and large cutting table, and 1 more sewing machine is in the converted 15 x 20 shop with only a door between us. It, also, has a small bath. Love having that in there. I have large open shelving units along every wall in that room totally filled with fabric, old timey sewing patterns, quilting patterns, fun rulers, some yarn, fleece and who knows what else? I am a fabric junkie, so I have run totally out of space. I have totes - 2 to a shelf (about 15) filled with kits, specialty fabric...Christmas, Fall, Kids...and UFO's. I'll never get all the UFO's sewed, but that is my goal in 2018. Get half the UFO's (about 35) finished before I start on the kits. That will free up some space. Don't forget to add some space for storage of completed quilts and tops that need to be quilted. And on another shelving unit, I have thread sets/types sorted in Joan project boxes...probably 10 of those and a roll around plastic cart that has drawers with a complete 360 thread color set for when I want to embroidery on home/embroidery unit. I buy yardage when I buy fabric....don't have but a few fat quarters.

OMG....I need to get in there now and get something done. Christmas is a coming!

Overall, if I could design my own space, I would have cabinets that I could close the doors on with shelves that are 1" taller than folded twice and then rolled around a 6 inch wide ruler for my fabric. I would have a wall, that had several design walls on it, that either turn to the side or pull out for easier viewing and access. Similar to how they display the rugs in Home Depot or Lowe's. That way the projects wouldn't end up out of sight, out of mind. I would have a large cutting table, would love a 4' x 8' one, with pull out drawers all around for all the rulers, rotary cutters, blades, paper for figuring out dimensions and pencils. And larger drawers for the fabric you are working on in the current project. A wood roll around cart for all the embroidery supplies and I have a lot of different stabilizers, thread and patterns. Roll around so I can take it to the project. Figure out your U shaped sewing area for every machine and build them with rollers, that you can lock in place, with features, like being able to move the machines up and down for level sewing areas. Don't forget a sitting area with a small couch or recliner so hubby can come visit while you create. I'm thinking my perfect room would be about 20 by 60.

cashs_mom

You can deal with lower outlets if you have an already built room by using power strips and mounting them on the wall above the table. I did this a few years ago when I decided it was getting too hard to crawl under the tables. I have one with my iron and floor lamp on it. I use the power strip to turn it on and off so I have an easy way to tell if I've left the iron on. If the lamp is off, the iron is off.

Then I have one for my TV and the Bernina and one from the 301, serger and Featherweight

jmoore

We did a new room addition over our two car garage last spring...I’m finally getting settled in and it seems big but I hope to fill the remaining space someday with a longarm. My new sewing space is about 18x24. I was able to put outlets in the floor and ceiling and, once I finish restoring an oak table, I will have three workspaces for machines. I have a Huffy work table for cutting and a large ironing surface. Go big if you can. : )

selm

You need the 12 feet for the table plus room to walk around. I once had one end of mine against a wall but sure got a lot of extra exercise walk around one end only. Now, in a new place, I'm able to walk around both ends and do notice the shorter walking distance. On the sides you need the width of the table and at least 2 1/2 feet on each side for walking. I have seen where quilters roll they table against a wall depending on whether they are doing pantos(work from the back) or free-motion(work from the front). Come to think of it, you still need to get to the front when you are sewing pantos to do placement, starting and stopping, etc. so don't know how others do that if one side is against a wall.

My present sewing room is 4 feet short of the size of a two car garage. My longarm is in the basement. It could be in the sewing room but that does have a couple of corners with slanted ceilings which can be a problem with planning layout. I have a single bed "guest corner" in the room and if I took that out I could probably fit the longarm but actually like it in the basement which is very large and I can take all the room I want.
As others have said, you can use all the room you can find or make.

selm

This is a great idea cashs mom.

Dolphyngyrl

I would love to have your space I have a small corner in my bedroom for sewing, however I have comandeered the dining room table for cutting and half the living room for my longarm

Tiggersmom

I have a long arm Gammill 12ft. 2 sewing machines, cutting table, the xl ironing board, embroidery machine, storage for threads, both longarm and embroidery and my room is Not big enough! I think it's a 20x22.......so Go Bigger!!!! if funds are unlimited. jmho. Jennifer

wesing

Marilyn -

Our frame occupies a space about 94" x 174". That gives room to walk around one end of the frame, and also to access the handles from the front or back. There are pictures of our room on this thread: Our quilting room . You just have to ignore the mess. Our sewing/storage/toy room will apparently never be as organized and neat as I would like.

One other thing I would recommend. However much light you think you need, double it! And use LED light because they give off a very white, pure light.

Edit to add: these pics were taken before we bought the 2 foot extension for the frame. It's in the same spot, but now is 12' long total and the refrigerator is moved closer to the door.

QuiltnLady1

My sewing room is 10x12 and It feels like I need a shoe horn to get into some places. I use my kitchen island for all my cutting, store my batting in the bath tub in the spare bathroom. I took the doors off of the closed and installed a bunch of drawers and shelves. My "spill over" stash is in the garage....

Debbie C

Becky, i love the fact that you live in an RV and still made room for your passion. In New York, I had a whole finished basement, but once we moved to PA this year, I chose to radically down-size. I donated most of my stash to the guild and gave away my Rocketeer! I kept my three FWs and now use two IKEA shelves and an EZ sewing table in a 12 x 15 spare queen sized guest bedroom. I dont over-buy fabrics anymore and find my new lifestyle much easier to maintain.