Organizing a new sewing space
 

Hi all, I am going to be having a special sewing room/studio built in a while and am trying to find the best ideas I can for setting it with some sort of organization. I haven't found many pics in magazines and was wondering what you do for the best use of your room.

Do you have a longarm? I am having a 14 x 15 ft. built and am wondering the same thing... so I will be following this thread... not far from where you live...

Hello from LA - Lower Alabama, that is - I'm in the middle of having a room built also! I have a longarm (Statler Stitcher/Gammill Optimum) and have flat run out of room in the space I'm in right now. Will try to keep an eye on this thread to hear/read some advice from folks!;)

You may want to do a search. Some other people have asked this and have received great answers.

I have kitchen cabinets in my sewing room, base and uppers. Hides lots of things. Countertop is 90" long. I cut, put tabletop ironing board and lay out rows on it. I covered a piece of cardboard with several layers of W&N and wrapped with fabric to use as a pin cushion while standing there piecing strips together. I stuck it to the wall with 3M squares for mounting pictures etc. I put a 2x4 folding table behind the machine I quilt on to catch and hold a quilt. I have two large closets with wire shelves to hold fabric stacks. Plastic tubs to hold scraps, etc.

I love having my base kitchen cabinets in my sewing room. That means they are higher and I can cut really good on them. I would have put in really big ones so I could use my biggest mat and then iron on it too, but atlas, no room.

This board has lots of ideas for sewing rooms. I took my idea from my kitchen (sans the sink). Although I don't have cabinets I have shelves. In the very beginning it was a spare (my son's) bedroom but he lives up north. My husband had put a 8' long work/craft bench in with couple of small cabinets below. It worked out well and when we had guests, they were able to put their things on the bench. The bench now works as a cutting area. There are 2 shelves above it (6ft long). I have 2 small wire baskets that have long runners that hook onto the lowest shelves. Across that wall are 3 shelves that are 5 ft long. Below those shelves, I have my sewing machine set up. These shelves all can hold my stash. it isn't a large room (I don't have a longarm machine) so right now it works for me. I got rid of a lot of stuff with and without my DH's blessing. But take a cue from your kitchen. Check out the "Quick Navigation" Mission: Organization" on the board.

Try the book "organizing Solutions for every Quilter: An Illustrated Guide to the Space of Your Dreams.

I am obsessed with pinterest for ideas related like this. Some thing to think about...
recessed outlets and outlet placement light colored walls, using lots of vertical space, cutting table at correct height and storage underneath, really good overhead lighting, Internet and tv connections and their location, an ironing station, etc. I love to measure the furniture and scale it down to coordinate with graph paper and outline room. Then you can move furniture around and get best placement.