themachinelady

Make it as large as you can afford. Mine is a 12x12 room and is not nearly large enough, but better than what I had as I didn't have any room before, just strung out and stored everywhere in the house. I have a friend who has a 20 x 40 room and it is full to the brim, so figure out what area you need for your individual hobbies and then add several feet to it if you have the means and space to do it. I like the idea of the cedar lined closet and storage room too, so plan for future expansion if you can afford to do so. You won't be sorry with too much room, but will with too little of space.

cricket_iscute

Given the equipment I currently have and expect to keep (no longarm), the smallest room I could use would be 20 x 20 (I've measured), and that would be crowded with no room for growth. I suggest that you make a HUGE built in fabric closet on one side, at least 7 feet deep, so you could have two feet of built-in shelves for fabric on each side and 3 feet to walk between them. It would be as long as your room, say 20 feet.

Think in terms of functions: you need space to support a big quilt while quilting it, space to do piecing, pressing, cutting. If you do only quilting, you will need fewer functions. If you do clothing or something else also, you need more space, such as room for a big cutting table. You might need a big ironing surface. You need to store books, threads, notions, and more. You need a design wall, which can be suspended on a dowel(s) in front of book cases. You need to have a place for WIP, and if you do string quilts, a place to store those strings. In any case, where will you put your projects?

I had to take the recliner out of my sewing room and I really miss it. You might think of leaving room for a reading/tv chair.

There is a book called Dream Sewing Spaces by Black, I think. She has good ideas.

yel

go big .....

danece

Thank you all for your input, it seems that everyone agrees that I need to build "The Studio" as my family is calling it as big as we can afford, I am considering putting a loft in at least half the building for storage and hiding out. I had two quilting clients come to the salon today and they both voiced the same thoughts, I am working on the plans now and will keep you posted on the progress, if you have anymore ideas, please let me know, Thank you all again

Sandygirl

Elfa from the Container Store! Or, enlist a professional "closet" company to help design storage. Congrats to you!
Sandy

gus

My new room is 18x30 I have a HQ16 and am waiting for the sheet rock to get done so I can paint and get the floor in Was hoping to be moving in when hubby goes fishing in AUG but it's not looking good. But we are doing all so doesn't move along as fast as we like.

ladydukes

I'm with ragamuffin, the BIGGER the better....I'm of the notion that you just can't get too big because it will get filled up....and that way you can have storage for a lot of stuff! I have a sewing room that's 15.5 x15.5 and an attached walk-in closet with double-doors that open up that's 15.5 x 7, and even at that I could use more space!!! Since you do all of those other crafty things and sew too, and if you can afford it, I'd set up rooms or spaces for each craft in a separate area. That way, you wouldn't have to get things out and put them back when you are working on other projects. I'd also build a restroom (add plumbing stubs for a shower, even if you don't install at that time) and kitchenette area with a MW, TV, fridge and have a phone, computer and all the amenities that's in your house. Then if at some point you sell or can't do any of it any more, it can be converted into a guest cottage or MIL house because everything is there....

gramacheri

If you intend on using a long arm quilter in it, make sure you give yourself plenty of space. You need at least 4 feet on each side of the LA.

mimi=17

You can build too small.... but never too large. Im happy for you.

Country1

Good luck, mine is in the house so I don't know what to advise you, except go as bid as you can afford. We all know we never have enough room!