Help Design My Sewing/Craft Studio

[WeeOne]

Now back at the house in Estes Park, Colorado. My Sewing/Craft Studio is drywalled and painted a light tan/beige color. Tile that looks like wood floor will be installed in a week or so. Because someone cut off the cable line, the contractor is asking me how I'm going to lay out my new room. He's trying to figure where they will have to put in the cable they cut. Anyway....

I have been thinking about my room for several weeks and how will I arrange and what new furniture I need. My sewing cabinet survived, cause it's on casters. It's about 2 ft. deep and opens to 7 ft. wide. With a 24 inch x 42 inch extension that lifts up behind the machine for extra table space. So when completely open it's an L shape, L laying down to the left.

Here is the diagram of my room.

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My old cutting table was a basic 3' x 6' with folding legs that DH made raised, PVC pipe, legs to get it up higher. Not this time. I'm looking at a couple choices for cutting tables. One is "Truecut" it's 50" x 37 1/2" and adjusts from 32 to 38" height. It looks very sturdy, but only 50". The other table is from Sullivans, 36" x 73" and adjusts up and down from 29 to 38", but only 2 support legs not 4. Both have 2 shelves under and are fold down tables on casters, so they can be moved around easy.

Other things I have or will need. Have 4 large totes, 2' x 4' full of yarn. I have 3 knitting machines, but would only have one at a time up. Their size is about 6 ft. wide by 20" deep and of course room for a chair. We had bought a heavy metal shelf, last fall, that I can put my small fabric totes on. I would like a small desk for my laptop and printer. And a small table or something for my beading. Need to put books somewhere and a few nick knacks. Would also like a comfy chair to read in. And, of course, a shelf, cabinet, table top or something for a small flat TV and DVD player. Oh, my design wall will go up over the closet doors, that works good!!

Though you see a large closet....I only get room for shelves on each end. The center belongs to DH's stuff.

So, please help me out with your suggestions. Oh, and as for the TV cable, we can make the contractor put in more than one....after all I didn't cut it off!! LOL
Lyn

[purrfect-lady]

LYN - welcome home!! Hope things are looking up and settling down!

You sound like you have you sewing room pretty much under control. Just where to place things and which cutting table to buy. I really have little to offer except how I like my things stored. My fabrics are in two tall cabinets. Quilting cottons are folded by color in one cabinet but specialty fabrics like Christmas, Civil War, batiks, novelty, etc., are all in the second cabinet. My rulers are in an old LP rack, handy to grab. My tools are stored on my work table in a picnic napkin/silverware holder.

I've often wished I had a shelf running around the top of the walls for knick-knacks. Also, we removed the closet doors so things in there are more easily accessible.

Not knowing what you are storing, I'm not sure if this is feasible, but if you are having to stack plastic totes full of supplies, you might consider plastic drawers instead so you don't have to be lifting top totes to get to bottom ones.

How fun to be setting up a sewing room 'from scratch'! Enjoy the process! My room is ever-changing.

Mary

[auntjana]

You sound as if it under control. If there is a IKEA near you, look at their storage units. I have the Billy cubbies, a large wall unit that I have many baskets in, to organize my fabrics.
The unit comes in many configurations.
So good to see it all coming together.
Jana

[FarmChick]

Lyn—I’m the last one to ask. My room is a hodge-podge of furniture we picked up or had in storage.

I have three old oak library tables that work for my cutting table and my sewing table and my computer table. I have my cutting table up on blocks to give me more height, and it works beautifully.

Have you thought of looking at a roll-around kitchen island for a cutting table? I do like to have my areas specialized—cutting, pressing and sewing.

Don’t forget a design wall somewhere.

I also have a pretty, old dresser that I use for fabric and tools. It was the only place with room for it in the house. My DGD’s day bed is in there as my sewing room is the guest room.

Most of my fabrics are in totes in the closet. I really need to pull everything out and re-organize. Now that I’ve been here for a couple of years, I want to make a few changes. I’m sure you will find you want to do that too.

[suzette58]

I didn't see this suggestion anywhere but, put the electrical outlets up on the wall. Above the tables and cabinets. When hubby and I did my studio he put them down like anywhere else. But, if I wanted to unplug my machine for some reason I had to crawl under the table. We solved it by plugging power strips in and hanging the strip on the wall. Maybe a pegboard. That way you can hang your rulers, patterns, etc. I have one hanging in my studio and love it

Suzette

[purrfect-lady]

LYN - About pegboards: I have a friend who has a pegboard for her rulers and tools. It takes up a large portion of her wall so no shelves or tables can go there. And the hooks are always falling out of it and dropping to the floor. She has to get down on her knees to pick them up. Everything she has on her pegboard, I have in my record rack and silverware/napkin holder. Just sayin', , . and having outlets more accessible is a GREAT idea! and in my sewing room, I have to have one or two cat perches and room for a dog bed.

[billizzy]

What about your design wall? You gotta have one for sure. Sounds like your thinking on furniture with wise intentions:)) good luck I use a lot of crates under my tables to help with project sorting:)I can pull them out and keep everything that goes with that project together:)

Izzy

[Marilynsgrammy]

Lights, Lights,Lights..... make sure you have scads of lights...

[QuiltGram8]

You have so many great ideas here. I love all the storage and lighting ideas. Now, all you need is more time to enjoy your newly created space.

Hugs
Velda