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an update: my sewing space

This room keeps changing as our needs change! ย It started off with my closet wardrobe, a play space, and my sewing desk. ย But since then we’ve grown up a bit, put in a new desk for the girls, and I decided it was time for a cutting table/sewing table! ย I honestly don’t know why I didn’t really consider having one before. ย It would really impede on my actual sewing time when I would have to clear off my desk to cut a large piece of fabric or quilt a quilt. ย It’s amazing to have this extra table space!! ย I had started moving to the dining room table, but that just was so messy, not a great place to be and keep things organized.
I love going to estate sales and even checking out craigslist for some good deals. ย Last summer I had found this glass front mid-century style cabinet for my fabric. ย Having the nice long shelves makes it really easy to keep organized, and then to be able to close the doors shut keeps everything dust free. ย The big doors that open below hold my interfacing and some special cuts of fabric as well as some solids. ย There’s also a handy long drawer where I’ve got some office type supplies.
I bought a stool and an upholstered chair from Target.com ย Totally not being a spokesperson here, but I loved shopping there (the free shipping with my red card was awesome)! ย I hadn’t ordered anything online yet, but I had a great experience. ย The shipping was fast and I got several updates on when my packages would be arriving. ย The stool is amazing. ย It’s a lovely shade of yellow and made by a Minnesota based company Blu Dot Furnitureย (I want all their furniture). ย They put out a really affordable line for Target and I had to have it once I spotted it. ย The upholstered chair exceeded my expectations for the price. ย It’s super comfy, a great charcoal color too. ย It’s for Dan to sit in when I’m busy sewing at night. ย Aren’t I nice?
I love my new sewing/cutting desk! ย I love it more because my husband made it for me and I didn’t have to do a thing. ย I searched and searched and searched and drove him crazy with all my desk ideas. ย I had made a trip to Ikea only to find out once we arrived that the drawer unit I wanted was in stock, but it was way up in the warehouse and guess what, the forklifts only operate at night when no customers are in the store. ย Go figure. ย Of course I didn’t feel like making the 2 hour drive back up the next day for when they would be at a reachable height.
So I went back to the drawing boards and figured I might as well use my old expedite and drawer units and use that as part of the desk. It’s an amazing place to store all my sewing notions at a really easy to get to spot. ย My patterns are in the two big white boxes, my serger fits in one of the cubby holes and I even have one that’s pretty much open! ย Oh, and I shared four of the drawers with the girls, see, me being nice and sharing again.
Anyway, I’m so so so happy with this current set up. ย So happy!
Okay, that’s enough chatting for now. ย If you’re interested I’ll write up a more specific post on the cutting/sewing table we made. ย Oh, and if you have any questions I’d love to answer them below! โ™ฅ

 

69 thoughts on “an update: my sewing space

  1. tchris says:

    I’m experiencing sewing room envy! =)

    1. Me too! This is lovely.

  2. pkrueger says:

    This is a beautiful sewing space! Love the cutting table.

  3. Christine says:

    I love BluDot! I didn’t even know about their Target collaboration, so thanks for posting about that! I have a BlueDot bookcase I got at Crate & Barrel about 20 years ago that is still going strong. Super cute space!

  4. Sew Much Ado says:

    Ooh I love your table Anna! What a great room to get to sew in. And it’s been fun seeing the transformations over the years as your life has changed and kids have grown. Makes me want to go and clean my sewing room right now…

  5. I love it! I’ve been searching for great sewing tables and I really think I have to make one.

  6. Leah says:

    That’s a lovely space. I’m getting ready to go the opposite route – giving up most of my sewing room for a play room. I’m a little sad about it but this gives me hope that someday we’ll go the other way again! I am curious about the height of your sewing/cutting table. I like my cutting table to be higher than my sewing table so I’ve never been able to figure out how to combine the two.

    1. Anna says:

      Thanks Leah. The table is between counter (36″) and desk height (29″), about 34″ tall. It’s a weird height, but it works for me. I mostly have been using it for cutting, but have quilted a quilt and a few smaller projects white sitting there. So far so good!

  7. k a t y says:

    One thing to say. Happy Sewing room = Happy Mom.

    1. Anna says:

      totally nailed it Katy. ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. gail says:

    what a beautiful, sunny space! sooo jealous of your cutting space…it’s the floor over here ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. gail says:

    p.s. sorry for this extra random comment, but i forgot to say, the gray chair is awesome! and i’m wondering, what kind of serger do you have?

  10. QuiltyGirl says:

    Oooh, it looks so great! Enjoy!

  11. manuma says:

    I do have a question – what is the height of the table? I always get backache when using my dining table.

    1. manuma says:

      Ok, now I see you allready answered it.

  12. Vera says:

    Oh. I love what you done with that Expedite bookshelf. Enjoy!

  13. very nice and so clean …only for this photo? ๐Ÿ™‚

  14. Lauren says:

    I love this! I seriously need to organize my space. It’s in the basement, so I don’t have a ton of motivation to make it look pretty.

  15. Ang says:

    Great table. I woild love to see how you made it.
    Ang

  16. Great to see someone else that sews using a stool. I do and everyone always asks why I do not use a chair, but a stool is so easy. You are very lucky with that space

  17. kristin says:

    oh i love this space! total sewing lair envy. i prioritized a giant cutting table in my tiny space, too – pretty much covered it with rotary mats and it’s amazing how helpful it is to have that. i only cut things like full-size adult dresses on the floor now. my space is so little i have to drop a table wing to squeeze through when i’m pregnant, though. hehe.

  18. Camilla says:

    That looks great. I’m hoping to have a sewing room when we move next year, so I’m collating ideas. Would love a more detailed how to on the desk, Thanks!

  19. Jenny says:

    looks awesome! Functional and pleasant. My sewing space is all Craigslist and/or recycled from my earlier life. I used to love scouring CL for good finds, but now there are too many to go through!

  20. Kristan says:

    Totally interested in the sewing table write up. I have a set of expedits like the one you used now, and they’re getting removed from this room to fit bolt-friendly shelves. I am in the market for a big table like that, so if I could use one of the shelves I already have to make one, I’d be super happy. I’m going to Ikea tonight anyways, what was the table you went there to find? I’d like to consider it. Thanks Anna!

  21. Faye Lewis says:

    Great sewing room. Love that cutting table!

  22. Jennifer says:

    Yes, please, all the details on the sewing/cutting table!

  23. Some day I will have a crafting room as big and organized and clean as this one!

  24. Shelley says:

    Love how cleam amd open your room is! Beautiful space!

  25. Laura says:

    Your sewing room is gorgeous! I think I’ll have to steal your idea for the cutting table with the Expedit underneath… So I would love to see more details!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  26. Heather says:

    It looks fantastic. How do you keep your floor scrap and thread free? Mine is always littered with bits of my projects!!

  27. I love your cutting table design. I look forward to hearing the details about putting it all together. I’m totally envious of your neat, organized creative space.

  28. Eunice says:

    So pretty and clean and bright. Love your sewing room. Hopefully someday I can have one too and I don’t mind sharing it with my girls. Hmm..okay maybe when they are not so curious about my scissors and pins and needles…

  29. Fabulous space to create in Anna! I had a similar table that I had to leave behind when we downsized to the lake but the compromise works!

  30. Tamie says:

    I finally added a big, tall cutting table and my back thanks me bunches. I just have to be careful not to let too many WIP’s pile up on it.

  31. Hilary says:

    Wow your sewing space is amazing!

  32. Your room is beautiful! I’d love a tutorial on how you made the cutting/sewing table.

  33. Tally says:

    Great post – what a coincidence! After mulling over storage / shelfs for a too long while (and x trips to furniture shops) recently I decided to have a very close look at Expedit. Didn’t like it at first view, but Ikea is not too far and I can go back and forth more than once. I will go for the big one and I was thinking of building a table that is folding down like the one Ikea is offering for Expedit, but that doesn’t fold and will be in the way.
    What was your planned shelf unit at Ikea?
    Thanks for sharing.

  34. Vicki Posten says:

    Light and bright! You are such a generous person…sharing your space! What type of paint did you use on your cutting table?

  35. SHARM says:

    I love your idea of sharing your space with your family, If I have a bigger space I would do the same,but I do share my space with my family.

  36. amandajean says:

    It’s a beautiful space, Anna! Thanks for the tour. I’m trying to clean and organize my sewing space right now, so this is quite inspiring! I love the charcoal chair and the yellow stool. Perfect pop of color.

  37. I would love to read about how you made the table!

  38. Barbara says:

    Nice, everything looks so clean and tidy and accessible. I inherited a rolling cutting table that folds down to a very narrow profile from Mom a couple years back and don’t know how I lived without it. Seeing your mid-century fabric cabinet reminded me that I have a china cupboard of my mother-in-law’s in storage. Hmm. Now you’ve got me thinking.

  39. Anonymous says:

    Big fat “yes” to a post on that table! Love it!

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  41. Franziska says:

    Really great to have such a nice big space. Do you own two sewing machines?

  42. Delia says:

    It looks amazing. So calming. I like how your sewing desk is further up. I imagine it’s much easier to keep better posture while sewing?

  43. Luch says:

    Yes to hearing more about the cutting table!

  44. JenniferO says:

    This looks great! I wish I had the space for a cutting table. I just use my kitchen table for cutting (as well as sewing), and it would be so easier if it was a bit higher. I would love more details about that.

  45. Ines says:

    What a nice place for sewing. I am always sitting in the kitchen, because of the big table.

    Greetings from Germany
    Ines

  46. Kelly O. says:

    It’s not easy being green! but I loooove that table!! how tall is it? I’m having trouble deciding on what height I should have my table for cutting as I’m only 5 foot but am bending over too much on my present table… I like how he added a bit of height under the expedit… smart guy!

  47. Laurel says:

    Oh it looks great! The table turned out fantastic. Don’t think you can ever have too much cutting space. And love the chair and stool – thanks for the links! Happy Sewing!

  48. What a happy and bright space to work! And I love the little bits of room for your husband and girls – a room the whole family can enjoy. ๐Ÿ™‚

  49. Tally says:

    It’s a pity that you had to return without Alex. It is such a fantastic storage for sewing/crafting. I have two units and the empty icecream boxes of a certain brand fit perfect into the drawers for all the notions. Also my long rolls of fabric and paper and a lot of the rulers ….
    http://t-tally.blogspot.de/2009/01/wishcasting-wednesday-my-space.html
    I would concider another trip or spending on shipping costs.
    For me it’s time to set up my 5×5 expedit. Got it on Friday.

  50. Janet Maddox says:

    This post will be saved to my pinterest account. I really like your layout of the room and the ideas that you pulled together to make it one fabulous sewing room. I only wish there was an Ikea in my area. The closest one is about 6 hours away. Thanks for the info on the Blu Dot company. The product that I saw on their website are so very contemporary and fun, they also give a feel of being European.

  51. Nice! I have used the Expedit for my sewing area also – works great! My legs are a bit longer, so the table top is 36″ – but I sew standing up and I LOVE it! Thanks for sharing. it’s so fun to see where everyone sews.

  52. What an amazing space. Everything looks so cool and comfortable – that can be a tough combination to get right ๐Ÿ™‚

  53. Katy Cameron says:

    Love that space, and great way to use your expedits :o)

  54. I’m not jaloux at all ;o). I’m moving my sewing stuff to the dinning table and back againg. To the dining table and back again.

  55. Marisa says:

    I’d love more info on the cutting/sewing table-I love it!

  56. Erica says:

    Oh, wow! Your space is amazing! I’m on the hunt right now for a cabinet with glass doors to store my fabric in. It makes things so easy to see. ๐Ÿ™‚

  57. Lydia says:

    It looks amazing!! I’m impressed! Great space for you!

  58. Regina says:

    I have that same exact hutch! wow, it was my grandmother’s and I inherited it….wasn’t quite sure what to do with it, but now I am ๐Ÿ˜‰

  59. Karen says:

    I love getting a view of where people work/create so thanks for sharing this and today’s update post. Gotta admit I’m most envious of the windows in this room. Lucky you! I once spotted a cabinet like yours at a resale shop in Traverse City. I passed on it, then regretted it, then found an old mail sorting cabinet from an up north post office. It has little cubbies to keep my fabric in. I love it but no glass doors – give and take! Also gotta mention that I can’t believe your Ikea experience. How did they not get someone to retrieve something for a customer during shopping hours. Unbelievable.

    1. Anna Graham says:

      Thanks Karen! Yes, I love having these amazing windows, very grateful for them. ๐Ÿ™‚ Your cabinet sounds so great!

  60. Pamela says:

    I just wanted to say thanks for sharing your awesome space. My husband made a sewing/cutting table almost exactly like yours with the addition of cutting a hole in the melamine top for my sewing machine to sit down into. We did add cross 2x4s between the bookcase & 2x2s for added stability. It turned out perfectly.

    1. Anna Graham says:

      That’s so great to hear Pamela! ๐Ÿ™‚

  61. Cindy says:

    What a beautiful desk your husband made! I thought it was IKEA! My cutting space is a hollow core door(cheap) on top of an old dresser. It works great-thatโ€™s for anyone else reading this.

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