Show me your sewing area!

[Ann]

I am showing you the before pictures of my new sewing area. You can find them here:

http://everythingsewing.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-sewing-room.html

Yes, it is empty and yes, it needs a lot of work done to it before I will get any more into it. Actually, I will have to take everything out when the work begins.

Will post again at Christmas if anything is done.

[Karendee]

Ann,

Your new space is exciting and has tons of potential. I agree with your about the dark paneled walls, but I like them anyway. But they will look great painted. We'll watch for pics at Christmas time.

Karen

[msplantladi]

Ann....you will make it right, its just going to take time...this coming from the most impatient person around. PAINT & a new light will make a world of differance. Are you sure you want to do away w/ the cabinets? or are those not in the rm that will be your sewing rm.
keep us posted & keep your chin up.it could always be worst as my mom used to say.
dee

[fzxdoc]

Diana, your sewing area looks really lovely.  To me it looks well thought out, and I personally wouldn't change a thing. Except... and I'm sure you have thought of this..I would make sure that the cutting table is accessible, if possible, on all 4 sides. That's how it is in my sewing room, and I can't tell you how blissful it is, having full access to cutting a project out.  In my former home, I had 3 sided access, which I thought was great, but it doesn't hold a candle to 4 sided access, if the room and space allow.

I really love the 3 way mirror that you have set up in the upper left corner of the diagram. As sewing luxuries go, that is a great one.

Kathryn

[Claudine]

My sewing room is finally ready after my move!  Actually, I've been sewing in it even though it was filled with boxes and random stuff, but yesterday I moved all the junk out.  I've just moved from a small London flat to a big house in New Jersey, and it's nice to have a big sewing space!
Here's my industrial machine, dress form, and sewing table.
Another view.  I used a wide angle lens, so it's a little wonky looking.
The large closet where I keep all the clutter.

[kaaren]

Diana, how fun to plan your space before you move in.  I didn't even think about that 20 years ago.  but recently at 11 pm, I just had to make some changes.  I have two machines and a serger set up.  I had found that i didn't really use my second machine because it was also on the long table.  I moved tables and now sew in a tight U but all three machines can be up, and I even have a smallish space for either rotary trimming or ironing on one of those portable ironing mats.  I love it.  And nobody can see how many pins I have dropped!  since i use my serger quickly, I gave it the smallest footprint and the two sewing machines get more.  But truly the space is just big enough for me and no guests. 

You are giving your dress form some valuable space, she could really live in the area as you enter!  I am assuming that you enter the room where the mirrors are.  I agree with Kathryn that four sided access is real high on my list of needs.  but if you mainly sew doll clothes or baby clothes it wouldn't make a difference.  I also iron on my cutting board.  It is large, so I have some of the quilted stuff from Joann's and cover that with wool.  It makes steaming wools so easy and I can iron napkins so quickly.

Before you really move in, I would put papers on the floor the size of the furniture.  I then would scoot my chair around to practice sewing!  I don't have to move my sewing chair I just turn in it!  Just have to remember to get out of the space!  And when I am not using the spaces, I have those rolling drawers under the areas of the sewing you and each machine gets a drawer for feet and bobbins.  I am not one to like hanging sewing scissors and never thread, but in MY sewing room I can have art work that I choose! 

Enjoy the planning.  Kaaren

[Confectioner]

I just wanted to say I've been enjoying seeing everyone's wonderful sewing spaces! 

Diana, your plan looks great.

[Diana / Artemisia]

Glad to know my plan seems okay. I worry that it's too cluttered.
I sew costumes and dresses. Right now I use only two sides and have no idea about the luxury of 4 sided cutting table access.

If I did the four sided access, the plan would change to something like this:



I would have to give up the side table and get a 24" wide sewing table. The same floor space could be used for a 15Wx80HX11D bookcase and access to the cutting table when pulled out into the room. This would bring my costs up $250 - I would also gain two drawers on each end of the table.

Or I could do this layout:



This layout would save me $80 but wouldn't look as nice as the other option. It does give me a space for my laptop computer so I don't have to shuffle things around. The dressform would have to be shuffled about.

Decisions, decisions.

[fzxdoc]

Diana, I really like that last layout, and it saves you some $$ as well.  My cutting table has a large shelf underneath for storage, which I use. What about the one you are contemplating? Any storage options?

I don't think a sewist can ever have too much storage. But 4-sided access to a cutting table is indeed a luxury, especially for a sewist like yourself who sews Renaissance clothing--all that yardage! I have sewed period costumes for every major era from the 1860s to the 1950's (school play Mom sewist@ 150 costumes per year), and believe me when I say I loved my full access cutting table for it.

And you're right--the dressform can wiggle in anywhere.

Kathryn

[sdBev]

...

I don't think a sewist can ever have too much storage. ..

however, if you find yourself in that position, may I store some stuff at your house

[Diana / Artemisia]

Kaaren and Kathryn, you're both right on the dressform. Depending on the project the form always gets shuffled about anyway. Kaaren, the dressform could live in that corner!

I'm like Kaaren - I need all machines to be up and ready to go. I've learned that I don't like shuffling things around. I like your idea about tricking out the ironing area with wool. It would make sewing a snap and give me extra padding to pin into. I know I have hubby's ratty old Marine Corps wool blanket somewhere...

I own the Sullivan cutting table. The intention was to fold it up when needed. Since I go from one project straight to the next, it really doesn't get folded. There is no room underneath for storage - maybe I'll upgrade to a nicer cutting board in the future.

I'm eyeing this ironing center - another item on my wish list. I'd replace the Closetmaid organizer with it. When did it come to me asking the hubby for an ironing board as a gift?

[vtmartha]

Diana, since I gather this house has not yet been built (and I may be misreading), I'm wondering why you have the door to your room so far to the back.  Is that a hall in the lower left corner?  Can the hall end earlier?  I've lived in a post and beam house for most of my life so I'm fairly ruthless when it comes to rearranging walls to suit my needs.  One thing I try to eliminate is too much hall space.

I use my dressform as a decorative element.  Sometimes it resides completely outside my sewing space.  My cutting table is very much like the one Claudine pictured, which is similar in function to the Sullivan.  As it is on casters, I just spin it around when I need access to the opposite side.  I keep a large cutting mat on it so it rarely gets folded.

Drawing houseplans has always been great fun for me, even as a child.  Enjoy every minute of the planning process!

[kaaren]

Diana, we love to help plan. That keeps us from cleaning our own sewing rooms.  I like the ironing center, but I would rather have a cutting table with drawers and casters.  Mine is meant to collapse but never does.  And when I need to vacuum, it is great for all of the boxes of fabric!  I am 5'8", so I want to iron at the tallest position.  My cutting table is 34.5 high.  But I do have an extra wide, extra tall ironing board.  Yesterday, I just covered my cutting board with the  quilted insulation cloth, then wool and ironed napkins, sheets, and fabric.  In fact, as long as I iron barefoot the cutting table is fine for ironing.  But I do have a picnic basket filled with ironing aids of every kind! I guess I would rather have rolling shelves rather than an ironing center.  But if I had a big laundry room, I would love it.  Kaaren

And I do move the dressform around.  She has to stay dressed!  But she is good for trying out combinations! K

[Diana / Artemisia]

I just bought the Sullivan but I have a feeling I'll need a new cutting table in a couple of years.

I can only use the 36" high table for some ironing, which is why I need to incorporate an ironing board or a countertop version somewhere. I'm only 4' 11" tall. 

The house is stock plans from the builder. We tweaked them just a little bit but the main layout cannot be changed. I agree, I hate hallway space but I do love my own bathroom on the 2nd floor that is part of this layout. The other spare bedroom will be a guest/exercise/reading/store-my-renaissance-faire-costumes-dressing room. 

[vtmartha]

Oh, I see!  The door is on the far left.  The study is what I was considering a hall.  It looks like a nice floor plan.  Have you considered putting set of French doors between the study and your sewing room?  It could be closed in later if you want and you'd have a lot more room to scoot that cutting table around.  As I said, I'm fearless when it comes to walls. 

[Diana / Artemisia]

Oh, I see!  The door is on the far left.  The study is what I was considering a hall.  It looks like a nice floor plan.  Have you considered putting set of French doors between the study and your sewing room?  It could be closed in later if you want and you'd have a lot more room to scoot that cutting table around.  As I said, I'm fearless when it comes to walls. 

Now I am. Enabler=You.   

[Ann]

Talked to DH last night and the sewing room came up in our discussions. He is going to take all the paneling down and the plywood off the ceiling now. He will put up vapour barrior on the outside walls, gyproc the whole thing and paint it. So we need to talk more on the closet. Knowing him, it will look wonderful and I will feel spoiled. Will keep you posted.

Ann

[fzxdoc]

Oooooh, lucky you, Ann! I can hardly wait to see the photos. Tell your husband he has to hurry because your cyber sewing friends are impatient!  

Kathryn

[mardel]

Oh Ann, how fabulous for you!!  What a wonderful wonderful gift!  I would love to have the paneling ripped down and new walls.  I'll just try not to drool when you post your finished pictures.

[Madrona]

I'm eyeing this ironing center - another item on my wish list. I'd replace the Closetmaid organizer with it. When did it come to me asking the hubby for an ironing board as a gift?

That ironing center is coo-ool.  

About your 2 rooms upstairs - I might even be tempted to take out the entire wall separating the two rooms, change the door to be next to the stairs, and have the entire wall where your sewing room closet is be closet.  It could serve as a second large bedroom to somebody else, but a 'multi-purpose' room to you.  I think you'd feel a lot less cramped.

I   floor plans too.  Good thing I married an architect, I guess.  

Ann - Can't wait to see how everything comes out in your space!

[Diana / Artemisia]

/snip/

About your 2 rooms upstairs - I might even be tempted to take out the entire wall separating the two rooms, change the door to be next to the stairs, and have the entire wall where your sewing room closet is be closet.  It could serve as a second large bedroom to somebody else, but a 'multi-purpose' room to you.  I think you'd feel a lot less cramped.

/snip/

Et tu Madrona? That's two votes for bringing down the wall! ::looksforsledgehammer::

[vtmartha]

Diana, I thought I'd better go into hiding after making my suggestion but I'm glad to see I have company. 

Ann, keep us posted on your project.  It will be fun to follow along with you.

[Madrona]

Et tu Madrona? That's two votes for bringing down the wall! ::looksforsledgehammer::

Et me, for sure.    If the walls are not framed yet (or even if they are), I would talk to the builder ASAP before drywall goes up.

[Ann]

More discussions tonight. Paneling off two walls so far and he is taking down the rest in the next little while. That means the closets are gone and I will have to instruct on how I want the new closet to look like. He is cursing about the ceiling. The plywood was put up with phosphorus nails and extremely hard to get out. I told him to have fun taking it down. Will have to get DD to take a picture of it for me when the destruction is done. Then he will have more plugs put in for me.

This is fun as he is also looking at how to do his shop. He will get what he wants out there as he does likes to tinker around.

Will keep you posted. Tomorrow he is doing something else - going to the dump for sure. He is still focusing on the outside as the weather is very nice down there. He wants to get the privacy fence up and the rock retaining wall done before it gets cold. He is also doing other things out there.

Ann

[Diana / Artemisia]

Diana, I thought I'd better go into hiding after making my suggestion but I'm glad to see I have company. 

Ann, keep us posted on your project.  It will be fun to follow along with you.

No, no honey. Before I went into accounting I was studying to become an architect. I've lost my way in that field and I'm glad I have you guys keep me focused.

I'm going to print out your responses and show them to the hubby. "See, I'm not the only one who thinks so!" I'll blur out your faces to protect the innocent. 

Ann, try to take construction pictures please. 

[msplantladi]

Oh Ann I am getting so excited for you...sounds like you have yourself a wonderful hubby...I would hang on to him if I were you. Love reading all the plans and suggestions.
dee
cedar city ut.
p.s my sullivan table is on its way-getting excited!

[Ann]

No report for today on the room as DH worked outside all day. Yesterday he did talk about the room at a building supply place. He got some bat insulation for around the top of the walls. He will put up a vapour barrier prior to putting up the gyproc. He will have to put in a closet of some sort. I am giving him about 9" for the bathroom. That is the width of the gun closet which will not affect the room at all.

Diana, I would love to take construction pictures but I am 966 kms from the house. I am in northern BC finishing up my last of teaching before retiring down to where this fab. sewing room is going to be. The next pictures I will be taking will be in Dec.

I am getting excited right now. He is getting excited as he is finishing up a shop on the property for himself and will do both together until it is too cold for him to work outside.

Dee, I plan on keeping him. Have had him for 38 years already and he has been wonderful, which he continues to be.

Ann

[Diana / Artemisia]

Oh, I see Ann. So it will be like opening up an Xmas gift. Exciting!

Well, I talked to the hubby about opening up the room and adding french doors. The doors will allow privacy for guests and extra room for me. The doors can be removed and the opening walled up if/when we ever sell the property. The other room would consist of my books, my laptop computer on a small desk and a futon bed with lots of pillows.

Though it remains to be seen, as of right now I'm bringing down the wall!

[Lisa]

Yea Diana!

Can't wait to see it.  And you never know.  It could be that your alteration could be a great feature if you're ever trying to sell!

Lisa

[justgail]

I've enjoyed reading about and seeing all of your sewing areas!   Finally I got a blog started and have put pictures of my sewing/craft room at

http://justgail.wordpress.com/2009/09/19/sewing-room/

I hope it works anyway.   I'm still getting it started/set up, so if there's anything I'm doing wrong, please let me know!

Gail

[Confectioner]

Gail, thanks for sharing your room.  I love looking at sewing/craft rooms.  I especially like the shelf over your window.

[Madrona]

This is not my room - but i wonder if this person posts here?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/athomesewing/

I loooove her thread organizer.  I would love to find one with pegs long enough to store coordinated bobbin with the thread!

[sdBev]

I've enjoyed reading about and seeing all of your sewing areas!   Finally I got a blog started and have put pictures of my sewing/craft room at

http://justgail.wordpress.com/2009/09/19/sewing-room/

I hope it works anyway.   I'm still getting it started/set up, so if there's anything I'm doing wrong, please let me know!

Gail

Wow love the idea of the mirrors.  Any possibility of new pics?  My single full length mirrors are either in a dark corner of my walk in closet, or the dark side of the basement bathroom.  I do look, but I'm beginning to think they don't show me enough. I'm feeling that way because I've set up my sewing room and have been able to take pics of myself wearing my clothes.  I take a front, right side, back, and left-side.  Pics are so revealing compared to to the full length mirrors.  Very curious as to how accurate the additional mirrors are for you.

[Carole]

 Well, here's part of my sewing room after 8" of rain yesterday. That's not wax on the floor, it's three or four inches of water.  The sewing room  looks out onto a sunken patio;  very pretty until the drain gets stopped up and water pours into the basement.  Roto Rooter was here earlier.  Just the day before yesterday I put my stash on shelves I recently had built, so it's OK.  I don't know yet about the foot controls for my sewing machine and serger...supposed to rain here in Atlanta for the rest of the week.  Roads and bridges are out and schools are closed.

[marciae]

Oh Carole - - glad the stash was put up and away!!  I started raining her about 3 this morning - it's been pouring/sprinkling since then - first one than the other - then the wind comes up!  But, I'm happily sewing away - whish you could do the same!  Sending good warm thoughts your way.