Dedicated sewing room in new house - dreaming now

[RuthieK]

we've just agreed the sale of our house and the purchase of another larger one -the new house will have a room which will be mine just for sewing. My computer will be in another room as I sometimes work from home. Currently in the surveys/packing up stage so most of my sewing stuff is packed away and I'm not getting time to sew right now. So I a having a little bit of a dream about the new room :-)

I've decided I am going to paint the room white but leave the current neutral beige carpet. I also need to reuse existing furniture from the current house mostly as budgets will be tight the first little while after we have moved - no buying swish purpose built stuff.

I have a sewing machine , backup sewing machine, serger and cover stitch machine(never had space to set this up so not used much).
The room measures 2.84 by 3.74 metres, has a wide window, door, radiator and a built in cupboard (useful but limits furniture placement).

I reckon I need
desk/table for sewing machines with daylight bulb as I mostly sew in the evening
table for cutting/laying pieces etc
storage for notions, thread, patterns, scissors etc
wheelie chair
ironing board gap so it can be left up (another luxury I've not had)
spare chair for cat/hubby/friends
should I have the full length mirror in here or in the bedroom? I only have one
music player (not TV that's visual overload for me when sewing)

Anything else I've missed? I don't have a dress form and probably won't get one in the near future. I don't knit but I do like some other crafts so would store them and use the cutting table if I'm getting crafty, e.g. jewellery making.

[RuthieK]

I do have a book on setting up a sewing space, so I'll try and find that - can't lay my hands on it right now.....

Setting Up Your Sewing Space: From Small Areas to Complete Workshops (Paperback) by Myrna Giesbrech
which I wasn't massively impressed with

Is it worth buying
Dream Sewing Places: Design and Organization for Spaces Large and Small (Paperback) by Lynette Ranney Black
do you think?

[BeeBee]

Congrats on your new space.  My comments (I have a very small,  but ALL MINE, sewing space): 
put in a full length mirror, you can get them cheap - at least in the states, mine was $6 at Target.  Yes, I had to duct tape on the back but I can see me where I want. 
Multiple lights are nice so you can move them around as you need.  At least one large overall lamp and then some smaller ones for tight work (sorry, I'm old.  I need light.  You'll get there.... )
Use your walls.  I can't do this much - we're renting.
You can see a few pics here: http://beebeepastiche.blogspot.com/2008/05/and-later-that-same-day.html  I've shifted around a little since then, but it's no cleaner.
A plastic mat under my rolly chair would be nice, but I don't have one.
High shelving space is good for storing seldom used items (machine covers, out of season crafts, "what was I thinking" stash....)

Enjoy!

[Carole]

I have a dedicated sewing room as I have finally persuaded my husband that his "game room" was never used.  I do have a TV, dvd player, and stereo system (all courtesy of DH's "game room  ).  One thing I urge you to get is a cutting table of the correct height.  I finally got mine a couple of months ago---I was cutting on an old kitchen table.  It really saves the back.  And yes, a mirror.  I bought stackable plastic bins from WalMart, Target, etc. for storing fabric and notions, they work out very well.

[bleimsk]

Track lighting on the ceiling works well for over-all lighting. Since you will be sewing a lot at night, lighting is especially important. Then there should be task lighting for each of your 'workstations'.  I don't think you can have 'too much' light.

Susan

[BetsyV]

That's a nicely sized room Ruthie. I figured it converts to about 9+ feet by 12+ feet for those of us who haven't quite mastered metric.

Can you mount the full length mirror to the back of the door? That will keep it out of the way until you need it.
I have a short run of track lighting with the little lights facing different directions (half towards the ironing board, half towards my sewing table) and a Luxo flexible arm lamp mounted to the wall behind my sewing table. It is a circular fluorescent tube with a magnifying glass in the center. What a lifesaver for reading needle sizes and picking out small stitches.
A built in cupboard is nice for your stash or some of it anyway, such as interfacing, linings, larger tools (ham, seam roll), small bins of buttons, zippers, thread etc.
I also have a high shelf which holds a radio, my old steam iron (I use it sometimes), a spray bottle of water, the funnel to fill my new steam iron tank, my ham, and little plastic boxes of notions. Oh, and my permanent suit jacket sleeve pattern and my 2 most-often-referred-to fitting and technique books. The other ones are on a small bookcase at the other end of the room.
I have a nail in the wall to hold my steel yardstick and my new seam roll in its bag, another nail to hold my stying design curve and another curved rule I bought the other day, and a third nail from which I hang the bulletin board I use to tack up the pattern instruction sheets. Next to that I stuck a pushpin in the wall to hang a binder clip - the clip holds the pattern envelope.
If you get a high cutting table (mine is 35" or 0.9m tall) then you might want a barstool to perch on to do other crafts or to spend a long time marking your pattern pieces. Sometimes I wish I had one for complicated garments with lots of marks. Oh well, standing for a couple of hours isn't going to hurt me as long as I remember to move around some. BTW, my cutting table has 2 gateleg exensions and is only 14" wide when folded down. I can open half or all of it, depending on what I need for surface area. And it's on wheels that lock.

How thick is the carpet pile? Will you need a plastic desk chair mat so your sewing chair will roll around?

[JanetLovesSewing]

Congrats on your "dedicated" sewing room.  I envy everyone who has a dedicated spot.  Some of us still sew around the house.  I always like to do my hand work in a recliner or a chair with an ottoman.  There is something about having my legs up while I am "working" on the "important" matters of life.

Happy sewing and quilting,

Janet

[Liana]

Ruthie,  First, congratulations on your new sewing space!  It sounds wonderful, and the fact that you're taking the time to think about it now and plan is what's really going to make it great.

I have the Dream Sewing Places: Design and Organization for Spaces Large and Small book, and it's great fun to read, but I don't know how much you'll actually use it.  There were lots of good things about figuring the best height for counters and tables for yourself, and how to order cabinets, etc., but most of the ideas are things you've probably seen somewhere else.  It's been a while since it was published, so nothing strikingly new.  It's a really fun book to look at, but I would say if you can get a look at it before buying it, see what you think.  There are some gorgeous studios featured in it, of all sizes, but you know how personal everyone's sewing style is, and that's what probably matters most in your room design.  Sorry not to be more helpful.

If your studio and bedroom are near each other, what about putting the mirror in the hall so you can use it for both?  Even on the front (hall side) of the door would be handy, and give you a mirror in the hall, which can be nice too.

[lyra]

I have a dedicated sewing room as I have finally persuaded my husband that his "game room" was never used.  I do have a TV, dvd player, and stereo system (all courtesy of DH's "game room  ).  One thing I urge you to get is a cutting table of the correct height.  I finally got mine a couple of months ago---I was cutting on an old kitchen table.  It really saves the back.  And yes, a mirror.  I bought stackable plastic bins from WalMart, Target, etc. for storing fabric and notions, they work out very well.

I was cutting on an old kitchen table as well, and my dad turned it into a cutting table with very simple risers. He bought a length of wood post that was about 2 inches by 2 inches by maybe 15 or 20 inches long.   It was cut off into 4 pieces, each roughly 3 inches long.  On the top of each, he carved out a circle about the size of the table leg.   We put the table on the risers, and now it's the perfect height.  So... if you have a dad or someone with woodworking tools around, you might want to try that. I don't remember how much the wood post piece was, but I seem to recall it was fairly inexpensive at the lumber yard.

[RuthieK]

Our buyer has withdrawn as his job has become uncertain, so the dream sewing space may remain just that. :-(
To cheer myself up I cut out and sewed up some red paisley PJ pants which I photograph tomorrow.
Ah such is life.

[BeeBee]

Ah, Ruthie.  That's too bad.  We went down that same road 2ce.  Hope you get a new offer soon.

[vtmartha]

Paisley has to be the perfect antidote!  Your news is very sad, indeed.

[Carole]

Sorry, Ruthie.  Maybe now you have a little more time to pack things away so the job won't be so big next offer.

[Liana]

Well, darn it!  But maybe this means you'll end up with an even better sewing room when things do fall together next time.    Meanwhile, paisley pjs sound perfect.   

[Linda 75142]

I hadn't paid much attention to this thread until now.  I'm in the process of "remodeling" the sewing room.  It's the extra bedroom that is seldom used.  I finally took out the bed a couple of months ago.  Today I pulled up the carpet as I'm going to put down pergo or something similar.  I have lots of "sorting to do of all my stuff."  Right now I have furniture and "stuff" in several different rooms.  The dress form is in the  master bedroom tonight so I hope the dogs don't decide it's an intruder in the middle of the night and decide to attack it!

If you are interested in my journey with this project, you can follow on my blog.  The ideas presented here will help me along.  And any more ideas would be appreciated!

[kitnrose]

Well drat.  There's gotta be a silver lining, like the extra time to plan and figure out what you want and to start organizing the room for when you do get to move ... but that doesn't make it fun.    I hope your pjs cheer you up and that this weekend gives you something to love about your house and current sewing space!

[BetsyV]

Linda 75142

It looks like you made good progress. Ripping up carpet, padding, and tacking strips is no fun. There's too much a)bending over and b) opportunity to rip your hands up on the tacking. I hope you cut the carpet into strips before you dragged it downstairs ... We just ripped up the carpet only in 2 rooms in one of our apartments. We had someone replace it so left the padding and tacking strips. And we each only got one small finger tear from the tacks! miracle!

[RuthieK]

We got a new buyer a few weeks back and things are moving along nicely again. Hoping to move the 2nd week in November.
DH did a floor plan of all the rooms and cutout-able scale furniture, so I have doen a rough plan of what I am having in the sewing room, reusing existing furniture.
Basically an L shaped desk for the serger, sewing machine and coverstitch, plus a small table for draft, cutting out etc. Also a large cupboard (recycled wardrobe) to house fabric/patterns/notions and a small bookcase.

Its 2 weeks now to out little local pattern review weekend which I am excited about - meeting some fellow sewing ladies in preston in NW England. I think I might have a bit of a fabric diet after that for a few months though, whilst I review my stash a little bit.

[ejvc]

Ruthie,

Excellent news about a buyer and I'm sorry i couldn't be there in Preston - baby duties still keep me from weekends away.  But I know it will be great to meet others in person!

Elizabeth

[Linda 75142]

My remodel of the sewing room is almost complete. The painting and the flooring is done.  I want to frame some vintage pattern envelopes to hang on the wall, and I'm still trying to decide about some wall shelving.  I also need to get a full length mirror.  But at least, I'm able to sew again! 

I'm happy with the paint color (Behr Stable Hay- with Popcorn semigloss on the baseboards).  It's soothing to me as well as a "happy" color.  I still have a dental cabinet (from the office of my late FIL)  that I plan to bring in when I get it cleaned up and can get help moving it in and up the stairs.  I think it will be great to store small items and threads.  It has so many little drawers and cubby holes.

I've updated my progress on the blog if  you want to peek in.

[DeniseM]

Ruthie, I envy you your new sewing space and I'm thrilled you found a new buyer. We got seriously hammered when we sold our house in Va. last year. DH got a job offer in Mass. which is where our family is, so we have been wanting to come back for at least 10 years. Our dream came true but the downside is that the market in Va. tumbled just as we were selling our house so we got way less for it than we would have if we had been able to sell a year before. At least we had the option of letting the gov't buy it. That's much more than many people had who either took losses or pulled their houses off the market.

We moved to a house about 20 miles West of Boston, much farther than I wanted to be, but what we saw closer in was unaffordable/ugly. The one house I found out here with a room over the garage, perfect for all my sewing, was way over-priced. So the house we chose is smaller but the basement isn't finished so the loft is my sewing room. I had a dedicated sewing room in my old house (which was larger by about 1600 sq. ft.) and really miss it. We experimented with taking out the guest bedroom but then guests started showing up. So now I have my machines spread out throughout the loft area and my cutting table in a little room under the eaves. It's not my ideal but at least I get to look out over the house from my sewing lofty. When we finish the basement (if I ever get a job) it'll hold my sewing emporium/art studio.

[marciae]

Linda - your room sounds great!  I've had a dedicated sewing studio since 1978!  I'm realizing that I've been more fortunate then some!  In the "new" house I'm going to use two of the bedrooms!!   One is going to house a large corner computer type desk to hold 3 machines and the other corner will hold the remainder of the sewing tables!  The other bedroom will have my cutting table, ironing board and my small wicker table and chair so I can "break" there and look out the sunny south window.  Originally I was going to put laminate in those rooms but decided to go with carpet.  I've always had carpet in my sewing room and it's worked well for me.  I'm going to store my fabric stash in a very large closet in the basement.  For whatever reason I feel like the cooler area will be best.  Also both rooms have south facing windows and if I go off and leave the blinds open and the fabric closet door open I was afraid of sun damage!   This way there will be no problem.

Denise - when I first moved to this house I set up my sewing in the basement - I had a perfect area and room to have my cutting table open all the time.  But, it was always a bit cool down there - obviously.  I bought one of those edenpure heaters.  It worked great to take the chill off the area my machines were.  A year ago I moved the machines and cutting table upstairs.  Decided I didn't have that much company and it was silly to run the heater all the time - even tho it didn't cost that much!

Ruthie - our time to sew again is getting closer!!

[BetsyV]

Linda your sewing room looks great. The floor is terrific - nice job! 

[scarletthread]

I am also in the process of planning my sewing space.  I am so excited to be able to leave a project in process and not clean off the dining room table every night.  DH and I built a house last year and only completed the 1st floor.  We are just starting on the rooms upstairs.  My sewing room is going to be about 10' by 13'.  Since it is in the front half of the house ( and it is a  cape cod), I am planning built-ins in the knee-wall for books, bins, fabric etc.  The cutting table can fold when not in use and sit in front of the built-ins.  It is on casters, so I can move it to gain access to the storage behind.

The longest wall will be flanneled for designing quilta and my quilt frame will be in front of it.  A side wall will have the machines while the dress form has a place in the dormer.  We are working the lighting plan to include lots of overhead tracks, and plenty of outlets.

At this point, I am considering a peg-board on the sewing machine wall and a shelf at plate rail height.  I want to get into the room and use it a bit before adding these.  My concern is if it has to be converted to a bedroom, that we have the ability to do it easily.

What really helped me was to log what activities I do and the frequency - design to the major items and not waste space on something that I maybe touch once in a while.

[NancyK]

I have had a dedicated sewing room since 1975 in 3 different houses.  This house has by far the largest and best.  I sew in the loft that overlooks my living room and dining room.  Lack of wall space is a challenge.  All the knee walls have bookcases and I have file cabinets and flat files tucked in under the eaves.  My sewing machine tables are tucked in under the eaves too.  I am very lucky  to have so much space.  I share it with my work space studio as they are open to each other and I have my large cutting table in my studio area.  It's a great place to lay out large plans and photos as well as cut fabric.  Ikea is a great source for lighting and furniture.  I have Ikea low voltage lighting that is strung up and attached to the beams as well as task lighting by my machines. No matter how compact a space if it is dedicated and you don't have to put away the machines, it is a real boon to getting more sewing done.  I used Debbie Cook's plan for a cutting table as a starting point for mine. 
Ruthie you are going to love having  your own space!   

[RuthieK]

I have the new sewing room set up in its bare bones. Its missing the extra table which is in my study as my desk is still in storage.
It needs a complete paint job, and I need to sew some nice matching accessories, but I have managed to do a little bit of sewing.

[BetsyV]

Good for you Ruthie! When do we get to see pictures? 

[RuthieK]

After the paint job, new curtains, stash sort, and when I've made pretty machine covers - so maybe never!