My Sewing Studio

I have been asked a few times how I set up my sewing space and where I got items I am using. Time for show and tell with photos and links.  

Please note any link I am sharing is only one place, most items are available everywhere.

First when my son moved into his own home we removed the rugs and put in hardwood floors.  I prefer this for my sewing studio as it shows every thread or item dropped, I like my space clean and open.  I did put an area rug in the center to cut down on sound, it would be too hollow with nothing to absorb as I also don’t have curtains in this room.  I had blinds put up instead for a few reasons. This room gets afternoon sun so I can tilt the slats and when I sew in the morning I like the blinds completely open.  Blinds are also easy to dust (vacuum) as long as you keep up with it.  When sewing quilts with 100% cotton batting it floats in the air and lands on everything looking like dust.  Since I completely clean the room after each project it’s easily removed. I keep a mini shop vac in the room right next to my machine and it gets used every day.

Luggage travel cases for the Ruby, embroidery arm and the Sew Steady table.  This shelf holds my sketch book, plastic sleeve with loose pages printed from Craftsy classes and a photo album.  The shelf has hooks for small rulers and templates.

The first picture shows my two 10 drawer carts, they have wheels and a metal tray on the top. This way items I use all the time are within reach.  Picture in the middle shows my bags of scrap batting that is the extra from quilts I have made, big enough for another project.  I keep 2 boxes for stabilizer, it is needed when doing machine embroidery.  A bag of plastic bags and tracing paper for transferring designs onto quilt tops. There is also always an empty box used for sorting.  While I sew scraps go into the box and are sorted by size later.  Leaning against the cart are my Steady Betty for ironing projects under 15”, square rulers and my spinning cut mat.  The last picture is the top of one of my 10 drawer cards.  With the tops being metal I have placed a small cookie sheet with magnets on the bottom on one giving the top an edge.  The other I have small cups with clear lids that have magnetic bottoms.  These hold items like snaps, D rings, safety pins, clover mini wonder clips, straight pins and buttons. The two mugs hold zippers, pens and pencils.  I keep several erasable Fixion pens on hand, ones that have not been used yet I keep in a plastic baggie as back up when another empties.

The first picture is a standing light, I put leftover fabric strips that were pieced and pressed for binding.  On the curved part of the light are my hoops in 5 sizes for the embroidery machine and a free motion frame which is not on the market yet from a class I went to for Linda Hall . The middle picture is a bag I keep next to the table for scraps that are cut off as I square up quilts.  Most is too small for major projects but work well for my little cases.  The last picture is taken under the first card table.  It has a plastic tub with extra fabrics, the embroidery attachment, a stool and my garbage can.

This picture is taken to show the layout of my space where I sew.  There are 3 standard size card tables covered with a table cloth and topped with clear plastic.  The plastic makes it easier for the quilts to slide while top stitching.  The table for the sewing machine is an adjustable height table.  It took some time to find a table that would go down to 24" - this is necessary to bring the sewing surface to the right height.  I have 4 plastic boxes on the table to hold books, manuals and the 5D / Quilt Design dongles needed to create embroidery designs. My machine has a Sew Steady acrylic table which I love.  Under the clear table are containers holding the walking foot and small items I like handy and my machinagers.  Under the sewing machine arm is a fleece cloth used to dust the machine as I sew.

In the closet is a sweater type storage hanger, the first shows the completed quilts currently for sale.  The second is how they are actually stored, with tissue wrapping each.  Small items are individually wrapped and are hanging in the bags.

My Ironing board often holds my current project I am working on and the hangers I use to display quilts as I work on them.  The next is a quilt hung with the hangers, with these I can view the big picture and decide if I need to make any changes.

Lastly right next to the sewing table is a large tote with new fabrics (Quilt Store) and a smaller with the cut pieces I am using currently.  I like the boxes so I can close them at the end of my day.  The dresser was my daughters; it now holds sorted and organized fabrics, stabilizers, trims and accessories.  The top drawers are full of what I need to pack and wrap items purchased.  My embroidery threads are displayed on the wall; they are kept separate from my cotton threads. These are polyester and rayon, the strength is needed for machine embroidery.  I covered an old cork board for my room; it has magnets to hold my small scissors, the board has pins, prairie points  hold my glue and pens. A small refrigerator  holds bottled water with my sprays for ironing on top. The white box is for all my receipts and bill of sale. 

The only thing I am missing is a vision/display board, that will be next and will go behind the couch.  It’s the perfect space, for now I love the whole room. 

What fun must haves do you need in your sewing space?