Want a Bigger, Better Sewing Room? Me too!

As I drift off to sleep each night, my mind can’t help but wander to the same dream: the perfect sewing room. And let me tell you, this space is not just any old room. Nope. This is a sewing sanctuary!

First off, let me just say that I already have a great sewing room. I have room for my longarm, a large sewing table, and a cutting table, plus my little corner office where I write, and a small seating area for friends. But alas… I always want a bigger room! Or perhaps even an entire sewing house! A girl can dream, can’t she?

Maybe you have the same type of daydreams – a huge spacious sewing room with ample natural light, perfect for sewing during the day, but also equipped with plenty of task lighting for burning the midnight oil. This sewing haven of your dreams is probably decked out with everything you could ever want or need. There’s a large cutting table, so you don’t have to take over the kitchen island every time you need to cut fabric. There’s also a cozy reading nook, complete with a plush armchair and a bookshelf filled with your favorite sewing books and magazines. And of course, there’s a comfortable sewing chair and a sturdy sewing table with ample storage for all your threads, bobbins, and notions.

But that’s not all. This dream sewing room also has a mini-fridge stocked with your favorite snacks and drinks, because let’s be real, sewing can be thirsty work. There’s a speaker system playing your favorite tunes to get you in the sewing groove. And, of course, there’s a large window overlooking the garden, because inspiration can come from anywhere.

So now that we have discussed the sewing room of our dreams, what do we really need in our sewing space? That’s an excellent question. Frankly, you don’t need much, so don’t worry if you’re just sitting at your dining room table with a sewing machine. That, along with an iron, is truly all you need (and maybe not even that if you’re sewing by hand!). A sewing machine and an iron are the bare basics, but if you have room for a few more things, here are some of my number one picks!

1. An excellent cutting table. There are so many options for this. What’s the best option for you? It may depend on your height. I am tall so I could never comfortably cut fabric on a table or countertop. If you’re short, that may work great for you! My cutting table is actually an antique drafting table from an architectural office. It is height-adjustable and also can be angled up, as if to hold an artist’s canvas. I, of course, keep it flat. It is truly the best cutting table ever, but I realize these aren’t still for sale. 🙂 Here is the next best thing!

2. A comfortable, ergonomic sewing chair. You will not regret this. It makes all the difference. If you want to read more about picking the perfect chair, read an article I wrote about that very thing by clicking here.

3. A heavy-duty rectangle ironing board works great if you’re a quilter and a regular-shaped ironing board works better if you’re sewing garments. My rectangular ironing board is actually made from a piece of wood, covered with some batting and a heavy-weight piece of cotton. It lays across two waist-high bookshelves that I use for fabric storage. It’s a great set-up. If you’re still using a wobbly old ironing board, it’s time to invest in something sturdier. You won’t regret it.

4. My other must-have in a sewing area is storage, storage, and more storage! You and I both know that the more storage, the better. We all have a stash of fabric, not to mention unfinished sewing projects, notions, another stash of fabric, rulers, and more. Plastic tubs are your friend. And so are bookshelves! If you are planning your sewing space, just don’t skimp on storage. You will need it. I promise. Here are some great options to add:

So, until we all get our dream sewing spaces, just know that you can get by with bare basics or somewhere in between. The important thing is that we are sewing and doing what we love. Just keep chugging along, no matter what your sewing space is like!

‘Til next time,

Beth