The sewing table is my mom’s sewing table from the 70’s that she gave to me when I first learned how to sew. It’s the right size for my trusty Bernina 1005, which you see above sporting a dust cover I made from Alexander Henry’s “Perfect Pattern” fabric a few years ago. I keep my sewing basket, originally my grandmother’s, and a box of fabric trim underneath my table.
Since I rent, and may move again soon, I can’t really invest in a wall-organizing system like a pegboard or shelving to keep all of my tools in place. A long nail is all I need to hang up my Omnigrid ruler, hip curve, and flexible ruler. Yes, that’s Christmas wrapping paper in the corner still…
I’ve always wanted an inspiration board in my sewing space and I finally made one when I moved in and set up my corner. I followed Laura’s instructions on how to make her bulletin board with a sheet of plywood and some D rings. It’s simple, big, and easy to tack stuff on to! I just updated this the other day with some tear-outs from the March Vogue Magazine.
Some embroideries I stitched up from Sublime Stitching. The bottom one is a quote from a pin on my knitting bag.
I constantly have a long list of sewing patterns that I want to make going in my head, and I find it hard to keep track of them all. I covered an old bulletin board with a woven curtain panel from Ikea I and now use it organize my pattern queue. It’s easier to remember which patterns I want to sew when they’re always out and visible. Plus, when I’ve bought fabric for a pattern, I’ll attach a swatch onto the pattern envelope on my bulletin board so I can remember which fabric is for which project.
Ikea makes some awesome organizational storage. I purchased the wooden drawers a few years ago to keep my fat quarters, scraps, and other odds and ends tidy – love that each drawer has a little insert where you can write what contents are of each drawer. The mini clear drawers are from Target and are great to keep small things, like spools of thread, needles, and buttons contained.
Another fantastic Ikea find. I can’t take credit for this idea since I saw it in the sewing room setup at my local Ikea showroom: it’s supposed to be a bathroom accessory stand for soap and such, but they used it instead to keep sewing notions organized. It’s great for keeping the things I reach for all the time, like my scissors, seam ripper, and sewing gauge at hand.
How is your sewing or crafting space set up?
You've made great use of your small space! I dream of having a proper crafting space some day.
Thank you! It took a couple of years, but I finally have one and love it. You will some day too!
I love looking at creative work spaces for inspiration! It's good to have a space to keep your machine out – if you see it, you'll use it. Corners like that end up as dumping grounds for me. Time to clear out a corner and make dedicated space. And I've been eyeing the Ikea stand too.
"If you see it, you'll use it" – so true! I can't tell you how many things I have stashed away (yarn, fabric, etc) that I totally forget that I have and never use.
I ditto Christina – you have made the most of your space. I like it, it's cute. As long as your can find what you need when you need it, get in there and enter that ultimate sewing zone and produce beautiful projects – that's all you need to be happy – like me! (lol)
Thanks Faye! Sometimes I have to be careful and not back my sewing chair up into the wall behind me and bump my rulers off the wall – it can be cramped at times, but it's the best place for what I love to do