This project has been a long time in the making. Not just the months since we moved into our wonderful new home in August, but the 10 years I spent sewing in the tatty loft room in our old home.
(Not that I didn’t love having that tatty old loft. I had some great sewing fun up there. But it was very tatty. And boiling in summer. And freezing in winter. With no storage)
But this room. This room is just perfection.
It was originally going to be our company office with a projector and screen so we could use it as a home “cinema”. The previous owners had wired (and decorated it) as a cinema room:
However, I pointed out that:
- we only use the office for a couple of hours a week
- we have the most ridiculously large tv in the sitting room so why the heck do we need a projector
- there is no way on God’s green earth I’d have got all my sewing
crapsupplies into the fourth bedroom that is now the office - I wouldn’t get a large cutting table in what is now the office
- I want the big room, dammit!
No one was more surprised than me when The Husband said yes! Love that man!
And so began the plotting and scheming. I knew that my main priorities were storage and cutting space. I’m so sick of not being able to lay hands on a pattern, or thread, or whatever. And also trying to cut out on the floor or kitchen table.
So, off to Ikea I went.
The first thing to purchase was supplies for the cutting table. It’s about 150 x 160cm. It’s constructed from 2 of the 8 box Kallax units with a 4 box unit at the top end. They are screwed together in a U-shape and then topped with 12mm MDF.
A pinnable surface proved invaluable in the tatty sewing loft. Sadly we couldn’t lay hands on any of the insulation board that we had used 10 years ago, but I’m giving it a go with layers of the underlay that you use under laminate floorings piled 3 high on the MDF.
Finally it’s wrapped with curtain lining stapled to the underside of the MDF to secure. And set on castors so you can move it to get around all sides for large projects. Or cleaning!
The top layer of spaces on each long side have drawer units, with boxes in the bottom. This gives me loads of storage options for tools, notions, patterns, yarn and all the other wee bits and bobs you have in a sewing room.
It is a joyous thing!
For books and magazines I have a run of Billy bookcases with half glazed doors.
I may have quite a few sewing, knitting, embroidery and quilting books!
There’s plenty of room for the odd magazine or two, too!
Crates of fabric and the stuff I don’t need to access often are stashed out of sight in the understairs cupboard that runs along the back of the room.
I’ve also got all my drafting/measuring tools hung up here, as they’re too big for the drawers.
All of this covers my need for storage and a super cutting table. Now all I needed was somewhere to sew.
We picked up this little table at GB Antiques in Lancaster a couple of years ago. It’s perfect for this corner, with a daylight lamp for when I need it, and a bluetooth radio for listening to music or podcasts as I sew. An Ikea Raskog trolley holds projects handy, and my overlocker sits to the side of my gorgeous new Bernina.
I have the luxury that if I decide I need a larger table for sewing on, there’s one in storage in the garage that I can swap for this.
The chair needs a lick of paint, but I’m in no hurry for that.
After, all, I do have sewing to do!
I love this room so very much. It makes me smile every time I think “I need a needle and thread” and can put my hands right on them.
And when we were house hunting, I never in my wildest dreams thought I end up with something so perfectly perfect.
Of course, none of this would have happened without my wonderful husband. Despite rolling his eyes at some of my ideas, he worked it out and brought them to life in the most amazing way.
“Thank you” seems so inadequate in the face of such a wonderful gift, but I hope he knows just how grateful I am for such an amazing room, and how very happy it makes me.
It’s a beautiful room. I wish you many happy hours creating. You deserve it. Thanks for sharing K xXx
Thank you so much! I’m so happy with it. I finally have time this week to start on the blinds I need to sew. Can’t wait!
It’s perfect! It must be wonderful to just sit there and dream about your next project. Happy sewing!
Thank you! I’ve got a million ideas in my head for things to sew….especially now I can lay hands on patterns and fabric. But first….blinds and curtains!
Looks amazing! I noticed the old books behind the teddy in the cupboard. I have at least two the same as you. I hunt them down wherever I can, but they are getting harder to find. We may be considering a house move next year and one of the reasons is so that I can have a craft room that doesn’t have to double up as a bedroom when we have visitors! I wish you many happy hours of sewing in your lovely new room x
I just love old sewing books. I’ve got some of the Haslam system too. And loads of other vintage bits that are just to interesting to let go off. I’m becoming something of a repository amongst friends for the vintage stuff. I’m not complaining about that at all!
Oooooooh a house move! Near where you are or something a bit further afield. When we were looking, every estate agents listed was pored over to see how we could fit in a bedroom for everyone, plus an office space and a sewing room. Many didn’t even make it to the viewing pile! How exciting for you too!
What an amazing space! I am sooo jealous. Looking forward to seeing your creations emerging from that beautiful room.
Thank you! I’m immensely lucky to have such a space! I can’t wait to start working through the embarrassment of riches that is my fabric stash! 😉
Perfection!
Isn’t it! 😀
It really is perfect! Sadly I still don’t have a dedicated sewing room, despite having 2 vacant rooms now… Ah well, it’s not stopping the sewing! 🙂
I really think you should address that situation. Although you are still massively more productive than I am. I’m doing a lot of bimbling in there at the moment, which is still pleasant.
Fun sewing is taking a back seat to interior dec!
🙁
This is an amazing space to work in and enjoy being creative. You totally deserve it and I wish you many happy hours in there!
Thank you! 😀
I do love it so!
Wonderful! Just think of all the magnificent things that will be created in there.
So far it’s just been a blind.
But it is very lovely!
And I’m enjoying the space so much.
How absolutely wonderful. Your hubby is definitely a keeper. This room is absolutely gorgeous, a sewing dream. I love the sewing table and the bookcases are fabulous. You have a lot of books and all that lovely storage. That was a really inspired make with the cutting table. It looks super useful. I hope that you will have many happy sewing hours in there. Xx
He is pretty awesome! 😀
I do love this room and am having such fun in there. I love that everything, finally, has a home. And that I can lay hands on things when I need them. Joyous!
Man – Evie this looks AWESOME! You’re making me excited to have a new sewing space.
Thank you!
You’re whole renovation is just spectacular. I’m so keen to see how it works out. Not, I suspect, as keen as you are! xx
What a fabulous sewing room! Hope you have been enjoying it.
Thank you! Sadly at the moment the only things on my sewing table are blinds and curtains. But get the summer holidays out of the way and I’ll be diving into the stash and filling up some wardrobe holes!