Need suggestions for design of sewing/stitching room

My DH and I are just starting the exploration of building our dream
retirement house and I am going to have a bedroom to use as my
sewing/stitching room. Today, as we discussed some of the house plans in a
book we are studying, we measure out one room that is 12 X 11 and decided
that the Koala cabinet/cutting table I want would be a little big for this
size room.

He then said, "Well, what do you want in this room and how big do you want
it? We can tell a builder how big to make the room, but you need to know
what you want." Is that carte blanche or what????

I need to be reasonable and a room a bit bigger than 12 X 11 would be a
possibility, but I cannot get too carried away.

So, I am coming to the "experts" with my questions. I have a few ideas of
must haves, but need some more ideas.

If you were designing your dream room, what is the one thing you cannot live
without?

I will be using the closet for most of my storage and know that I will
probably use a closet module for it. I want a couple of drawers for threads,
notions, and small stitching items, and some drawers or bins for storing
fabric. File drawers for charts and patterns, but I don't know what I want
for storing miscellaneous items. I want some bookcases and shelves for
displaying some of my collectibles.

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

Marianne T.

Marianne Teubner wrote:
My DH and I are just starting the exploration of building our dream
retirement house and I am going to have a bedroom to use as my
sewing/stitching room. Today, as we discussed some of the house plans
in a
book we are studying, we measure out one room that is 12 X 11 and
decided
that the Koala cabinet/cutting table I want would be a little big for
this
size room.

He then said, "Well, what do you want in this room and how big do you
want
it? We can tell a builder how big to make the room, but you need to
know
what you want." Is that carte blanche or what????

I need to be reasonable and a room a bit bigger than 12 X 11 would be
a
possibility, but I cannot get too carried away.

So, I am coming to the "experts" with my questions. I have a few
ideas of
must haves, but need some more ideas.

If you were designing your dream room, what is the one thing you
cannot live
without?

I will be using the closet for most of my storage and know that I
will
probably use a closet module for it. I want a couple of drawers for
threads,
notions, and small stitching items, and some drawers or bins for
storing
fabric. File drawers for charts and patterns, but I don't know what I
want
for storing miscellaneous items. I want some bookcases and shelves
for
displaying some of my collectibles.

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

Marianne T.


Here is a url that will show a sewing room that I just completed for
myself. It is 12x16 and the furniture is all hand made out of Cherry
and Maple by myself. The cabinet against one wall is a reproduction of
a Shaker Sewing Cabinet that I saw when on a tour of the various Shaker
Villages in the north east a few years ago. The various drawers hold
Spools of thread and notions. While the center table is not the largest
it is 52"x32" and is large enough for all the cutting and lay out that
I need for clothing. If you do quilts, then you might like a larger
table. I also would recommend having separate tables for serger and
sewing machine with a large work surface for the sewing machine. I
would suggest making room for a comfortable chair to relax in. It is a
great place to plan out the next project or in my case do needlepoint.
The book cases are built in and hold my wife's cook book collection.
The glass front wall cabinet over the Shaker sewing cabinet houses my
sewing and needlepoint and calligraphy books. I am very happy with the
results after many years of using kitchen tables and what not to get
the job done. It helps that the house is a three story Victorian with
plenty of rooms for two people, my wife and myself, to get lost in and
do our various projects without infringing on the other person. I hope
that you are able to click on the url and if not type it in and if you
need a password it is stilton.
http://photobucket.com/albums/y74/fixedgearhead/


Good luck on your new project,

John Taylor

Marianne Teubner wrote:
My DH and I are just starting the exploration of building our dream
retirement house and I am going to have a bedroom to use as my
sewing/stitching room. Today, as we discussed some of the house plans in a
book we are studying, we measure out one room that is 12 X 11 and decided
that the Koala cabinet/cutting table I want would be a little big for this
size room.

He then said, "Well, what do you want in this room and how big do you want
it? We can tell a builder how big to make the room, but you need to know
what you want." Is that carte blanche or what????
--snip---

First thought is why a bedroom? Unless you are building for resale. I
like a sewing room near the kitchen/laundry areas, and I like to be able
to hear and see what is going on.

--
--

Joanne @ stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us
http://bernardschopen.tripod.com/
Life is about the journey, not about the destination.

I recommend track lighting.


"Marianne Teubner" wrote in message
ink.net...
My DH and I are just starting the exploration of building our dream
retirement house and I am going to have a bedroom to use as my
sewing/stitching room. Today, as we discussed some of the house plans in a
book we are studying, we measure out one room that is 12 X 11 and decided
that the Koala cabinet/cutting table I want would be a little big for this
size room.

He then said, "Well, what do you want in this room and how big do you want
it? We can tell a builder how big to make the room, but you need to know
what you want." Is that carte blanche or what????

I need to be reasonable and a room a bit bigger than 12 X 11 would be a
possibility, but I cannot get too carried away.

So, I am coming to the "experts" with my questions. I have a few ideas of
must haves, but need some more ideas.

If you were designing your dream room, what is the one thing you cannot
live
without?

I will be using the closet for most of my storage and know that I will
probably use a closet module for it. I want a couple of drawers for
threads,
notions, and small stitching items, and some drawers or bins for storing
fabric. File drawers for charts and patterns, but I don't know what I want
for storing miscellaneous items. I want some bookcases and shelves for
displaying some of my collectibles.

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

Marianne T.

Marianne Teubner wrote:
My DH and I are just starting the exploration of building our dream
retirement house and I am going to have a bedroom to use as my
sewing/stitching room. Today, as we discussed some of the house plans in a
book we are studying, we measure out one room that is 12 X 11 and decided
that the Koala cabinet/cutting table I want would be a little big for this
size room.

He then said, "Well, what do you want in this room and how big do you want
it? We can tell a builder how big to make the room, but you need to know
what you want." Is that carte blanche or what????

I need to be reasonable and a room a bit bigger than 12 X 11 would be a
possibility, but I cannot get too carried away.

So, I am coming to the "experts" with my questions. I have a few ideas of
must haves, but need some more ideas.

If you were designing your dream room, what is the one thing you cannot live
without?

Not a Koala cabinet, for sure! Dedicated permanently up tables for the
main machine, the main serger, and space to swap in and out the second
serger and the hand cranks/other machines, plus space for the treadle
and a cutting table high enough for me to work comfortable and wide
enough to take 60" fabric laid out in a single layer! Loads of room to
store stuff under that!

I will be using the closet for most of my storage and know that I will
probably use a closet module for it. I want a couple of drawers for threads,
notions, and small stitching items, and some drawers or bins for storing
fabric. File drawers for charts and patterns, but I don't know what I want
for storing miscellaneous items. I want some bookcases and shelves for
displaying some of my collectibles.

I use Ikea basket drawers for storing loads of stuff. My room is about
10' X 11' - so not big enough for everything I want in it. I'd love
stash storage space and to get rid of the bed, but I have to use it as a
bedroom when we have guests... The nice thing about the ikea drawers in
my compromise room is that I can roll them about to get them out of the
way or to give larger projects support at the sewing machine.

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

Marianne T.




--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

If you were designing your dream room, what is the one thing you cannot live
without?

Excellent, indirect, natural light. High clerestory windows on at
least two sides, a ceiling that bounces and diffuses light well, and
solatubes or similar over the main machine area. High quality (high CRI,
high color temperature) fluorescent lighting to supplement.

That's my must-have.

Other wants:
- a 60" x 8-10 ft cutting/drafting table; pad for pressing.
- wall racks for rolled fabrics, pattern paper, interfacing
- extensions that can be easily set up for more supported room around the
machines
- hinged mirrors for good viewing of garments.
- whole house vacuum system
- design wall
- dedicated plug for pressing equipment, high on the wall or ceiling so
the cord stays out of my way
- filtered power source for machines

Kay

"Marianne Teubner" wrote in message
ink.net...
My DH and I are just starting the exploration of building our dream
retirement house and I am going to have a bedroom to use as my
sewing/stitching room. Today, as we discussed some of the house plans in a
book we are studying, we measure out one room that is 12 X 11 and decided
that the Koala cabinet/cutting table I want would be a little big for this
size room.

He then said, "Well, what do you want in this room and how big do you want
it? We can tell a builder how big to make the room, but you need to know
what you want." Is that carte blanche or what????

I need to be reasonable and a room a bit bigger than 12 X 11 would be a
possibility, but I cannot get too carried away.

So, I am coming to the "experts" with my questions. I have a few ideas of
must haves, but need some more ideas.

If you were designing your dream room, what is the one thing you cannot
live
without?

I will be using the closet for most of my storage and know that I will
probably use a closet module for it. I want a couple of drawers for
threads,
notions, and small stitching items, and some drawers or bins for storing
fabric. File drawers for charts and patterns, but I don't know what I want
for storing miscellaneous items. I want some bookcases and shelves for
displaying some of my collectibles.

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

Marianne T.


For me it's the cutting table. I have a drop leaf cutting table with the
removable plastic grid cutting mat. I bought this because I could drop the
side leaves and push it out of the way, but that doesn't happen. It's
always up because I'm always sewing something. Unfortunately, I didn't
expect to keep it constantly up so I didn't really allow for the space. If
I could do the room over, I'd get a cutting table made that is the correct
height for my short frame and finish the area underneath into storage space.
Since I sew mostly clothes (no gowns etc) long narrow sewing tables that
give me room to the left of the machine are better then deep tables with
room at the back. Good luck with your planning.

Liz

Plenty of natural light, plenty of powerpoints (for lamp, machines, iron,
stereo etc..)....Amelia
"Marianne Teubner" wrote in message
ink.net...
My DH and I are just starting the exploration of building our dream
retirement house and I am going to have a bedroom to use as my
sewing/stitching room. Today, as we discussed some of the house plans in a
book we are studying, we measure out one room that is 12 X 11 and decided
that the Koala cabinet/cutting table I want would be a little big for this
size room.

He then said, "Well, what do you want in this room and how big do you want
it? We can tell a builder how big to make the room, but you need to know
what you want." Is that carte blanche or what????

I need to be reasonable and a room a bit bigger than 12 X 11 would be a
possibility, but I cannot get too carried away.

So, I am coming to the "experts" with my questions. I have a few ideas of
must haves, but need some more ideas.

If you were designing your dream room, what is the one thing you cannot
live
without?

I will be using the closet for most of my storage and know that I will
probably use a closet module for it. I want a couple of drawers for
threads,
notions, and small stitching items, and some drawers or bins for storing
fabric. File drawers for charts and patterns, but I don't know what I want
for storing miscellaneous items. I want some bookcases and shelves for
displaying some of my collectibles.

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

Marianne T.

Thank you all so much for the wonderful suggestions and ideas. I've put them
all in my "sewing room" folder to refer to as I start the design of this
sewing room.

Thanks, again.

Marianne T

"Marianne Teubner" wrote in message
ink.net...
snip
He then said, "Well, what do you want in this room and how big do you want
it? We can tell a builder how big to make the room, but you need to know
what you want." Is that carte blanche or what????
snip If you were designing your dream room, what is the one thing you
cannot live
without?
snip
Marianne T.


Two rooms!
I like my sewing area to be compact and all machines easily accessible - but
enough room for two people to be able to work together. My room has my
machines around the outside perimetre of three sides, with the fourth side
for the storage bins. No drawers for threads and such - instead, my DH made
me thread and serger spool holders for the walls. All thread is visible and
easily accessible making for quick changes and no hunting. Most notions are
also hanging from the wall on racks or pegboard (elastics, bias tapes,
cordings, velcro and such). Magazines and books are on the bookshelf that
is just inside the door sharing the same wall with my industrial serger. On
the wall at the top end of the u is the shelf for my small stereo: I can sew
with headphones on at all machines - without the line getting in the way.
(Cordless headphones are a no-go because of electrical interference from the
machines!)
The wall at the open end of the u is where my bins of fabric, laces and
other stuff are. I use Rubbermaid roughtotes because they are portable, can
be labelled, and in case of flooding those on the bottom are protected!
I also have a drop-leaf cutting table but I rarely use it. I actually
prefer the floor as I am usually working with at least two metres of fabric
at a time and the table is too short for the extra! I find it quicker and
easier to use the floor.....but then, I am fortunate to have a large clear
floor area that I can take over. When I am cutting out, the upstairs living
room becomes my cutting room and off-limits to everyone else. (The telly is
downstairs in the family room anyway so nobody is too terribly
inconvenienced by the loss.) I would love to permanently take over the area
so that I would never have to tidy it back up, but I don't think the family
would go for the idea! The lighting is perfect (lots of natural light from
the large windows), area rug for cushioning (fabric on rug, pattern and
weights on top), hardwood floors for drawing surface, and the picture window
makes a great tracing table! Once the cutting is done, the outfits are
bagged and placed in totes to be taken to the sewing room where assembly is
done. Depending on the type of jobs that I'm doing my iron is set up either
upstairs or in my sewing room. I prefer it upstairs.
Part of the reason I have the separate space is it allows me to 'switch
gears' and better wrap my brain around the specific task that I'm doing.
I am assuming that a Koala cabinet stores the machine inside? I never store
my machines in anything unless I am travelling with them (I take one sewing
machine and one serger when we go away for competition - just in case - and
they're always needed!). If I am going to be away for a week or two I cover
my machines with sheets.
Cynthia