DIY sewing machine table

Den 04-03-2012 03:57, Sandy skrev:
In ,
Hanne in wrote:

Dear all,

I'm currently looking to move to bigger quarters and high on my list for
after the move is a sewing machine table where the bed of the machine
can sit flush with the table top.

Well, I came across this series of pics that shows how one is
constructed. The text is in Swedish, but the pics are pretty
descriptive, I think.

http://www.andersj.se/sybord.htm

I like this one a lot, because it does not require a more complicated
inset. Looks a bit more doable to me :-) And can be made from an IKEA
table that matches my current dining room table, so that I can use the
sewing table in the dining room if I have lots of guests - hehe.

If anyone has additional tips, please share!

Hanne in DK


Hanne, before I bought my current cabinet, I had a drafting table that I
used as a sewing machine table. A good friend made a cut-out for my
machine and a box-like "thing" that the machine sat on so that it was
flush with the top of the table. That box looked very much like what's
in your photos. It worked very well, except that the table just couldn't
be lowered enough for me; I'm *short*!G

The only suggestions I'd give would be to make sure you have a way to
get to your cords (I did); it just makes life easier. Also, if you
currently have a plexiglass surround for your machine, I'd allow for
that in your table so as to be able to see better when you need to
change bobbins; you wouldn't need to take the wood insert off then.

Good luck!



Arghh! The cords! Well, mine are on the right of SM, so that IS
something to consider for sure. Hadn't thought about the cords at all...
Not even leaving space for them - oops!

OK, one disaster avoided.

Hanne in DK

Den 04-03-2012 04:54, Allison skrev:
On 03/03/2012 6:24 PM, Hanne in DK wrote:
Dear all,

I'm currently looking to move to bigger quarters and high on my list for
after the move is a sewing machine table where the bed of the machine
can sit flush with the table top.

Well, I came across this series of pics that shows how one is
constructed. The text is in Swedish, but the pics are pretty
descriptive, I think.

http://www.andersj.se/sybord.htm

I like this one a lot, because it does not require a more complicated
inset. Looks a bit more doable to me :-) And can be made from an IKEA
table that matches my current dining room table, so that I can use the
sewing table in the dining room if I have lots of guests - hehe.

If anyone has additional tips, please share!

Hanne in DK


For anyone like me who needs some help with Swedish I found that Google
translate does a pretty good job!

Also, a while back I saved a page with good instructions for a sewing
machine table. Fortunately the archived page is still there at:
http://web.archive.org/web/200404122...ble/table.html

One of these days when I get my Round Tuit I'll make myself a table with
insert.

Allison





Nice link!

I have HUGE sew steady table, but I think putting that in would make the
shelf less stable. And I don't have easy access to a plexiglass inset
(which would be smart wrt changing bobbins). Hm, what to do, what to do...

I'm in no rush (haven't bought the new place yet), maybe I should wait
and get an inset next time I'm in the US.

Hanne in DK

I found the Meltorp table Hanne, now I just have to convince DH that he
should do the conversion for me.

Di

"Hanne in DK" wrote in message
...
I believe the names are kept the same all over - I'm going to be using a
melltorp table. The top doesn't quite rest on the bar at the front, but it
comes with spacer, so I think it should work.

Hanne in DK

Den 04-03-2012 02:25, Di Maloney skrev:
Thanks for your reply Hanne, I will print off the pictures and have a
look
at IKEA to find one that might be suitable.

Di

"Hanne in wrote in message
...
Di,

Sadly, there is no IKEA piece that is just made for us!

They didn't use IKEA table (but I will, because then height/width will
be
perfect for my other use + it is cheap).

In fact this guy did a table that you can unscrew the legs, to put it
away. The other end clips onto the cutting table on the left. So,
really,
he wanted something that can be put away, that is not a priority for
me -
in fact, I long to be able to leave my sewing out!

But I think any table that comes with a frame for the top to rest one
would be easy to alter. Lots of small tables only have the corner legs,
in
which care you'd need to add a support that runs along the length of the
table at the front (the guy did that in the pics).


Hanne in DK


Den 04-03-2012 01:02, Di Maloney skrev:
Hanne,

That's exactly what I want too.

Am I correct in thinking that someone bought a table and altered it to
suit
their needs or is it an IKEA product made like that?

Di
In very very wet Victoria, Aust but not as bad a NSW.


"Hanne in wrote in message
...
Dear all,

I'm currently looking to move to bigger quarters and high on my list
for
after the move is a sewing machine table where the bed of the machine
can
sit flush with the table top.

Well, I came across this series of pics that shows how one is
constructed.
The text is in Swedish, but the pics are pretty descriptive, I think.

http://www.andersj.se/sybord.htm

I like this one a lot, because it does not require a more complicated
inset. Looks a bit more doable to me :-) And can be made from an IKEA
table that matches my current dining room table, so that I can use the
sewing table in the dining room if I have lots of guests - hehe.

If anyone has additional tips, please share!

Hanne in DK

Lovely work on that table! I like the careful shaping around the
machine. However... How easy is it to change the bobbin? Does your
machine have any buttons or levers near the base, like my Pfaff does?
If so, you might be better off ordering an acrylic insert specially
made to take all those things into account. And remember to try out
the table with your sewing chair before you start cutting wood, to
check there's enough room for a lowered machine in between your legs
and the table top.
Roberta in D

On Sun, 04 Mar 2012 00:24:00 +0100, Hanne in DK
wrote:

Dear all,

I'm currently looking to move to bigger quarters and high on my list for
after the move is a sewing machine table where the bed of the machine
can sit flush with the table top.

Well, I came across this series of pics that shows how one is
constructed. The text is in Swedish, but the pics are pretty
descriptive, I think.

http://www.andersj.se/sybord.htm

I like this one a lot, because it does not require a more complicated
inset. Looks a bit more doable to me :-) And can be made from an IKEA
table that matches my current dining room table, so that I can use the
sewing table in the dining room if I have lots of guests - hehe.

If anyone has additional tips, please share!

Hanne in DK

From a friend leaving the country, I inherited a table her husband had
altered. An old "kitchen table" in wood, with 2 shallow drawers right
under the top. He cut a hole large enough for the machine, located
over the right-hand drawer. the machine sat in the drawer. Works
great, and I still use it for the Featherweight.
Roberta in D

On Sun, 4 Mar 2012 12:25:33 +1100, "Di Maloney"
wrote:

Thanks for your reply Hanne, I will print off the pictures and have a look
at IKEA to find one that might be suitable.

Di

"Hanne in DK" wrote in message
...
Di,

Sadly, there is no IKEA piece that is just made for us!

They didn't use IKEA table (but I will, because then height/width will be
perfect for my other use + it is cheap).

In fact this guy did a table that you can unscrew the legs, to put it
away. The other end clips onto the cutting table on the left. So, really,
he wanted something that can be put away, that is not a priority for me -
in fact, I long to be able to leave my sewing out!

But I think any table that comes with a frame for the top to rest one
would be easy to alter. Lots of small tables only have the corner legs, in
which care you'd need to add a support that runs along the length of the
table at the front (the guy did that in the pics).


Hanne in DK


Den 04-03-2012 01:02, Di Maloney skrev:
Hanne,

That's exactly what I want too.

Am I correct in thinking that someone bought a table and altered it to
suit
their needs or is it an IKEA product made like that?

Di
In very very wet Victoria, Aust but not as bad a NSW.


"Hanne in wrote in message
...
Dear all,

I'm currently looking to move to bigger quarters and high on my list for
after the move is a sewing machine table where the bed of the machine
can
sit flush with the table top.

Well, I came across this series of pics that shows how one is
constructed.
The text is in Swedish, but the pics are pretty descriptive, I think.

http://www.andersj.se/sybord.htm

I like this one a lot, because it does not require a more complicated
inset. Looks a bit more doable to me :-) And can be made from an IKEA
table that matches my current dining room table, so that I can use the
sewing table in the dining room if I have lots of guests - hehe.

If anyone has additional tips, please share!

Hanne in DK

On 3/4/2012 12:29 AM, Hanne in DK wrote:
I'm in no rush (haven't bought the new place yet), maybe I should wait
and get an inset next time I'm in the US.
Maybe you could get a glass company (one of those places that cuts glass
for windows, replaces auto glass, etc.) to make a plexiglas insert for
you. I broke my extension table, so took the pieces into a glass company
and had them make a new one, using the broken one as a template. They
reused the legs from the broken table. It was about half the cost of
buying a new extension table online or from the sewing center.

If you are getting an insert for a table, you don't need the legs on the
insert. You could make a paper template for them to use for the insert.

Julia in MN

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I was chit-chatting about this with a friend (my friends husband, who is
my goto guy in this area for drilling and stuff that needs two people
working, he also sews and I think it would be easy to talk him into
helping me with this project).

He also mentioned about the bobbin. Basically, I cannot see how my hands
can reach under the table regardless of wood or clear inset (there is a
bar at the front of the table to go under). So I'm guessing I'd have to
lift/slide the inset to change the bobbin. No other levers at the
business end of my pfaff (controls are either above or way to the right,
where I would not have the inset over anyway.

Still considering the "perfect way" of doing this :-)

Hanne in DK

Den 04-03-2012 15:12, Roberta skrev:
Lovely work on that table! I like the careful shaping around the
machine. However... How easy is it to change the bobbin? Does your
machine have any buttons or levers near the base, like my Pfaff does?
If so, you might be better off ordering an acrylic insert specially
made to take all those things into account. And remember to try out
the table with your sewing chair before you start cutting wood, to
check there's enough room for a lowered machine in between your legs
and the table top.
Roberta in D

On Sun, 04 Mar 2012 00:24:00 +0100, Hanne in
wrote:

Dear all,

I'm currently looking to move to bigger quarters and high on my list for
after the move is a sewing machine table where the bed of the machine
can sit flush with the table top.

Well, I came across this series of pics that shows how one is
constructed. The text is in Swedish, but the pics are pretty
descriptive, I think.

http://www.andersj.se/sybord.htm

I like this one a lot, because it does not require a more complicated
inset. Looks a bit more doable to me :-) And can be made from an IKEA
table that matches my current dining room table, so that I can use the
sewing table in the dining room if I have lots of guests - hehe.

If anyone has additional tips, please share!

Hanne in DK

Den 05-03-2012 03:17, Sandy skrev:
In ,
Hanne in wrote:

I was chit-chatting about this with a friend (my friends husband, who is
my goto guy in this area for drilling and stuff that needs two people
working, he also sews and I think it would be easy to talk him into
helping me with this project).

He also mentioned about the bobbin. Basically, I cannot see how my hands
can reach under the table regardless of wood or clear inset (there is a
bar at the front of the table to go under). So I'm guessing I'd have to
lift/slide the inset to change the bobbin. No other levers at the
business end of my pfaff (controls are either above or way to the right,
where I would not have the inset over anyway.

Still considering the "perfect way" of doing this :-)


All of this talk of making your own table/cabinet has me remembering
another do-it-yourself project. It wasn't mine, though.G My DT wanted
a cabinet like mine (we *are* twins, after all!g), but she couldn't
get anything even remotely affordable where she lives near Paris.

So they had me do lots of measurements, take photos of various parts of
my cabinet, take more measurements, answer questions on Skype, redo the
measurements, etc. -- you get the idea. Then we researched where to get
the "lift" for the machine to be able to go up and down in the cabinet,
but nothing affordable was available to them, and shipping to them from
the US was prohibitive.

Uhhhh ... it just so happens that DH and I were planning a trip to visit
DT and DBIL, so guess what came next. Yup, we ordered a lift, and I
wrapped it in layer after layer of bubble wrap, distributed the various
pieces between our suitcases (weight constraints, you know), and hand
delivered that lift to the Paris area! Oh, and we also took along a
plexiglass insert, since that was also difficult to find in their area.

DBIL is an engineer who likes to work on various projects, so DT is now
the proud owner/user of a beautiful sewing machine cabinet, custom made
to fit her room and her needs.

That is really neat! I do carry stuff home from my trips to the US (I
have a couple of friends who are happy to receive orders for me), but
all that stuff is pretty big :-)

Thankfully, I will not need the lift!

Hanne in DK

My google page translated the whole thing into English. Well, most of it. It's pretty self-explanatory, and if you're comfortable using power tools probably would be simple. I really want table like this. Maybe this summer I'll find something to use at a garage sale. Can't wait for garage sale season!

Sunny

My (purchased) sewing table came with an acrylic insert. and there is
room enough to reach under and change the bobbin. On days when my
hands get a bit clunky, the insert gives way a little and lifts itself
up, falls back into place when I'm done.
Does your table have that bar on both sides? I'm thinking that would
be a deal-breaker for me.
Roberta in D

On Sun, 04 Mar 2012 20:48:53 +0100, Hanne in DK
wrote:

I was chit-chatting about this with a friend (my friends husband, who is
my goto guy in this area for drilling and stuff that needs two people
working, he also sews and I think it would be easy to talk him into
helping me with this project).

He also mentioned about the bobbin. Basically, I cannot see how my hands
can reach under the table regardless of wood or clear inset (there is a
bar at the front of the table to go under). So I'm guessing I'd have to
lift/slide the inset to change the bobbin. No other levers at the
business end of my pfaff (controls are either above or way to the right,
where I would not have the inset over anyway.

Still considering the "perfect way" of doing this :-)

Hanne in DK

Den 04-03-2012 15:12, Roberta skrev:
Lovely work on that table! I like the careful shaping around the
machine. However... How easy is it to change the bobbin? Does your
machine have any buttons or levers near the base, like my Pfaff does?
If so, you might be better off ordering an acrylic insert specially
made to take all those things into account. And remember to try out
the table with your sewing chair before you start cutting wood, to
check there's enough room for a lowered machine in between your legs
and the table top.
Roberta in D

On Sun, 04 Mar 2012 00:24:00 +0100, Hanne in
wrote:

Dear all,

I'm currently looking to move to bigger quarters and high on my list for
after the move is a sewing machine table where the bed of the machine
can sit flush with the table top.

Well, I came across this series of pics that shows how one is
constructed. The text is in Swedish, but the pics are pretty
descriptive, I think.

http://www.andersj.se/sybord.htm

I like this one a lot, because it does not require a more complicated
inset. Looks a bit more doable to me :-) And can be made from an IKEA
table that matches my current dining room table, so that I can use the
sewing table in the dining room if I have lots of guests - hehe.

If anyone has additional tips, please share!

Hanne in DK