My sewing space

As I mentioned, after many years of sewing on the dining table or squished in the corner of the room, I finally have a dedicated sewing room.  If there was ever a reason to be glad your children have flown the nest … this is it!

I had very little thought in my mind of how I wanted it to look so while I was suffering over Christmas with my swollen glands and cheese grater  throat, I spent many hours looking at ‘pinterest’ and Google for ideas.

The only thing I came up with was I liked the look of white rooms and I wanted it to be ‘girlie’.  Luckily, the room was already painted white so that meant there was no need for decoration.  Next step was how things would be arranged.  I have been relegated to the corner of the living room with a sewing cabinet that just managed to fit my sewing machine and overlocker on the top.  I wanted the machine in front of the window as I have spent too many years looking at a wall but when the cabinet was shifted up the stairs I realised that there was still no space by the machines and that was now my requirement. 

After rummaging around the internet I found the solution, a fold up table that was 4 feet long and just £30!  It was rapidly ordered and I waited for its delivery.  The next issue was there was no storage.  Dearly beloved husband had decided that my sewing storage room (a room downstairs that is too small to be useful for much else than storing things in) should stay as it is, with its three filing cabinets and wardrobe filled with fabric.  Now I am willing to go with that but there are certain things you want nearby, and some things are too pretty to be hidden away, so they were going to make their way upstairs.

On a random trip to a local shop I found the collection of pretty boxes for £35.  They range in size from about 4”x2” right up to the largest which you can see under the table in the pic.  I also found the shelving/drawer system in the same shop.  The drawers are plastic baskets which I was offered for just £15 as one of the baskets was broken.  Once I got it home I covered all the baskets with some pretty floral fabric and filled with my ribbons,  lace and other oddments that needed a home (there are many tutorials on this but basically you use your box to make a pattern from the base and sides and voila….’tis done). 

As I had so much time available to me I looked on blogs for storage solutions and one that really appealed was using good ol’ fashioned  clothes pegs to wrap the smaller bits of lace and braid around.  I have to say it works a treat and all those odds and ends are now easier to find, take up less room and look a whole lot neater.  Have a look around to see what ideas you can come up with, I also saw people using pieces of cardboard, folders and boxes but they didn’t fit with my chaotic brain!

An old towel rack was used to store rolls of lace and the wrapping paper I use for paper pattern making.  I’m not even sure where it came from but it was never used for towels and has languished in various rooms around the house for a while now so it must be feeling very useful all of a sudden.

My mum donated an old kitchen cabinet that hubby put up along with a couple of shelves that were rescued from our shed from somewhere or other.  I decided I didn’t want the doors back on the cupboard as I wanted to be able to see my pretties that are stored in it but we have left the hinges on for now in case I change my mind.

The cabinet that had previously been my sewing table (and houses the Singer 411g) was moved into an alcove and has become my ironing board/cutting mat area for patchwork   (One thing I always wanted to do and never got around to is quilting, and I am pleased to say I have managed to venture into it the last couple of weeks and will post about that soon).

The table arrived and is absolutely perfect and I am constantly impressed by the space at the side and back of the machine and wonder how I managed in such cramped conditions for so long. 

The last step was to bring up the dummies that are now waiting for the wedding sewing to start.

My apologies for the rubbish picture quality, it was dark and I am rubbish at photography!

Magazines and patterns are now housed in the larger boxes under the sewing table and the other boxes have a collection of bobbins, sewing machine feet and needles, basically anything that previously was scattered in a variety of drawers and cupboards around the house.

There are still some bits and bobs I want to move upstairs from the storage room and I still have a practically empty cupboard that most of that can go in when I get  a free moment to do it. 

The room is lovely to work in with everything close to hand and even youngest step daughter said that she found it beautifully calm and could sit in there quite happily for some peace and quiet (I have no intention of encouraging this, my haven is now firmly….MINE!).  I am now looking for some ideas on how to decorate this in a truly girlie way but I will bide my time until I find things I truly want in there.

Edit: I just had to add this.  My other half came home from the shops today with this for me.

Apparently he heard my hint that all sewing rooms need a pink iron :D