Make Your Sewing Station Functional And Comfortable

Whether you are an experienced quilter or a novice just starting out you will want to designate an area of your home for sewing. It can be a corner, a whole room, or even your kitchen table if that is your only option. Decide on a place where you can sew and quilt without having to move your stash of fabric and quilting projects around. 

How do I design a functional comfortable sewing station?

• Decide where in your home you will sew your quilts.
• Organize your fabric, thread, and other sewing supplies.
• Get a table to put your sewing machine on. You can pick one up at your local thrift shop or make your own if you are ambitious.
• Purchase a comfortable chair.
• Gather plastic bins, baskets, ceramic containers, glass jars, a dresser, etc…
• Make sure you have plenty of light.
• Add a lamp if you need to.
• Create a pressing station with your iron and ironing board near by your sewing station.
• Add live plants.

The whole idea is to make your sewing studio organized and calm. Have you ever noticed when you walk into a room that is all out of sorts how your level of stress rises? You want to organize your sewing area in such a way that when you sit down to sew, you feel a sense of peace and calm. You like being in the space you have created.

Choose Your Sewing Area

You can find a place in your home to sew and quilt even if you don’t have a room to designate just for that. Do you have a corner in your basement? A guest bedroom? An office in your home? What about a desk in your family room? Hopefully all these suggestions get you thinking and the wheels turning.

Sit down for a minute ( a luxury I know during the day!) Brainstorm and if you need to walk by each place that is a possible place for your sewing station. Pick a spot that will make you happy when you are in it. Once you figure out where that is, now the fun begins

Time to Organize

Take stock of tools you have to organize. Baskets, plastic bins, fabric bins, even glass mason jars can hold thread, scissors, measuring tapes, etc…Do you have a dresser you can use? Organize your tools in drawers if it would work better for you. Questions I know lots of questions but it is for a good reason…it gets you thinking about the space you are creating. 

You want to design your sewing area carefully. You want this space to be a place want to spend time in. . When you walk into your space and sit down you feel relaxed and comfortable. It needs to be functional as well. But who says you can’t enjoy your functional space? Let’s make it all three!

The table I am using for my sewing station was handmade by my husband. He made it several years ago. If you are handy or you know someone handy with a saw and hammer you can design a simple table to use for your sewing space.. You can use a desk, a folding table,whatever you have on hand or invest in a nice table or desk. 

Wooden crates or laundry baskets will work. Think outside the box and look around to see what you already have. If you have a second hand store you live close to, it might be a really good place to find items to organize your chosen sewing area with. You can find baskets, tins, glass jars, organizers, etc…You can find a lot of fun items that you can use to set up your sewing station including a table or old desk. Look around for some items that will be useful and make your space really creative!

Put some hooks on the wall to hang your unfinished quilted projects from in case you want to hang some items or things that you sew. The organizers you use do not have to match. They can just be useful and if displayed right will enhance your sewing station!

Buttons look festive in a glass jar. You can put thread in a jar with a two fold purpose. One for the looks of it and the other you can easily see what colors you have. Store your green cutting mat underneath your sewing machine. When you need to use the mat, just slip it out from underneath your table. 

Keep it free of clutter. You don’t want too much in your space or you will feel crowded and uncomfortable. 

The Sewing Staples of a Sewing Station

First find the table or desk you will be sewing at. Before you choose your table, make sure between the table and chair you choose that it is a good height for you. Not too tall and not too short. You can use a card table, (build a simple wooden table), remodel and old desk with or without drawers, or buy a sewing table with a fold up fold down side on it. This will set the stage for your sewing area. Own Your Space!!!! Make it a place of sanctuary. Well what I mean is make it a fun delightful, uplifting space to be in. One that inspires you!

Lighting is crucial! You need to have the right amount and the right kind of lighting. I hate artificial light. If you have the luxury of having a window nearby all the better. If not, find the kind of lamp or lighting that you can not only see what you are doing in, but that will make your sewing area more natural looking and inviting. Dim lighting has got to go! You don’t want to ruin your eyes or make sewing difficult too hard on them!! Take care of the windows to your soul! 

A comfortable chair is also important. You’ve probably experienced like me sitting for a long time in the same place trying to finish a project and your back starts to hurt, your neck is cranked and pretty soon your project becomes drudgery. Try out different types of chairs. 

Find what works best for you. There are a lot to choose from out there. Adjustable, stationary whatever fits your body best.  Play around with different chairs in your home.  Sew  little bit as you try out your chair. If you choose a chair and find eventually that it just doesn’t support your back like it should, change it out. This is pretty critical to making your sewing station a comfy,healthy place to be.

Set Up A Pressing Station

Near your sewing area you will want to have an iron and an ironing board ready to go. Your quilting will look so much crisper if you iron as you sew. It makes your quilting easier. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just reliable. You might want a spray bottle too and an iron with steam. 

If you don’t have an electrical outlet nearby, have a couple of extension cords stored in your sewing space. That would take care of your sewing machine and your iron. 

Add Some Live Plants

Greenery always takes a space to the next level. A mint plant smells good and  brings a bit of the outside inside. Find a planter that will elevate your space and add a little breath of fresh air. Look for a plant that is easy to care for.. Make sure it is suited for your sewing space. Do you get direct sunlight through a nearby window? If so, take care when choosing a plant to make sure it likes the sun. If you have a sewing space that lacks sun, make sure your plant doesn’t need a lot of sunshine. 

This and That

Now you are armed with plenty of ideas to get your own thought process going. Good decor doesn’t have to be expensive. Keep your space uncluttered and clean. Add a small garbage pail to drop threads and small pieces of fabric that you will cut off. Mine is just a tin bucket.  I keep a large wicker basket under my table to store the unfinished quilt I am currently working on.

 I didn’t buy anything new for my space. I used what I had on hand. (In case you are wondering, the metal art piece above my desk was a thrown away thing for the fire. I see beauty in the oddest places and things! Surround yourself with things that you love in your space and make it your own kind of serene!