The Sewing Place
Tools of the Trade => Sewing Spaces and Furniture => Topic started by: WendyW on November 29, 2021, 05:57:56 AM
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Our new house is finally coming together and I will have a large sewing room. I'm planning to offer sewing classes in some capacity, though it remains to be seen exactly how that will come together. I'm leaning toward week-long, half-day "camps" for kids during school breaks, and weekly small group or private lessons during the school terms.
My plan already includes space for extra machines for students, a cutting table that should be able to handle at least 2 students at a time- more if the projects are small, and a large ironing surface. The adjacent bathroom is designed with space for a dressing room. Extra electrical outlets are planned for and the details will be discussed with the electrician.
What else would you consider to be essential in a teaching studio? Looking for all kinds of ideas, not just the room itself.
Here's a couple photos of my new space. The solid wall at the far end will be all storage. A closet in the middle will hold bins of fabric and the doors will be a design wall. There will be built in shelves on each side of the closet. One side for sewing stuff, the other for all my non-sewing crafts. The additional rooms on the left side will be a guest room and a bath room with dressing space for students/clients.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51712225481_5de9a520ed.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mMCF1v)Sewing room 2 (https://flic.kr/p/2mMCF1v) by CraftymamaMN (https://www.flickr.com/photos/craftymama-mn/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51711436382_2052a729c3.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mMyCrm)Sewing room 1 (https://flic.kr/p/2mMyCrm) by CraftymamaMN (https://www.flickr.com/photos/craftymama-mn/), on Flickr
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All I can say is
WOW
and jealous ... moi ????? :[
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Oh my! That's huuuuge! How exciting. The sewing studio sounds brilliant. I wonder whether the TSP bus can fly?
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All I can say is
WOW
and jealous ... moi ????? :[
@Iminei did you and the rest notice those magical words "guest room"? Hmmm....I'm on the same continent as my dear very, very, very distant cousin Wendy. (Surely we're related?) :ninja: :laughing:
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Seriously impressed!! I'm sure the TSP bus can get us there no probs ;)
My only suggestion for the sewing room/studio is plenty of light - but I'm sure you've got that covered.
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Oh my! That sounds FAB-U-LOUS. :perfect10:
Seriously, if there’s plenty of decent accommodation available nearby, would you consider offering sewing retreats for grown-ups? Don’t see why the kids should have all the fun. :laughing:
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@WendyW How fun is this! And something to exercise my brain. Thank you!
I'm an interior designer. I worked years ago designing closets and storage spaces, then commercial offices and things like control rooms in a Chemical manufacturing facility. Finally spent several years designing commercial kitchens, restaurants, churches, etc. So here's what I can suggest.
- The closet at the end of the room, if it is to be a standard 2 foot depth, the shelves at either side should only be no more than 12" deep. Storing sewing and crafting supplies on 12" shelving will still be challenging to prevent losing things on them. Can the closet have a separate 30" of space for storage of your own things, such as the ability to hang self-drafted patterns? An iron you may not want students using,etc?
- The bins for fabric storage should be no more than 6"-8" deep and stack no more than 2 high on a shelf. They should also be translucent to ease usage.
-Instead of one large cutting table for two people to use, I would suggest 2 smaller tables that can be pushed together when teaching kids and separated for better usage by 2 adults. I use a hollow core door that hangs on the wall. I screw the legs on when needed. Is this a possibility for an extra cutting table when needed?
-can the cutting tables be used with stools for gathering everyone around for a teaching moment and to offer an easy way to eat lunch? A conferencing area more or less?
-separate 2'x4' tables for each student. This way the vibration from someone else's machine will not be bothersome. If they are movable, as you teach adults, could they face each other to encourage a club atmosphere and make it more socially engaging?
- At least 2 or 3 separate ironing boards, properly padded, for adults and advanced students, as opposed to one large ironing table. Unless you are teaching quilting, it would be better to teach everyone how to press and iron on a board they would use at home. I still prefer my original skinny board for making clothing. The wide ones are difficult for shoulder and neck seam pressing.
-specific storage for ironing accessories, spray bottles, clappers, point presser, sleeve boards, press buck, etc.
-daylight bulbs for color matching in all lamps/light fixtures.
- Be very careful with the electrical. I once designed a church kitchen with a huge bank of outlets to allow for slow cooker pot luck dinners. I clearly marked the outlets as "convenience outlets for slow cookers". But since I didn't sell the slow cookers I wasn't obligated to provide spec sheets (members would bring theirs from home) the dip dog engineer placed 8 outlets on one 15 amp circuit! They all had to be rewired. Find the specs on a few irons you may consider using so the contractor can calculate the loads correctly. Also, if you have an expensive computerized sewing machine, you'll probably want it on a dedicated circuit. If you plan on using vintage machines, there's something goofy with the foot controls that used to interfere with tv signals, I would discuss this with the contractor/electrician. You may want to have an extra 1 or 2 dedicated circuits in case a student decides to bring an expensive computer machine. Read up on surge protectors and buy good ones where needed - remembering to replace them every 2 to 6 years. You may want to provide a charging station for people's phones and laptops as they may be there for several hours. What kind of task lighting will you use for each sewing station? Do you want to add an additional washer and dryer for pre washing fabric and for guests to use?
-Will you need space heaters during inclimate weather?
-a coffee/tea station for the adults. A frig for storing lunches? A microwave? A small sink that isn't in the bathroom. Nothing elaborate, just accomodating.
- a wall mounted TV to watch applicable videos to be discussed as a class (and to keep you happy while you sew :meditate:)
-easy access to cleaning supplies and storage for brooms, mops, a dust buster, etc. including outlets for those things to recharge.
-storage for quick access to tools needed to make machine repairs in a pinch.
Ok, so some are suggestions and other stuff is just questions I would would be asking were I actually designing the space.
I miss doing this, can you tell?
And the "sewing retreat" idea sounds like a winner to me!
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Always wanted to visit America!
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Fantastic space!
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Do we have any pilots out there? Does anyone know how much it would cost to hire a plane?
Asking for a friend ;)
BB
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@WendyW How fun is this! And something to exercise my brain. Thank you!
Ooh! I get to pick a professional brain! Fun! I'll try to answer your questions, and I've added pics of the space plan.
- The closet at the end of the room:
*Pic below of my bins for yardage. These will be the primary thing inside the closet. I've been using this system for several years and it works well for me. Smaller fabric pieces such as precuts have separate storage in plastic drawer carts, which aren't ideal but work well enough that those are waaaay down on list of projects for the future.
*I have access to full rolls of batting- for FREE!- so planning to put that in for ease of access.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51713790539_d6674cf08a_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mMLGfg)hanging fabric (https://flic.kr/p/2mMLGfg) by CraftymamaMN (https://www.flickr.com/photos/craftymama-mn/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51714002120_2da1e28b3f_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mMMM9d)boxes (https://flic.kr/p/2mMMM9d) by CraftymamaMN (https://www.flickr.com/photos/craftymama-mn/), on Flickr
The shelving:
*Planning for 12in deep. Too-deep storage is a major problem in my current house (not just sewing space) and I am definitely eliminating that issue.
*Space below the shelves for rolling carts to be pulled out as needed. My Silhouette cutter and supplies will have a cart, as will lots of other paper-crafting supplies. Plastic drawer units on castors for precuts and scraps.
Ironing:
*Currently have a vintage dresser with an ironing surface on top. Lots of storage in the drawers for supplies and can put additional irons there. Can easily set up a regular ironing board elsewhere in the room. That's something else I'll have to plan a storage space for. I also have a sleeve board, ham, etc, which can be used on top of the large board as needed, and those store inside the dresser.
Cutting table:
*Plan is for one large table. Hubs will be building it for me, so I can do whatever I want with that. One that comes apart in two pieces is an intriguing idea. I was planning on castors anyway, so that could work.
*A drop-leaf table mounted for additional cutting space is an possibility if it proves necessary. Maybe against the stair wall near the soft seating.....
*Already planning to make the cutting table useable with stools. Might have to reconsider how many seats.
-separate 2'x4' tables for each student:
*Hmm. Hadn't considered vibration. Planning a large table so I will have the table space to support quilts and formal dresses when I'm sewing those. I'll put vibration pads on my shopping list and watch for issues.
-daylight bulbs for color matching in all lamps/light fixtures:
*Already the plan! Learned that lesson re: paint colors in our family room. Also, those nice big windows face south.
- Be very careful with the electrical.
*Whoa! LOTS to consider there. I'll pass that on to my husband and discuss it with the electrician.
- Space heater:
*Better not need that! We're paying for in-floor heat, and the sewing room is upstairs. I don't expect heat to be an issue, despite out local climate. I guess time will tell though. HAS to be better than my current basement space.
-a coffee/tea station for the adults....
*Not planning anything more than a fridge for bottled water. At this time, all-day events are not in the plans, and I really don't know where I could put a kitchenette space. I think if that became a need, I'd just make my normal kitchen available.
- a wall mounted TV:
*already in the plans
-easy access to cleaning supplies....
*Ugh. Hadn't even thought of that. Which is stupid of me since all my stairs in my current house, with my supplies always being on the wrong floor, is a current issue. Probably will make use of the guest room closet, and under the bathroom sink.
-quick access to tools:
*always have those near now, and will be included in my storage.
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I hadn't thought about retreats, and thinking about it now, I don't think I'd go that route. There are NO other accommodations nearby. We'll be 5 miles from the nearest gas station, and 15 from the nearest hotels. Retreats also open the door to all kinds of other regulations regarding overnight guests and food service, and I do NOT want to go there.
Friends are always welcome though! The guest room is always open. The plan overall also includes a couple other guest rooms over Hub's woodshop. We want to be able to host the grown kids and their families over holidays without having to put people to bed on the floor. Go ahead and bring a planeload! :grouphug:
Room layout. Planning to buy several "alex" units from IKEA, which are noted on the plan. There will also be storage under the cutting table, which doesn't show.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51713794819_385d64ff7f.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mMLHw4)floor plan (https://flic.kr/p/2mMLHw4) by CraftymamaMN (https://www.flickr.com/photos/craftymama-mn/), on Flickr
Storage plan for the large wall.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51713795014_648d0e6cd4.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mMLHzq)storage plan (https://flic.kr/p/2mMLHzq) by CraftymamaMN (https://www.flickr.com/photos/craftymama-mn/), on Flickr
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Thought, Get a sturdy round batten/roll to put your batting (wadding here in the UK) onto, preferably above your cutting table then you can just pull off as much wadding as you need and cut ... no muss no fuss ... This is what the posh interior designers have in town for their curtain linings/thermal waddings.
Almost the same deal ... Thick battens mounted on large flat hooks round the room can be used to display finished/quilts
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Thought, Get a sturdy round batten/roll to put your batting (wadding here in the UK) onto, preferably above your cutting table then you can just pull off as much wadding as you need and cut ... no muss no fuss ...
I planned on a pipe to run through the middle of the batting roll to hang it in the closet. It won't be over the cutting table, but will be right next to it. Just worked out that way- I hadn't thought about it's placement for anything except the storage space.
I'll have quilts hanging all over the place, but it will take a while to make some. I want the sewing room to look pulled together, so will make a series of matching ones for decor- don't have a CLUE yet what they will look like. I'll also need some in the great room- two-story ceiling, hard floors, they'll be a necessity to stop the echoing.
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Now I'm seriously going green with envy, it's awesome :thumb:
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My room now has a roof, windows, and the beginnings of the closet at the far end. Electric goes in this week, so we'll have that talk with the electrician very soon.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51744102790_a65248c0dc.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mQs42h)sewing room 3 (https://flic.kr/p/2mQs42h) by CraftymamaMN (https://www.flickr.com/photos/craftymama-mn/), on Flickr
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Ok I admit it ... Im envious as hell!
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A ROUND WINDOW!!!! We're all so jealous. Is the whole house built of wood? No bricks?
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That's as big as the photos you see of sewing rooms in the US.
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I am saying nothing on the grounds my jealousy really shows its ugly head :lipsrsealed:
BB
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@WendyW -can the cutting tables be used with stools for gathering everyone around for a teaching moment and to offer an easy way to eat lunch? A conferencing area more or less?
Oh my gosh, I'm having palpitations at the thought of people eating at a space that is designed for use by fabric. No, no, absolutely not. Never eat where you will be cutting fabric (grease spots = spoiled fabrics). this is the next big no-no IMO after using fabrics scissors for non-fabric uses! 8)
@WendyW That is an absolutely fabulous space and will be lovely when it is done. Can't wait to see the pics.
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What a fabulous space, jealous ,me?
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A ROUND WINDOW!!!! We're all so jealous. Is the whole house built of wood? No bricks?
I LOVE my round window! There was originally a matching one on the back of the house, in the bathroom, but the price difference made us change the back one to square. It will only be visible to one neighbor, so not worth the expense. And the square one will open, which will be nice in a bathroom.
Yes, the whole house is wood, with vinyl siding. In this area of the country, this is typical. Many homes add brick or stone as an accent, but then it is just applied to the front of the normal wood wall. Brick is more costly, and all-brick houses are more common in southern states where termites are a problem. Those little critters can't survive our winters.
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That's as big as the photos you see of sewing rooms in the US.
LOL! It IS a sewing room in the US!
Yes, the size is a huge blessing! It was not that we planned a huge sewing room, but we planned for one-level living as we age, and wanted a gambrel roof. That roofline created space that screamed for a second story for the guest room and bath. My sewing room got the space that was left over. (Hubs gets a whole other building for a woodworking shop, so I'm not the only one with a big hobby space.)
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Everything is bigger in the US. Interesting about the construction materials, big construction timbers are very expensive in the UK and of course we have a damp, mild climate that suits various forms of wood rot. Your sewing room is probably the same floor area as my whole house!
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Yes, in many parts of USA things are much bigger than in UK; simply because there is so much more land per person. Simply not possible for everyone here to have that much space and still be on dry land.
the whole house is wood, with vinyl siding. In this area of the country, this is typical. Many homes add brick or stone as an accent, but then it is just applied to the front of the normal wood wall. Brick is more costly, and all-brick houses are more common in southern states where termites are a problem. Those little critters can't survive our winters.
Looking at the images of the terrible hurricane damage in south east USA this evening Terry's comment was that the houses are all wooden. Are we right in thinking that brick/stone building stronger than timber when it comes to severe weather?
ETA - please don't think I'm not envious of your lovely sewing room. because I am! It's just that reality is different in different parts of the world.
Also what is vinyl siding? Is it the same as the cladding that is on so many of our higher rise buildings and which was responsible for the dreadful fire at Grenfell Tower a couple of years ago?
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LOL! It IS a sewing room in the US!
Yes, the size is a huge blessing! It was not that we planned a huge sewing room, but we planned for one-level living as we age, and wanted a gambrel roof. That roofline created space that screamed for a second story for the guest room and bath. My sewing room got the space that was left over. (Hubs gets a whole other building for a woodworking shop, so I'm not the only one with a big hobby space.)
Doh! :facepalm: Brane sel not functioning. I hadn't checked whose post I was reading.
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I didn't expect this post to turn into a conversation on building techniques. :) Here's a link to my blog (https://constructingourdream.blogspot.com/) for those that want to see more pictures. Beginning in Nov. of this year there are pictures of every step of the framing. I'll be happy to answer any questions.
For the questions that have already been asked:
Looking at the images of the terrible hurricane damage in south east USA this evening Terry's comment was that the houses are all wooden. Are we right in thinking that brick/stone building stronger than timber when it comes to severe weather?
The tornados like those that ripped through the SE states this weekend will rip apart ANYTHING! NO house can withstand a direct hit from an F4 or F5 tornado. Ditto for the extremely strong hurricanes that sometimes hit the coastal areas. Brick or stone built with mortar might fare better in a weaker storm, but not by much. Houses built of cement block or of poured concrete are much stronger. Block can be affordable to build but are also ugly and have other disadvantages. Poured concrete is more expensive, so usually only done on custom homes. Both are more likely to be built in hurricane prone areas- which also happen to be the hottest and most humid areas, so have an extra advantage against rot. As an example of the kind of forces these storms can produce, my grandpa once saw a piece of straw driven straight through a piece of lumber as if the straw was a nail. Thankfully storms at the extreme end of the spectrum are not common. This week's was literally off the charts re: the damage and how long the tornado lasted. Where we live, tornados are often spawned by thunderstorms, but they merely threaten a lot more often than they cause damage. The very powerful ones are rare this far north. Our new house will have a room that is reinforced to withstand storms, and that only because we did not include a basement.
Also what is vinyl siding? Is it the same as the cladding that is on so many of our higher rise buildings and which was responsible for the dreadful fire at Grenfell Tower a couple of years ago?
I had to look up that fire, and no, it's not the same. Vinyl siding is literally strips of heavy vinyl (plastic) molded to look like wood clapboards. It's the most common type of siding used in the US. Each strip appears to be 2 or 3 strips of wooden siding, and they are applied in an overlapping fashion that makes the whole wall appear to be painted wood lap siding. It's also available in a variety of other styles (https://sidingauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Types-of-Vinyl-Siding.jpg). Ours will be a board-and-batten style.
Interesting about the construction materials, big construction timbers are very expensive in the UK
Big construction timbers are very expensive here, too! That's why the US building industry has come up with other ways to provide strength without using old-growth timbers. If you look at the pictures on my blog, there are 3 types of timbers that are more than just regular construction lumber. Around the stairway there are several 6"sq posts to support the second floor. The same type hold up the front edges of the porches. These are easily within the size of typical harvested trees, so not an extreme cost. Across the top of these stairway posts are 2 laminated beams. These are like a heavily glued plywood, stacked a foot high, and cut into slices like a layer cake. These can be made in any length. The longer ones can get pricey, but we didn't need to span any extreme distances. The extra strength around the stairs is because we wanted to use the space below the stairs for special purposes and did not want normal framing there.
The third type of beam for heavy loads is in the front wall with the double stack of windows. These are not anything special, just multiple lengths of 2x6 nailed together for extra strength to support the windows and roof. In most houses, the strength to span wide spaces comes from engineered trusses, which you can see supporting the entire second floor and the roof. The types of construction that require the huge beams- usually called "post and beam" or "timber frame"- are reserved for larger buildings such as barns, or huge custom homes that desire a rustic look.
Building codes can vary greatly across the US. Climate plays a part, as does the proximity to civilization. Out in the middle of nowhere there can be zero building codes at all, especially in the south. (Let the buyer beware in those areas!) In northern states there are likely to be requirements for roofs to hold a significant weight of snow, and a minimum amount of insulation. Our county has enough code requirements to make one want to scream, but as I see our house come together, I'm glad the codes are there. WE certainly wouldn't know what to watch for to be sure the builder does quality work.
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my grandpa once saw a piece of straw driven straight through a piece of lumber as if the straw was a nail.
:faints: :faints: :faints:
Been reading your blog and have decided I fancy a visit to Minnesota ... Do you have Amish around there???
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Yes, @Iminei there are Amish in the state. I think the nearest are about 2 hrs away.
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@WendyW I popped over to your blog and laughed my socks off when I read the title 'Bosky Glen' - I'm often called 'Glen' instead of my full name of Glenda and bosky here also means drunk!! :laughing: :laughing: Really feel you named it after me!! :P
The building and surroundings look magical. Really love them both. :loveit:
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and bosky here also means drunk
I did NOT run across that definition when I was researching names! :laughing: Not outside the realm of possibilities at our place, but still on the unlikely side. Feel free to use the handle if it fits!
"Magical" is exactly how I feel about our land! I'm pretty sure my granddaughter and I will find some fairy and gnome homes once we get settled in. Many times this past summer I just sat in my swing and just enjoyed my woods, with no ambition to work on things that needed doing.
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@WendyW I've just enjoyed reading your blog :) I showed your new house to my DH who spent 3 years in Minnesota and he was asking how far north you are? He used to fish on some of the many lakes up there.
Yes, the devastation caused caused by those tornadoes was truly horrendous. We are very fortunate that we don't experience such horrific weather conditions. We had winds of 100mph a couple of weeks ago which caused damage so wind speeds of over 200mph would cause so much more.
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I showed your new house to my DH who spent 3 years in Minnesota and he was asking how far north you are?
@coffeeandcake We are about 30 miles NW of MPLS, and south of I-94 (major highway).
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Time for an update! We are in and unpacking. My sewing room will be slow going- So. Much. Stuff. Time for me to find a local chapter of Craft Hoarders Anonymous.
The guest room is ready for guests! That's a start at least. Can sleep 4, so come on over!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52270049587_ff34c652a0.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nCVEFv)guest room (https://flic.kr/p/2nCVEFv) by CraftymamaMN (https://www.flickr.com/photos/craftymama-mn/), on Flickr
I did some painting before moving in. Took a whole week as I had to wait for each color to dry before taping off the spaces for the next color.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52271038258_6e11108193.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nD1Jzy)paint job (https://flic.kr/p/2nD1Jzy) by CraftymamaMN (https://www.flickr.com/photos/craftymama-mn/), on Flickr
The sewing room looked pretty good before all the cardboard boxes arrived.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52271017311_d7ac3cc3c1.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nD1Cmp)notmessy room (https://flic.kr/p/2nD1Cmp) by CraftymamaMN (https://www.flickr.com/photos/craftymama-mn/), on Flickr
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The next 3 pics are the current condition. I've started building my storage shelves and unpacking boxes. I can only do so much per payday, so this will be slow going as I complete my storage wall and upgrade furniture. Hopefully when we sell the old house, I can buy all the remaining upgrades at one time.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52271035103_19cfa98516.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nD1HDa)Messy room 1 (https://flic.kr/p/2nD1HDa) by CraftymamaMN (https://www.flickr.com/photos/craftymama-mn/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52271277769_ed1cba6ba1.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nD2XM4)messy room 2 (https://flic.kr/p/2nD2XM4) by CraftymamaMN (https://www.flickr.com/photos/craftymama-mn/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52271014531_d9c0d60cb6.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nD1Bwt)messy room 3 (https://flic.kr/p/2nD1Bwt) by CraftymamaMN (https://www.flickr.com/photos/craftymama-mn/), on Flickr
Thanks to suggestions here and on a Facebook group, my wiring has 3 different circuits, so we can have multiple irons plugged in for classes. There's plenty of lighting- a total of 13 can lights, plus task lighting in my personal sewing area. The bathroom is divided to provide a dressing area for clients and students to try things on. I'll easily have space for 3-4 students when I get new tables in place.
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WOW! WOW!! WOW!!!
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That's a fabulous sewing space! :loveit:
Sandra.
xxx
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Your sewing space is incredible!! Lovely. And of course I'm not jealous....... :P
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@WendyW How fun is this! And something to exercise my brain. Thank you!
-can the cutting tables be used with stools for gathering everyone around for a teaching moment and to offer an easy way to eat lunch? A conferencing area more or less?
Oh my goodness. No, no, no.. do not have people eating on the same tables where fabric is being cut. You run the risk of grease marks on patterns/fabrics. Obviously not a major problem if it is just toile fabric, but not if people are working on their proper fabric. Doing it this way is also a good way to teach good habits to your tutees!
Sounds like a fab project @WendyW
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Wow! Fabulous space!
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It looks absolutely fantastic. 😍
Please say you’ll be running holiday sewing retreats??? I want to come and stay. 🥰
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I'm just a tad envious of all your space... 0_0
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That's looking fantastic :loveit:
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Green with envy here. Looks fabulous. Then I have a reality check and think of the cleaning! :laughing:
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It looks absolutely fantastic. 😍
Please say you’ll be running holiday sewing retreats??? I want to come and stay. 🥰
I won't be running retreats officially. When you add lodging and food service, regulations skyrocket. But friends are always welcome to come!
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Green with envy here. Looks fabulous. Then I have a reality check and think of the cleaning! :laughing:
Yes! The thought of cleaning a bigger house has given me pause, BUT I designed this house, and everything I hated about cleaning the last house has been designed OUT of this one. And hopefully with enough built-in storage, clutter will be less of a problem.
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Looks fantastic
Wanders off muttering 'they have more land over there that's why the houses (and sewing rooms) are bigger'
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Last weekend my husband finished my new table. This one is about 6in lower than the old one, and much more comfortable to sew on. The old one got repainted and repurposed to a paper-crafting station.
I hosted a sewing service project for my church today, and got the room all cleaned up beforehand, so I took a picture to share. What you CAN'T see are the 6 tubs of fabric that DON'T fit on the shelves. My husband heard me tell my friends that I've sworn off buying "just for fun" fabrics until it all fits on that wall, and he asked for that in writing! (Don't worry, I won't commit myself in writing!) We had 11 ladies working in here today (including the rest of the space not in the picture) and it wasn't crowded at all.
I built all the storage on the back wall myself, gave my ironing boards a makeover, trimmed to size and mounted the doors on the front of my cutting table, applied the trim to the edges of both tables, and did all the painting. Next up is the Roman shades on the windows, and eventually closet doors/design wall over the middle part of the back wall, which will be a husband job.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52669676914_0fbcd09b66.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ofeRXQ)clean room (https://flic.kr/p/2ofeRXQ) by CraftymamaMN (https://www.flickr.com/photos/craftymama-mn/), on Flickr
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What a wonderful room.
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Woah! WOW! What me jealous?? No not jealous at all
That space looks as big as the entire downstairs of my house :faints:
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Wow that is ginormous, not good for me, I'm a bit of a slut with cleaning. Mind you I'd get plenty of exercise wandering from one table to another and I could have all the machines out at once.
Well worth waiting for @WendyW .
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Wow! That's fabulous.
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Wow, what a fabulous space.
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Just found this thread and I am blown away. How utterly fantastic!
Will you get many Norwegian Batchelor Farmers? Ya, youbetcha! (sorry, I had an attack of Garrison Kiellor/Marge Gundersson!)
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Are you on FB @WendyW because I am sure I have seen that room there.
Looks fantastic. So tidy and organised
And big!!!
Houses in USA are just bigger - with more space for workrooms.
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Fabulous @WendyW. You have done such a great job. I bet it's a pleasure to teach & work in.
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@Sewingsue I am on FB; I think the only group I've put up room pictures in is Sewing Room Ideas, though I might have in another group if someone else started the topic.
Based on past history, the tidy state may be temporary. I'm hopeful that actually having accessible storage space will make it easier to keep clean. I've told myself that this is IT. There will be no more future moves where I can hope for more space "next time". If I can't make it all fit, things are going out the door, not being held in reserve.
It IS big, and that's a blessing! But it wasn't the goal. We wanted one-story living downstairs for the long-term and put the extras upstairs. After we put in the upstairs requirements of guest room, bathroom, and grandkid play space, I got what was left over.
@HenriettaMaria LOL! In this little pocket of the state, Finnish is more likely than Norwegian, but I'm related to both, so either one is welcome! So far all the neighbors are married, but I'm sure eventually some bachelor will find his way to my door with his holey jeans. But since I'm married, sewing is the only service he'll get. :)
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@HenriettaMaria @WendyW
Garrison Keillor...soo dryly funny :D
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@WendyW, your room is lovely. Perfect for a teaching studio as you can have enough people in it easily when you teach classes.
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That's totally awesome @WendyW, I'm afraid I'm quite selfish and wouldn't want to share an amazing space like that with anyone, especially kids :faints:.