World Wide Quilting Page
Question of the Week
Question for the week of April 27, 1998:
Our question this week comes from Andrea
I am moving into a new home and intend to have a quilting room, however, I am not sure how I should decorate the room to make it cosy and convenient for quilting. I have 2 walls and window lining the 3 wall. Any suggestions?
Robin :
Sewing machine under the window on a large table. The wall nearest to the machine becomes a work wall and the other wall has a cutting table with shelves above and below. Tile floor - braided or throw rugs by the cutting table. I hang tools from the shelf above the cutting table. Adjustable spotlights (I have 8 on a dimmer switch), and you will have a great time showing off your space & projects.
Ellen :
Have a chelving arrangement either of wood shelves, something that's attractive on one wall with room for your notions, and make one wall your design wall if it's large enough, or make a portable design wall you can put up when needed. Why not set up your sewing machine on the window wall, with your ironing board and cutting table nearbby so that you can see out and watch the world go by as you enjoy stitching? Happy Quilting, Ellen
Marilyn :
Lights over work areas and beside a comfortable chair with table next to it. A tall cutting table is the best investment you can make for cutting, pinning and laying projects out. A stool that tucks under the cutting table makes it a comfortable area to work at. A design wall is the second best addition to a sewing room. A sheet hung hung on a flat curtain rod makes a great portable design area for pinning up blocks. Keep window area uncluttered to utalize the light. Simple shelves over the top of doors, closets , and windows greatly adds to storage areas for books, and are a neat place to display things related to quilting or sewing. On the wall next to a cutting table is a great place to hang rulers where they are always handy. A large round plastic trash can topped with a round of plywood makes a chair side table that can be used for storage of batting and large items. Top the table with a 60" round table cloth and no one will know what is under it. I use a buffet for material storage and a large wardrobe. Place fabric in plastic baskets and slide in side. A pretty jar holding buttons and another holding small bits of colorful fabric brighten up the room and help decorate in a quilt and sewing theme.
Jane Elliott :
After I posted my last message, I decided to visit the World Wide Quilting Page's Home Page. Something I don't do as often as I should. I noticed that when I scrolled down to almost the very bottom there was a section on FAQS. If you click on there, you will then be able to scroll down to Sewing/Work Rooms and get all kinds of great input.
Jane Elliott :
About a year ago, I finally convinced my husband that we should finish off our attic so he could have the office space that he deserved. Of course, that seemed to leave some extra space for me...how fortunate. Anyway, this was my one opportunity to create the perfect space and I didn't want to make any mistakes. Since you didn't specify the size of your room, I don't know how much you have to work with.I found two terrific books that helped me optimize my space. Setting Up Your Sewing Space by Myrna Giesbrecht and Dream Sewing Spaces by Lynette Ranney Black. Before I did anything, I read each of these books from cover to cover and made notes. It was the best thing I ever did. With the help of these two books, I was able to create my "dream" space.
Candy :
When I get my sewing room - hopefully this summer - I want lots of shelves for storage. My husband made me a hugh table for cutting. It's at the right height to stand and work so my back doesn't get sore. (I do have a sewing room now - but the new one will be twice as big!) I put lots of candles on the shelves and plants to perk up the place. It is upstairs - so I can look out on the trees and lake when I as sewing. I guess thats what I consider cosy. I have a table for my machine and I put the serger at my right hand on the cutting table. I also have a TV on the cutting table (It's REALLY big) I sometimes just come up here and sit and enjoy the peace and view.
Judy Fuchs :
I want to thank all you ladies for the
imformation about the sewwing room, I well
be moving in to mine next month and I well
keep in mine all you wrote.
Thans Judy from Isreal
Diane :
Congradulations, you now have a space. First the decor:
Try painting the walls a warm light color, one you love. There are lovely quilt based wallpaper borders available, try on of them with the wall a coordinating color. Just keep it soft. Your wall will become very busy with your projects.
Next:
Utilize your light source. Set your machine in the best possible position for natural light. It will keep you from tiring while you sew. Don't be tempted to design your quilts in natural light. I have never seen a quilt hung in natural light and what looks good in sunlight does not look good in your home, which is flooded with incandescent light. Remember, also, sunlight is bad for your fabrics, so don't store them where they can be shined upon. I use the new flourescent bulbs where ever I can. They offer a great light source, generate very little heat, and they last alot longer.
Storage:
Keep it simple. You will want to be able to put your hands on things when you need them. Use wire mesh baskets for your fabric. These allow the fabric to breath and you can quickly find the color you need. "Closet Maid" (or any facsmile) has an assortmant of baskets with stands and even wheels for ease of use. Don't be tempted by the enclosed plastic boxes, at least not for fabrics. These are the worst things to put your fine cottons in. Cotton, like all other natural fabric needs to breath. Whicker baskets are lovely in a country home and your fabrics will fit right in. Shelving is also great, however I would line my shelves with acid free tissue paper first. The finish of the wood can stain fabrics. Get rid of any card board boxes as well. These also have a tendency to stain because of the acid used in the processsing of the cardboard.
Pattern storage:
Here is where you can use plastic boxes, and cardboard boxes. They are wonderful for all the pattern pieces you have collected, templates you can't live without, as well as magazine articles, features, and other paper things you can't live without. They slip neatly under tables and on lower levels of shelves.
Work area: (Horizontal flat surfaces)
Designate one place to draw and design, one place to cut, one place to sew, and one place to iron. These are your work stations. This way you won't have to move your machine every time you want to cut some more fabric, etc. I have a draftsman's table in my room. All my designing and even my quilt marking happens here. I utilize a board on two work horses for the base of my cutting mat. I made it just the size of my largest mat. It is as high as my upper thigh. Test it out. You sould be standing up straight with your arm extended straight for cutting with a rotary wheel. A goose neck lamp attached to the board can high light the area.
Design surface:
One wall should be designated for design surface. If you have the room, tack up a king size cotton batt, or smaller depending on space. This is now your design wall. Blocks when smoothed to the surface will stick beautifully. This is something you may not think you need. WRONG. You need a design surface. What are your blocks going to look like without one?
Last but not least:
Sensory input:
You must have either a stereo, disk player, cassette player, T.V., and or all these. Your family may want to visit you sometime, don't you want to entertain them!
Louise M. :
I just recently moved into a 17 x 23 room for my very own..well almost as I share it with my granddaughter..It has 3 large windows and a door leading out to a porch and garden area..also has a window..I think you need to set up your important work stations first with light a major consideration..also work tables, ironing area etc...a must for me is music. A bookshelf stereo/c.d. player works well and then go from there..I use a lot of crocks from 25 gal. size to small ones for storage and also baskets. A twig chair offers me a comfortable place to sit and hand sew and to read.. I like my machine under one of the windows for a view of the yard and the front of the house. A good way to rest your eyes from sewing..I have an old singer set up under another window for granddaughter or myself. This one faces the back of our property where a deer or two may wander into the yard and munch on my flowers..We have even had bears appear on occasion..Have fun getting it set up and enjoy your little corner of the world....L.
Sarah :
You're so lucky to have your own quilting room! I'd put up a felt-board (at least 4'x4') on one wall or by the window in a pretty plain fabric so that I could lay out my quilt square pattern once it was cut. It's so much easier than laying it out on the dining room table and having to clear it up every night for dinner!
Cheri Visser :
My house is made of mostly ceder and can seem quite dark. Try your best to use white or colors as light as you can-this helps if your room has limited lighting. My husband and a friend who are both carpenters made lots of (white) shelves inside of the closet for me (The builder of our house intended this room to be a bedroom) My biggest suggestion would be proper lighting since I just discovered how important it is when I re-organized my own room. If limited windows or lighting create a problem, using white (or light colors) is very helpful.
Charlotte Seaton :
I have shelving top to bottom on two opposing walls. Shelves on one wall contain the large plastic filing bins full of fabric. The other shelves on opposing wall contain some family pictures, quilting magazines, books and current projects. I have my ironing board and iron beneath the window on the 3rd wall - it all works great! My sewing table - 6 x 8 feet, is located in the middle of the room.
Juanita :
I just moved, also. My top priority was having my sewing machine centered under the window. I prefer keeping my fabric, books, current projects, etc. on bookshelves, either in the room or shallow ones in the closet.
Deanna :
I turned one of our bedrooms into my quilting "studio". On one wall I hung a wall quilt that I had made. On the other wall I hung a picnic tablecloth that is lined with flannel. Instead of nailing it to the wall, I used staples at the top (the holes won't show much when you take it down -- if you ever do). I just press each block onto it when I finish. This way I can move them around at a whim, and it is decorative at the same time. When it comes time to put all the blocks together, sometimes I hate to part with the quilt. I have lots of grandchildren who are standing in line to get a quilt. So, I am quite busy. As far as other space goes, be sure to put your fabric stashe in a closet out of the light. I used to store it in drawers, but I never got to see it unless I opened a drawer, and there was always something in front of the drawers. So, now that I have it in a closet, I can see at a glance what I can use. Also, it gives me a "warm fuzzy" to just gaze at what I have. Good luck in setting up your special place!
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