Friday, January 18, 2013

Class 110: Setting up the Sewing Area

When we chose this new house, I planned on this room being a combination guest room and quilting room, so we had a wood floor installed. It works perfect for keeping it allergy free for my visitors and makes finding pins and sharp objects easier.

For 4 years, it has been an empty room.  I use a blow up mattress for the guests, but I had no sewing tools established. My sewing machine was encased and stored in the closet!

My first lesson required a sewing area to be set up.  This is very exciting, since I've never had a real room for this. Previous quilting was done on the dining room table.  I bought a table at Costco that folds down and hoped I could put the machine on there, and then also use it for cutting, but when I finished reading my lesson, I realized that would not be very comfortable and efficient. So, the internet hunt began, and I found a great little table at Amazon for $100. It's nothing fancy, but it is at the right height and fits my machine. Its an Arrow, Gidget I.

According to the table requirements, I was to have the cutting table at a height where I did not have to raise my hand above my elbow and shouldn't have to stoop or stretch forward. After measuring, I found that if Dave added those handy pieces of wood underneath, it would be just about right. Of course, he had to stain them so they no longer looked like a chunk of wood from the woodpile. Actually, I got the wood from the construction guy down the street. These were left overs. Of course  I should also be able to access the table from all 4 sides, but that isn't happening.

The ironing board is custom made. I did my internet homework and had a good idea of what I wanted and then put the task to Dave. Dave made it for me.  We went to Lowe's and got this nice piece of plywood and then Dave cut it to the measurement I wanted and added 3 boards underneath that fit the edges of my regular ironing board. This prevents it from sliding around. I purchased a Bo-Nash Ironslide cover that I could cut and mold to the new top.

I already owned all the other quilting items needed: Presser Feet, Rotary Cutter and mats, and 1 ruler.

Even though I have this room set up just about perfect for getting things done nicely, it also all folds down and is removable to make space for bed and people :)  I like it!  What do you think?

13 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you Carolyn! I'm thinking it needs something on the walls, but it I'm glad it is "lovely" just the way it is :)

      Delete
  2. Ooooh, I'm very jealous of all of your space. And very nice ironing board!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Suzanne! My desire for the ironing board was something that would fit a quilt better. A pointy ironing board just didn't hold my stuff well. However, it isn't easy to iron a shirt this way... Too bad shirts.. hehehe

      Delete
  3. Hi Dawn! I've just finished reading all of your posts. I'm just starting out with Quilter's Academy. I'm looking forward to it but I know it will be a long run. I am very busy and really only get a few minutes spare time so it might take me a year or two to get through Vol. 1! I really enjoy reading your posts and have already learned a thing or too. Thanks! I have a question too. What sewing table did you buy from Amazon? Is it the Gidget sewing table by Arrow? Thanks in advance for the answer. Keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, that's the table! It works really nice. It is still very stable after all this time. I know some reviews said it was not, but I think they didn't assemble it properly. You have to be sure to snap it into place correctly.

      The only thing I've noticed about it after using it now has been that my bobbin case is below the table line after sinking the machine down. it is sorta a pain to unplug all my cords to lift the table up and get to the bobbin case. Hopefully, you have a bobbin on the top load? Or maybe you won't have to unplug to lift the table back up? It just makes for inconvenience is all. O also wish the right side had more table room. For the money, it has been a good solution to getting the machine at the right height.

      Good luck with the journey. I have really enjoyed the process and I can easily say, just plan on working with the tools and the way the book lays out and you will have fewer problems down the line!

      I hope the blog posts aid you in your journey! Are you planning on blogging your way through?

      Delete
    2. I have thought about blogging, but the posts would be so far in between that I figured it was pointless. I am going to document my journey. So, I'll probably post on Facebook for now. Maybe when I have more time I will start a blog and post it all. :) Thank you for the advice! I plan on checking in often.

      Delete
    3. I started posting my quilting on FB too and then when I asked my friends, they suggested I use a blog to chart the progress. But, I think FB would have been adequate. Especially if you are going to be spreading it out over a longer period of time. I really only did a blog to hold myself accountable to following through! So new visits like yours make it even more worth it. Thank you :)

      Delete
  4. Thank you for sharing your journey with the quilters academy. I am starting Volume 1 this week. You are an inspiration. I have been sewing for about 9 months.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dawn! hehehe. I L O V E your name :) It's interesting that when I was reading about Quilter's Academy, that Harriet realized there were a lot of us that were learning to quilt without sewing experience so she decided to put much more instruction in her books to handle the non-sewer's questions! For the most part, I think she has accomplished the goal of helping us non-sewers :) Enjoy your journey through Quilter's Academy! It has been a real joy for me. Challenging. Rewarding. Problem solving! LOL. I hope you also fall in love with quilting :) Thanks for stopping by, and leaving me such encouragement :) I look forward to you showing off your work (leave me a link! )

      Delete
  5. Coming back here to post what an inspiration your blog is! I've started catching up in my own little journal ... https://quarterlyinch.wordpress.com/ I love your idea of keeping notes online. Easier for me and others to find!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Becky! I will put you on my list and follow your progress :)

      Delete