Kellie R.
 
Intermediate
TX USA
Member since 7/4/07
Posts: 1648
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Date: 1/3/13 8:16 PM The title says it.
The table that I've used for several years is *mostly* good. It's an old formica kitchen island. My husband made legs for it. But it wasn't wide enough to accommodate wide fabrics (44/45" was ok).
What do you use? I want to get it right this time. Pics welcome! Thank you! ------
A bad day in the sewing room is better than a good day at the office.
Getting through life, one stitch at a time.
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Kathi R
Intermediate
USA
Member since 2/28/05
Posts: 2050
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 1 member likes this. I have a table my husband built to my specifications...if I had it to do over again, I'd make some changes.
My table is 72x32, I picked that size to fit the space in the room. I'd size the top of the table to fit the extra large cutting mat from Joann's - it isn't the best mat in the world (doesn't heal as well as the green name brand mats) but it is good enough for the price. My table it a few inches longer than the mat (that's OK) but it is also about 3 inches narrower. Hind sight is 20/20 and I could have made it work at the size needed for the mat.
The cutting surface is 40 inches from the floor, I thought I wanted it taller than the kitchen island, now I know I didn't.
The legs are offset from corners a few inches in each direction with one shelf near the bottom - this is a great place to store small bins for fabric with my steam press on top of the bins. If I could redo it, I would size the space under the table to accommodate a couple of the Ikea closet gizmos that hold 4 wire basket drawers. I have a set of these racks in another corner and they are great for notions, fabric and serger thread.
Each end has narrow shelves, I use one for books and one for tools. The best investment I made was a magnetic knife rack from Ikea - I attached it to the front of one table leg and use it to corral all my cutting tools. There are casters on the bottom of the legs so that I can move the table away from the wall when cutting big things or when sweeping.
Here are a couple of pictures, clearly I didn't take the time to tidy up for company before taking the pictures! No matter how hard I try to keep it neat, the piles expand to fill the space available.
End of table with books
End of table with tools
In the pictures you can see the wall hung swing arm lamp in the book end photo (I have one on each side attached to the wall above the table) - in the other photo you can see the movable spot light that is at the bottom of the lamp, this can be turned off and on independently of the main lamp.
Best of luck in designing your dream table --- I'm thinking that I might redo my plan and ask the DH to build a new one soon.
------
2012 : starting stash 386, net additions 206, used 164, ending stash 428
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sings2high
Expert/Couture
NJ USA
Member since 11/25/11
Posts: 144
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Subject: Lets Talk Cutting Tables Date: 1/3/13 10:53 PM I bought my dining room table with sewing in mind. It's rectangular and expands from 3 feet by 6 feet out to 3 fee by 8 feet. I wish there was some way to make it taller, but it stands on two pedestals and I think it would become unstable. Still, it's a great cutting surface. ------
Measure twice, cut once. |
aslinnd
Beginner
AUSTRALIA
Member since 5/28/07
Posts: 575 |
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Date: 1/4/13 1:28 AM I just ordered the Horn Cutting/sewing table. I like that it tilts to store and 1.5 x 1 I think is a good size but best I like the height adjustable
http://www.horn.com.au/details.php?prodId=106&category=1&secondary=&keywords=
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SandiMacD
Intermediate
FL USA
Member since 2/8/09
Posts: 1041 |
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Subject: Lets Talk Cutting Tables Date: 1/4/13 4:46 AM I think the height depends on how you cut. I use mostly shears and like my surface much higher than those that do rotary cutting.
Home Depot type stores sell unfinished doors and adjustible saw horse type legs that work well. I like the newer lightweight boards too- very versitile. DH set up his work station and I thought about duplicating it for me but decided I like more floor space and less furniture.
Right now I use our butcher block kitchen island. The surface holds the large cutting mats and we downsized so things need to multitask. I also have space on my elevated sewing center table surface if I am using shears.
I don't really miss a dedicated cutting area like I thought I would but then my sewing is much less now. ------
re-living my youth through sewing... |
Molliefran
Advanced
TX USA
Member since 4/28/07
Posts: 40 |
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Subject: Lets Talk Cutting Tables Date: 1/4/13 7:18 AM I have a 5 ft drafting table in my office that I'm itching to bring home and add to my sewing room. It has a cutting mat already. Only problem will be to get it upstairs...hiring a professional will be the best way to get it done. DH will think of many reasons that it won't work! ------
"This is the day that The Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!"
Building my stable one machine at a time: Viking circa 1975, Viking Sapphire 870, Bernina 1130, Huskylock 905
Most prized possession: Grandmother's Singer treadle machine with the drawers filled with her things, just like she left them. |
lgrande
Advanced Beginner
MT USA
Member since 1/18/12
Posts: 1030 |
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1 member likes this.
Date: 1/4/13 8:19 AM I bought this one this past summer.
I had it made with four drawers instead of 2.
The drawers are long enough for rolls of tracing paper, stabilizer, big rulers, everything you could imagine.
I usually use it with just one leaf open.
Patrick (owner) willl also make it a custom height.
I really LOVE this table. It's everything I could want. ------
Linda
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JTink
Intermediate
VA USA
Member since 4/20/08
Posts: 4800 |
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Date: 1/4/13 8:30 AM I use an old drop leaf table. I keep one of those cardboard cutting boards on top. With both leaves up, the table measures about 46x38. With the cardboard on top, I get a few extra inches all around. I would like to have something longer and away from the wall, so I could walk around it, but my sewing room just doesn't have the space.  |
Nancy K
Advanced
NY USA
Member since 12/28/04
Posts: 7578 |
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2 members like this.
Date: 1/4/13 9:06 AM My table is 60"x 82" and I have the largest cutting mat available, at 4'x7'. It hangs over by a couple of inches. My dh made my table and used two hollow core wood doors for the top, hence the not 7' long. It overhangs on one long side so that I can use a stool if I want to. It's on large industrial locking castors that he scavenged. It is made to the height that I found good for my back and height, which for me is 35". I've got two shelves underneath that hold supplies. He affixed plastic drainage pipe under the shelf to hold my interfacing which I roll onto plastic pipe.
He made a framework of 2x4's doubles at the corners. I love this table and I can move it out to clean under. I can open 60" wide fabric to cut it in a single lay. It hangs over the cutting mat but I just use a scissors at the edge.
If you have the room the 60" width is wonderful so that you can lay a print out for easy matching. I made a leather jacket recently and was tight on skins and being able to lay them all out at once was a major help.
If I had the money I'd probably have used kitchen cabinets bases for the bottom of my table. It would provide all the storage you need in your sewing room and not clutter on view. Deep drawers could hold patterns and shallow drawers thread and notions. But, I didn't and I do like what I have. ------
www.nancyksews.blogspot.com |
Scrnme007
Beginner
USA
Member since 4/5/11
Posts: 60 |
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Date: 1/4/13 9:10 AM Love your table! Also might try Nancy's drainage tube tips... have been thinking about storing my yardsticks in PVC pipe anyway... would be good for interfacings too. Could you clarify how you use the tubes?
-- Edited on 1/4/13 9:25 AM -- ------
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