I've spent a large amount of time getting the pieces just right in my Sewing Loft. The size of the space was challenging because of the low walls and limited wall space. However, after sitting in the room with the basics for a few days, then moving a few things around, this is my starting place to sew & create.
Here is the Sewing Loft in Pictures so far ~
This is the sewing machine area. I LOVE the natural light here. I've set it up so that my daughter and I or my granddaughters can all sew together. It was one of the things that bothered me about the Sewing Cave. Only I could sew there. It was on the top of my list of items to change.
Moving on this is the storage where I have my trims, elastics, extra serger thread (not including the serger thread in bins underneath the sewing tables) and patterns...
Then there are the fabric shelves which while covered in the curtains are completely empty. This will be the longest & hardest part of putting the Loft together. Loading the fabric shelves...it took me two weekends last time, but since I work from home now, I think it will take about a week this time...
The other side of the room holds more plastic storage with patterns and supplies and there are bins on the top of the fabric shelves where more patterns will be stored. I've also added a fabric closet to the mix. It's located at the bottom of the stairs to the Loft. This should allow me to get all of my fabric onto shelves.
The niche will hold more fabric, my thread & zipper collection and Daphne my dressform. I'm looking for an ironing board to place on the wall that will fold down when I need it and be put away when I don't. Right now the shelf is storing pattern boxes too...something else that needs to be put away.
Finally a look at the Sewing Loft from my sewing machine area...
If you've made it this far...I'm including a list of the items I purchased for the Sewing Loft. Most of the items were brought from the Sewing Cave to this new space. However, I really wanted new sewing desks since I was sewing on regular folding tables. As I stated in my last post, I will be updating my cutting table but it works for now.
The New Equipment ~
The sewing desks are Costway Adjustable Sewing Craft Table with drawer from Amazon.
The lamp at the end of the table is from the Daylight Company also purchased from Amazon.
The two smaller black wire shelf units were purchased from Home Depot.
All of the floral baskets were purchased from WalMarts. They come as a set of 8.
The Ottlite by the old Janome while not new, hadn't been take out of the box so I'm including it on the list. I bought it as a Today's Special from HSN so I don't believe that's the price I paid for it.
Otherwise, everything else was in the cave. I've repurposed the use of quite a few of the pieces. Something about packing all your stuff up and then unpacking it, allows you to see the pieces differently.
I'm sure as I add things to the Sewing Loft, I will revisit and share. But this will probably be my last Sewing Loft post for the minute. Hopefully, I will actually sew in this amazing room that I'm so grateful for and have a finished something to share!
BTW, there are still a lot of books to be put on shelves in my main living area. I'm also waiting for a closet unit to arrive so I can hang all of my clothes up! The only area that I would call completely finished is my kitchen. But it's only been a week and I have time...
...as always more later!
Your sewing loft is so well thought out and looks perfect. My area is full of windows and a built in wardrobe that houses half our our household linen, so it is interesting to see how you have managed to work around this.
ReplyDeleteSharon - four uninterrupted full walls with a window is the ultimate sewing space to me but I really wanted a space where my sewing room is away from my main living space. And I was definitely tired of the basement life!
DeleteIt's glorious. Thank you for sharing. I have just been rearranging my space so grandkids can sew with me. It's like opening a treasure chest to find things I had forgotten about, and it's really exciting to know just where to put something and have space for it. I have purged some things, and it's so helpful to just have what I really love around me. I love the vintage toy sewing machines!
ReplyDeleteKathy- they've been boxed away so long I forgot I had the vintage sewing machines and several of them are music boxes which thrilled my granddaughters!
DeleteI love the fact that, after moving, your main focus has been on your sewing space. Yay!
ReplyDeleteI know I'm a little one track minded but I did set up the kitchen, my bedroom (that was mostly the movers) the bathroom and the linen closet first! LOL! But in actuality, the room I spend the most time in is my sewing room so it needed to b worked on in conjunction with living arrangements.
DeleteWhat fun! Its a great space and the light looks perfect.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! Love seeing how it's all coming together.
ReplyDeleteThose low walls can be challenging when it comes to storing solutions. I couldn’t place furniture taller than 130 cm in my sewing room. On the upside, even my top shelves are within easy reach ;) Luckily you have enough height to place your beloved fabric shelves. Quite a task to fill them all. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's wonderful that you have the space so that your daughter and grandkids can sew with you. I'm sure beautiful memories will be created there and it sounds like a wonderful way to spend time together. I'm going to have to borrow an idea from one of your photos, the way you store your scissors, that's so clever. Lovely space and natural light, yay!
ReplyDeleteYour sewing studio looks fabulous! But I especially love that you now have room to teach and sew with your granddaughters and that is a true gift. Karen
ReplyDeletein I am SO excited for you. Having the natural light and space you were craving reminds me of the little essay I wrote for myself and my realtor when I was searching for a new home in 1999. In it I described a room with windows that overlooked my yard with my garden and where my dogs could hang out.
ReplyDeleteI found that space in 2000 and have lived every minute of living in this treasure.
Enjoy, enjoy, Carolyn! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Congrats on your new space. I hope you have years of wonderful sewing adventures and memories there!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new home and sewing space! No doubt you will make lasting memories in addition to a fabulous wardrobe in this space!
ReplyDeleteI love your sewing loft! It is so bright and airy. This makes me want to pack up all my sewing stuff and start over with a fresh eye!!!
ReplyDeletePatti - I do think I sat with the last sewing room too long. I should have refreshed it earlier and I had thought about it just never got around to it. I'm trying to be more thoughtful with this one, incorporating ALL of the things I've learned from the last 20 years to make this one work best for me.
DeleteWow...and your machines look over the balcony that you can sew & watch what's going on down below...sweet...lots of space & the natural light... ow la la...your going to have a good time sewing w your granddaughters...have lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteOh what a lovely place to sew in!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Your space looks great and so well thought out. I know you will really enjoy creating in your new space.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the space and the natural light! What type of fasteners did you use to hold up the curtains over the fabric shelving? I want to cover some shelving with fabric panels to keep the dust off, but haven't discovered a secure way of fastening.
ReplyDeleteAnother thought, when I put two sewing tables together in and "L" configuration like you have, we ran into problems of our chairs banging into each other as we moved around. From the pictures you posted, I wondered if you might run into the same problem.
The fabric panels are shower curtains which are attached to the shelves with shower hooks. I'm sure I described the thought process behind this in one of my studio update posts. I've purchased a plastic pad to allow my chair to move from machine to machine but when someone is sewing with me, they will use a folding chair. We've placed both together in the space and they work.
DeleteIt’s looking fabulous! I need to think about the function of my sewing cave... one of these days.
ReplyDeleteTanit-Isis - you have two bundles of joy that are taking up a lot of your time right now! I understand why this is further down your list!
DeleteIt’s looking great so far!! I just love organization posts. It’s always interesting to see the creative solutions people come up with. And yay that you now have space for all the fabric!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your sewing loft with us as you move into it! It's fabulous and I can imagine many happy hours spent there sewing, both by you and your grandkids.
ReplyDeleteVery nice and so well organized. Thank you for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteYou have achieved so much! And Thanks for sharing with us - as always. I would love to have company beside me in my sewing room. Your Grandchildren are fortunate that you are generous of spirit. Warmest blessings - Penny.
ReplyDeleteYou gave me an idea... Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSandra - what idea? Curious?
DeleteI love your new room. I hope to move next year and to re-do my sewing room. The grands don't sew but they are always keeping me company. I need a room big enough to include a play area. Thanks for the link to the Ottlite. Yesterday, I realized that my lights are not bright enough. I just ordered two lights.
ReplyDeleteTowanda - sad to say aging is not kind to my eyes...so I have A LOT of light so I don't have eyestrain. OttLites have the best light and the prices are affordable. I was pleasantly surprised at the Daylight Company light because of the settings available and how it works.
DeleteI am glad that you are sounding so excited about your new sewing room. I have followed you for a long time and enjoy your blog. Times lately have not been great for any of us but you are succeeding in finding a happy place! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome place to create, sew, dream! Thanks for sharing. I want to sew now.
ReplyDeleteHey Hellenne! How are you? I have the dressform pictures you painted still to hang up in my new space. I will definitely share a picture when they're hung. I so appreciate them even now years later.
Deletelooks like a great space. Just be sure not to put anything breakable on the half wall. If it gets bumped it will fall (a long way down. Looking forward to your new sewing creativity!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great space and you will love all that natural light. I tried the wall mounted ironing board and hated it-- turned out I'm one of those that likes to move her ironing board around to iron in those strategic places, lol!
ReplyDeleteYour lighting is wonderful. It will feel so good to be in such a bright and airy space. Will you have help with putting your fabric away or will you even want it?
ReplyDeleteYour space is wonderful! You mentioned the cutting table - check some 'materials handling' stores. I was able to get a local company to make a table for me that has a metal frame with plywood for the top and a plywood underneath shelf for about $200 and it is about 40"x60" and it fits my space perfectly. They made it just exactly the height I wanted - I'm 5'9", so wanted a little higher than standard. I ordered a cutting mat from an architecture supply company, and found a 36"x60", which fits the cutting table really well. The table looks a little industrial, but is nice and solid, and will last forever. Just an idea. :)
ReplyDeleteYou have a great space there! I'm going to have one of my sons revamp shelves in my offices, and use your loft for inspiration!
ReplyDeleteFlipping heck Carolyn, I turn my back for a few weeks and you've moved, and how fabulous it is. Love it all and now you have daylight. If you want even more light, go for something like this:
ReplyDeleteLovely new machine as well, perfect.
This is very nice. What are the dimensions of your loft?
ReplyDeleteWow, I wish I had that much fabric...
ReplyDeleteI have a question about your sewing machine table. I looked at it on Amazon and can’t figure out how much weight the drop down part will hold. Do you find the “tray” is sturdy enough for your machine? I love that it looks like the machine bed can be the same height at the table top, just want your opinion on the weight before actually purchasing. Love your sewing space!!!
ReplyDeleteThe drop down leaf holds 25-26 lbs. My machine weighs 24 lbs BUT we tightened my lift so that I can't raise and drop it. I haven't had a problem and don't believe I will. BTW, the weight for the lift is in one of the diagrams. I double checked that on several tables I was considering.
DeleteThanks! Unfortunately, the table you have linked is not available anymore, so I'm looking at others that are very similar, just different names. I have one other question - I like to sit directly in front of my needle when I sew; is that possible with the machine sitting on the drop down leaf, or do the legs of the table prevent that?
DeleteLori Anne - I sit directly in front of my sewing machine facing the needle. The legs on my table only prevent me from kicking the foot pedal really far away from me. The legs don't affect my access to my sewing machine. Hope that helps and sorry the table is sold out on Amazon. However, I did see it at Home Depot, did you try there?
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