Hiii!! I’m looking for a new sewing/drafting table for my home sewing space and really have struggled to find anything decent. Does anyone have any recommendations/suggestions??
I have a one-bedroom apartment, and pretty much have turned half of my living room into a sewing space, so I have plenty of room for it. My current desk is 60”x30” which is juuuust slightly too small to be able to do pattern work cutting out fabric easily. I’m also very tall, so I’ve been looking for a desk with adjustable height. And something with storage solutions like filing cabinets for patterns and a pegboard/hooks for quick-access tools would be amazing.
I’m looking for something around like a $300-400ish budget, and just really struggling to find anything decent. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions of what they use/what has worked for them?
I use this for fabric cutting and pattern drafting and am quite happy. It is height adjustable but not in a way where you can do so quickly and easily if you want to do it often.
https://a.co/d/1eLSMAS
This is what I have.
Me too. I've had it 10 years and never an issue. I fold it and roll it over against the wall, cover it, when not in use. Its only for me so I adjusted it just for me. Not many backaches anymore.
I have this one and love it.
I have this exact table and I love it. The adjustable height was one of the main reasons I got it. My husband uses it when he's sorting his cards, and it could also be used as an extra dining table.
I have this one or one that is materially like it. I want to replace the gate-leg support with a folding leg so that I can store more boxes under it, the gate-leg gets in the way. But otherwise, it’s a great size, very sturdy, and you can adjust (at the start, it’s not practical to adjust in future without a whole bunch of hassle) for your height, which I like.
This looks amazing!! Thank you for the link!!
I used 2 ikea kallax and 2 desk tops mounted on a piece of plywood and wheels. Made it to be at my height while standing. I’m 5’10” so it’s great - add a stick on tape measure on the top. I use it way more than I ever thought.
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/kallax-shelf-unit-white-80275887/
https://preview.redd.it/gkzmp88r4t9g1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c48a84ef9622dc48c21832eb9c09cdd09f7fed99
https://preview.redd.it/jz7kaztz4t9g1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d2e845ac356de18e0cc38e77e8e1287fb2085b8e
Top view
Ooooohhhh this is a great idea! I may be stealing this, thank you!!!
Happy to take more pics and dm them. I have a high chair to sit at it. A little harder for sewing but I make it work. If I were to do it over I’d put more leg room on the long side.
This is my only complaint with mine as well. Currently when I'm sewing I put my foot petal in one of the lower cubes as it's just about the right spot for me in my higher chair I got.
https://preview.redd.it/7t8zjjzrtt9g1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=33d20bc0f688490bb09fcf3549e6606b411461bf
I also did a kallax unit build. I love, I put in different units based on my craft needs as I do more than just sewing. But I can push the blue boxes back to put my sewing machine and embroidery machine away as well when I cut fabric.
This is very nearly my setup too.
If you are a DIYer, I did my own table using two wire shelves, 2x4s, and some melamine wood boards. The wire shelves give lots of storage space and allowed me to put wheels on them so I can move my table easily. The wood top allows it to be customized to a specific size, and used double sided tape to hold a cutting mat in place. The 2x4s are used to attach the shelves to the tabletop.
Would show you a picture but it is currently a real mess.
following in case you share a picture or the build plans!
i have a shelving unit from lowe’s, 24x48x72. i spit it into two 36” high towers and bought a 48x96 white melamine top for it. it works great for me as i stand to cut all my fabrics, when i need to sit to sew i have a bar stool i sit on. i also have a 12” wooden storage cube that i put my foot control on when i need to sew. the shelves are great for my machine storage, my irons, my embroidery unit and all my hoops. i am fortunate though to have a large sewing room. the 96” width is great when i am working on a quilt or lining a drapery panel. overall i think i paid about $150 for the shelving unit and the counter top. the only difficult part was getting the 4’x8’ sheet onto my wagon to get it home.
Wait this is such a smart workaround for stand/sit! Thank you for the idea!
I swear by this one:
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/norden-gateleg-table-birch-90423887/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=10697534794&gbraid=0AAAAAD27g7xW1IY4Wg3OriJdty4J8YGSB&gclid=Cj0KCQiApL7KBhC7ARIsAD2Xq3DCIJGtegeLjpoLb1_qiUmOyzWVbJdNfkgxCv_v5K9kgPuA_EYfYr8aAumlEALw_wcB
It folds up super narrow, so when not in use, you can just push it against the wall. even folded, though, I've found it's still wide enough for my machine to sit on.
The only downside is that leg placement can be a bit odd, but I got used to it pretty quickly.
I have this and got a 30”x60” cutting mat from the Big Mat rotary cutting surface. It covers the table almost exactly, but I never fold up the table cause then I would have to put the cutting mat somewhere. Just to add my two cents, I find the table a little hard to move around since it’s pretty heavy.
Sew Ready can fit a 36 x 48 mat, the main reason I got it. I use it for projector sewing.
I use this Ikea table for sewing, it's high quality, stable and super sturdy. I also have a Sew Ready table that I use for cutting. The Sew Ready table is much less stable and it's taller, so I don't put my sewing machines on it.
If space is not an issue, a ping pong table with some alterations can do wonders
https://preview.redd.it/5vbktqgkit9g1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=11bfee0532d79f1b3c26313c600f9d5ac75391d7
This is what I have, it's manual height adjustment and has drawers for rulers. Home Depot $368 plus tax. Free shipping. It's very sturdy. I use it with my Quilters Select mat that's 24" x 36". It hangs over a little bit. The table top 24" x 52". Comes with casters too. HUSKY brand.
Don’t know if it’ll help you specifically, but I have one of those foldable conference room tables you get at Staples/Office Depot (if in US) that are about 3ft x 6ft. I’m not tall, but I have back problems and can’t bend over for long, so I’ve put bed risers under each of the legs. Works like a charm. My bins of fabric and yarn fit underneath it.
I have a Horn of America model 2211 cutting table I also use for pattern drafting. It has lasted 30 years with no issues. It folds for easy storage. It’s large and easy to maneuver. The only thing it is not is height adjustable. I’m 5’8” and it can be too low at times. Overall I am very happy with it.
It's over your budget but it may work depending on your kitchen dining space.
For my sewing surface I needed something that could also hold a knitting machine. I bought a set of I bought a set of Mittback legs and a table top for under $100.
For cutting fabric/ My spouses puzzles and eating food we bought dining table that can become stupidly large. The Strandtorp table is 37X60 when collapsed and can expand to 102" long when all of the leaves are fitted.
When it's collapsed we have enough room for me to be cutting a project and my spouse to be doing a 1000 piece puzzle. It also comfortably seats 4-6 people without expanding. It's also super sturdy.
Do any of you have your sewing machine lower than regular desk height? I've always used an old L-shaped secretary desk with typing return that's a few inches below the writing surface. But I moved and didn't have room for it so I'm looking for ideas she a sewing surface.
Not sure of your budget, but i bought a Koala table that is about 60" x 36. I has a drop where you can put a sewing machine into be flushed with the table. It has a hand crank that adjusts the height and it can flip vertical if you need it our of the way.
The nice thing is that it is very stable and I can stand on it if need be.