sewing addition help again, but still in researching phase
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sewing addition help again, but still in researching phase offkilterquilter 02-13-2008
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Posted by offkilterquilter on February 13, 2008, 11:24 am
DH finally said that he didn't specifically mean that I should get an
embroidery machine - he inadvertently lead me in that direction by
mentioning a machine that I had seen and fallen in love with when we
were in NY and at our first venture at the NY State Fair (I still have
all my ribbons hanging on my wall, even though we are in VA now and I
haven't even entered the local COUNTY fair!!). Ok, when he mentioned
that machine, I zeroed in on machine embroidery....NOT what he intended.

Last night he finally made himself clear in that he meant for me to get
a more professional machine that would last longer than either of the
ones that I have right now (Kenmore that has been running with only my
cleaning jobs for 17 years now, and EuroPro that I pull out for the
decorative stitches, or super-sonic straight stitching). Then he went
on to say that, if I feel I don't need a new machine, to figure out what
I *do* need to get my sewing space up to the bare minimum for
professional sewing work!!!! YIKES!!

So, what I've started doing is making a list of things that my sewing
room is lacking, but I'm still considering a new machine...what I've
come up with (that need to be purchased) follows:

-different size dressmakers mannequin
-pressing ham(s)
-decent iron and larger, more stable ironing board
-steamer (possibly, since I do tend to do formalwear in the spring)
-proper storage (we are planning on making the 2 small closets 1 LARGE
closet, and I want a proper way to separate fabrics and store them)
-upgraded computer
-full-length mirror

What else would you all want in your sewing room, if you were sewing
primarily for income??

Larisa

Posted by Doug Houseman on February 13, 2008, 12:37 pm

> DH finally said that he didn't specifically mean that I should get an
> embroidery machine - he inadvertently lead me in that direction by
> mentioning a machine that I had seen and fallen in love with when we
> were in NY and at our first venture at the NY State Fair (I still have
> all my ribbons hanging on my wall, even though we are in VA now and I
> haven't even entered the local COUNTY fair!!). Ok, when he mentioned
> that machine, I zeroed in on machine embroidery....NOT what he intended.
>
> Last night he finally made himself clear in that he meant for me to get
> a more professional machine that would last longer than either of the
> ones that I have right now (Kenmore that has been running with only my
> cleaning jobs for 17 years now, and EuroPro that I pull out for the
> decorative stitches, or super-sonic straight stitching). Then he went
> on to say that, if I feel I don't need a new machine, to figure out what
> I *do* need to get my sewing space up to the bare minimum for
> professional sewing work!!!! YIKES!!
>
> So, what I've started doing is making a list of things that my sewing
> room is lacking, but I'm still considering a new machine...what I've
> come up with (that need to be purchased) follows:
>
> -different size dressmakers mannequin
> -pressing ham(s)
> -decent iron and larger, more stable ironing board
> -steamer (possibly, since I do tend to do formalwear in the spring)
> -proper storage (we are planning on making the 2 small closets 1 LARGE
> closet, and I want a proper way to separate fabrics and store them)
> -upgraded computer
> -full-length mirror
>
> What else would you all want in your sewing room, if you were sewing
> primarily for income??
>
> Larisa

I just finished a sewing room for my wife...It is 20 by 16 and here is
what I did for her...

1) wood floor, makes it easy to sweep up and see the dust on the floor -
since she does wedding dresses, it is important things are clean
2) Air cleaner - normal woodshop air cleaner mounted in the ceiling to
catch dust
3) Cutting table with storage under it - used the Ikea bins for storage
- they come in 3 depths - so projects can be stored together - made the
rack units myself with a router and skill saw
4) ON the wall roll storage for fabric - used 1 inch wooden dowels and
1x6 end boards - the dowels slide in and out. They hold large amounts of
fabric in an easy to pull onto the cutting table fashion. One rack is
centered on the cutting table
5) A cutting board top for the cutting table - making it possible to
using rolling cutters on the fabric. I also took some green house
plastic (flexible clear 10 mil plastic) and edged it with gaffers tape,
so she has a cover for the cutting table when she has a project out and
needs to leave it.
6) Sewing cabinet - bought it - so that she has a professional cabinet
to do work on - it stands away from the wall - so project can hang over
in all directions - the machine lift lets her lower the main machine and
put the serger in place to work with it, in about 30 seconds.
7) Floor to ceiling cabinets (and where the cabinet would not go high
enough bins that close) 2 walls worth (about 35 feet of wall space)
8) a 4 x 4 foot peg board on a 1x2 frame - and lots of 12 inch long
straight hooks - her thread cones go on the pegs - 3 to a peg (e.g. all
the same color on the same peg). Probably 80 colors up right now.
9) Thread rack - got two from stores that were tossing them - they are
full of thread sorted by general color (e.g. all the greens are in the
same area)
10) pattern drawers - 2 file cabinets that were bought surplus and
painted white with enamel to match the cabinets - patterns run left to
right in the drawers - making room for 3 rows in each drawer - 1/4 inch
plywood makes the dividers

Lots more details if you have questions. It is the third time I have
done this for her - this is the largest space in the house now. The next
move is to add on, if it needs to grow again.

Doug

Posted by Kirsten Sollie on February 14, 2008, 11:30 am

>
>> DH finally said that he didn't specifically mean that I should get an
>> embroidery machine - he inadvertently lead me in that direction by
>> mentioning a machine that I had seen and fallen in love with when we
>> were in NY and at our first venture at the NY State Fair (I still have
>> all my ribbons hanging on my wall, even though we are in VA now and I
>> haven't even entered the local COUNTY fair!!). Ok, when he mentioned
>> that machine, I zeroed in on machine embroidery....NOT what he intended.
>>
>> Last night he finally made himself clear in that he meant for me to get
>> a more professional machine that would last longer than either of the
>> ones that I have right now (Kenmore that has been running with only my
>> cleaning jobs for 17 years now, and EuroPro that I pull out for the
>> decorative stitches, or super-sonic straight stitching). Then he went
>> on to say that, if I feel I don't need a new machine, to figure out what
>> I *do* need to get my sewing space up to the bare minimum for
>> professional sewing work!!!! YIKES!!
>>
>> So, what I've started doing is making a list of things that my sewing
>> room is lacking, but I'm still considering a new machine...what I've
>> come up with (that need to be purchased) follows:
>>
>> -different size dressmakers mannequin
>> -pressing ham(s)
>> -decent iron and larger, more stable ironing board
>> -steamer (possibly, since I do tend to do formalwear in the spring)
>> -proper storage (we are planning on making the 2 small closets 1 LARGE
>> closet, and I want a proper way to separate fabrics and store them)
>> -upgraded computer
>> -full-length mirror
>>
>> What else would you all want in your sewing room, if you were sewing
>> primarily for income??
>>
>> Larisa
>
> I just finished a sewing room for my wife...It is 20 by 16 and here is
> what I did for her...
>
> 1) wood floor, makes it easy to sweep up and see the dust on the floor -
> since she does wedding dresses, it is important things are clean
> 2) Air cleaner - normal woodshop air cleaner mounted in the ceiling to
> catch dust
> 3) Cutting table with storage under it - used the Ikea bins for storage
> - they come in 3 depths - so projects can be stored together - made the
> rack units myself with a router and skill saw
> 4) ON the wall roll storage for fabric - used 1 inch wooden dowels and
> 1x6 end boards - the dowels slide in and out. They hold large amounts of
> fabric in an easy to pull onto the cutting table fashion. One rack is
> centered on the cutting table
> 5) A cutting board top for the cutting table - making it possible to
> using rolling cutters on the fabric. I also took some green house
> plastic (flexible clear 10 mil plastic) and edged it with gaffers tape,
> so she has a cover for the cutting table when she has a project out and
> needs to leave it.
> 6) Sewing cabinet - bought it - so that she has a professional cabinet
> to do work on - it stands away from the wall - so project can hang over
> in all directions - the machine lift lets her lower the main machine and
> put the serger in place to work with it, in about 30 seconds.
> 7) Floor to ceiling cabinets (and where the cabinet would not go high
> enough bins that close) 2 walls worth (about 35 feet of wall space)
> 8) a 4 x 4 foot peg board on a 1x2 frame - and lots of 12 inch long
> straight hooks - her thread cones go on the pegs - 3 to a peg (e.g. all
> the same color on the same peg). Probably 80 colors up right now.
> 9) Thread rack - got two from stores that were tossing them - they are
> full of thread sorted by general color (e.g. all the greens are in the
> same area)
> 10) pattern drawers - 2 file cabinets that were bought surplus and
> painted white with enamel to match the cabinets - patterns run left to
> right in the drawers - making room for 3 rows in each drawer - 1/4 inch
> plywood makes the dividers
>
> Lots more details if you have questions. It is the third time I have
> done this for her - this is the largest space in the house now. The next
> move is to add on, if it needs to grow again.
>
> Doug

Are yuo married? Oh yes, you said you were..
Just kidding but it sounds fantastic. And we do want to see pictures!

Kirsten


Posted by offkilterquilter on February 13, 2008, 8:40 pm
Outstanding thoughts and suggestions!!!

I have added them to my original list and will be plotting and pricing
over the next few months. I'm hoping that this will all be
bought/made/dealt with by the time the kiddos go back to school in
August, so I have a little while yet.

The big project that needs working on (as far as the house is concerned)
is finishing hubby's office (hey, he gave me the finished room for
sewing and has waited over 2 years to work on his office, so I can delay
finishing my room to my specifications for a few months). I have
drafted out the preliminary layout - for the closet!! And I am going to
get as far away from pastels as I can for the decor.

Right now, the room holds 2 collapsable tables (set at a right angle to
each other with the trash can between the ends that meet - easier to
just slide all scraps right off into it), a tall wardrobe cabinet that
currently holds my apparel fabrics, but will be turned into the computer
and planning area with schedules, etc. so that I can get rid of the
cheapo computer desk, a bookshelf that may or maynot be staying, a
narrow - 12" - wide 2-shelf cabinet that will be going up on one of the
walls, another wall cabinet that is about 18" wide and is currently
holding who-knows-what. The first closet holds a base cabinet and
wallcabinet, stacked on top of each other and originally intended for my
quilting fabrics, now holding giftwrap and boxes, the other closet has
cheap metal shelving, which will be going to the garage.

My plan is to make one HUGE closet and I will have 3/4 of it for my
fabrics and such, with the remaining 1/4 (where the base and wall
cabinets will be) being for the misc stuff - wrappings and such - simple
because we have no other storage at this time. Eventually, they will be
moved into storage in hubby's room since he is making storage alcoves
specifically for the things that we don't need 365 days a year.

I've already got the wood floor, and when we are done with it, I will
have black mopboard (vinyl for easy wipe down), slightly ivory walls
(recycling paint leftover from the kitchen/dining room, that was then
used on 2 walls in the family room) with a turquoise trim. Accessories
will either be white or black....I have a black futon that will stay in
the room for customer seating. I have yet to figure out where my design
wall is going, but I *will* have one, no matter how small, to hold
customer ideas and quilt ideas.

Again, thanks for the imput!!

Larisa

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