If you are like me you are curious where others do their creative sewing. I would like to share with you my sewing/knitting studio. When we built our house 23 years ago, I really wanted a studio on the main floor. Therefore, I could sew in between cooking, laundry etc. Since we don't do a lot of entertaining we didn't need a formal dining room, so we turned it into my studio. It is only 13' x 13' but I have packed everything in(well not all of it-ahem, might be some stored elsewhere in the house!) We installed a U shaped counter top on 3 sides of the room, that is where my sewing machines and 2 of my knitting machines reside. After all these years and collecting more stuff I do wish it was twice this size, but I still really love it.
I am standing in my kitchen doorway looking into the room. To the immediate left is a closet, then my Brother knitting machine with it's motor attachment, another closet(no you are not getting to see in them, LOL-can't let all the secrets out now can I, hehe). Next is my portable design wall(love that it's portable). And you are probably wondering what is all that in between the design wall and window. Well that is cone yarn that is used on the knitting machines. They come in one pound cones. Then starts the U shape counter top where you see one sewing machine, that is the one I take to class, retreat, or let a friend use when they come to sew.
Also when you come into the room on the right is my new cutting counter-boy am I ever loving that!
Here is another view from inside the room. See the 2 closets(with their doors shut, hehe). Here you get another glimpse of the cutting table from the other side. The two french doors lead into the formal living room.
Ok, back to the counter top with the class sewing machine, and 2 storage units that house some precuts and some yardage, knitting patterns and supplies for the knitting machines. I keep saying 'machines', yes indeed I have multiple(maybe like 5). Two of which are spares for parts should I ever need them since Brother no longer produces knitting machines. You also are getting a glimpse of my big board ironing board-couldn't live without that!
If you look closely on top of the first storage unit is a picture of my mom watching over me. She's been gone for several years, but, she was my first teacher of all things crafty so she deserves a place of honor in my room. I miss her dearly.
And you might be asking just what is a knitting machine-am I right??? Well here is a picture of another, this one has no motor, meaning I sit there and push the carriage back and forth to make it knit (I see the carriage sitting upside down on the counter top behind and to the left of the machine). This machine is used with sport weight yarn to make sweaters, hats and mittens.
Here is the third knitting machine, with it's carriage in place and ready to knit. This machine uses bulky yarn, like Red Heart 4 ply that I make hats with. This is where I keep my boom box too. You might notice a green skirt all around the countertop-more hiding places, hehe.
And now to the main sewing area. The white cupboards above hold my thread, buttons, felt, and a few other crafting supplies. The pegboard holds all sorts of sewing supplies, scissors, rotary cutters, needles, elastic, bias tape makers (you get the idea!) On the counter to the left is my Janome 5000 embroidery machine. My main sewing machine the Janome 7700, along with my Koala chair sits right next to the cutting counter. On the wall is my handy dandy ruler holder my sweet hubby made me a few years ago. I thought 30 slots would be plenty-NOT, there are more rulers hiding! On the cutting counter, if you look closely, you will see a white goose neck light. Got it from Ikea for $10-it's wonderful!! I don't usually have to use it since I have a south facing double window along with an east one, however, you still get cloudy days where more light is needed, or if I sew at night. And there on the right is the doorway into the kitchen so we have come full circle.
And a view of the whole cutting counter:) Three cubes from the local home improvement store screwed together with a laminate 2' x 4' shelf on top. Storage galore all the way around. See there are more rulers hiding beside it-they are too big to fit in the holder.
Hope you enjoyed the tour of my room and didn't fall asleep!!! My longarm resides in another room, my son's old bedroom, along with my stamping supplies.
I would like to encourage all of you to post pic's of your creative space.
I'll be linking with a few of the inspirational linky parties on my left side bar.
