It ends up that the new sewing room isn’t that much smaller than the current sewing room. I went over and measured and the current room is 18′ x 35.5′ but it does have an 8′ x 8’closet and an 8 ‘x 16′ closet. In the larger closet, that’s where the fabric and some food is stored, along with a filing cabinet and the freeze dryer. The smaller closet has thread, sugar, flour, grain and rolls of batting stored. Also at one end of the current room, there’s a set of kitchen cabinets, a freezer and a fridge so I’m taking off 3’ (since I don’t use that as anything sewing related) and counting that room as 18 x 32.5, or
So the current space is 585 square feet, along with almost 200 square feet of closet space, though probably half of that is used for sewing related items.
The new space is 14’8″ by 38′ which is about 566 square feet.
Here’s the room, looking the long way.
Here’s another view showing the doors at the far end.
The photo below shows the door opening between what will be my sewing room and the basement family room, as well as the walk through door that I will mostly use. The door between the sewing room and the family room are pocket doors that will close – to keep the TV out and my music in!
While we’re on the above photo, I also want to say – I think I’m going to put a computer table and our desktop computer in that spot where the quilt rack is located. It won’t be nearly as pretty as a quilt rack but we need a place for the desktop that we both use even though we each have notebooks that we use more.
I am not sure if the 38′ measurement for the length of the room includes the closet or just the open space. I may have a few more feet than I drew in but I didn’t want to plan on having it and not have it so I guess we’ll figure that out when we get there.
Here’s a drawing of a possible layout. Feel free to make suggestions. I’ll tell you a little about why I chose to do it the way I did.
On the bottom wall, you can see that I’ve drawn in the double door between the two rooms, and the double French doors that lead outside. I’ve tried to keep a path open for Rita so she can walk through that far left walk through door that I will usually use, and then walk around the shelves and go through the double door into the room where Vince is, or come back through that door to the outside door when she wants to go out. I wanted to avoid having things with legs near her path – things that she would run into and lose her way (sewing machine tables, chairs, longarm legs, cutting table legs, etc.) .
Second, I wanted my fabric as far away from the windows as I could get it.
Third, I wanted the sewing machines to be near the windows and door so I could enjoy the sights outside.
Fourth, I want everything that plugs in (iron, sewing machines, longarm) to be near a wall so I’m not stepping over cords.
The longarm is too wide to go across the width of the room. There have been times (house in town in Kentucky, rental house in Texas) where I could only walk around one side of the longarm but there’s not really enough room to do that in this room.
I want to keep a Bernina and a Singer 301 set up, along with a small table where the coverstitch and serger machines sit.
I had wanted to have my loveseat in there but there doesn’t appear to be room. I’m hoping it won’t take long to use enough fabric that I can get rid of those two shelves between the doors and that would be a good spot for the loveseat. We’ll have plenty of places to put it til I can make room for it in the sewing room.
The only problem I see is that there is no place to store the yarn. I’ve been reminded several times that I don’t get every square inch for my “stuff” but there is the closet in the sewing room. I can stack yarn tubs in there. There’s a closet in the basement bedroom and I can store yarn tubs in there and there’s a fourth bedroom upstairs that is not going to be furnished as a bedroom. Vince may come up with a plan for that room but maybe I can use part of it for storing yarn. I can also store some yarn tubs under the longarm. I’m not worried about it .. we will find a place for the yarn.
The extra batting rolls will be stored on top of the fabric shelves. I can put two rolls on top of each unit and I think that’s about all the batting rolls I have. I’ll keep one roll down for easy access and then when it’s used, I’ll get another one down and soon . . they’ll all be used up! 🙂
Any suggestions? Anything I’m not seeing that I should change? It isn’t like I can’t change things later.
Cinda Moulds says
Will Boots still be in your sewing area?
Judy Laquidara says
The plan is that Boots will have the run of the house and he will be part of the family 24/7. I’m not sure how he’s going to deal with that. He loves us but he loves his privacy. I kept telling Addie “When Boots makes THAT sound, we have to leave him alone.” She said “The cat tells YOU what to do?” The first time Boots made THAT sound and she continued to play with him and now . . she knows to leave him alone when he makes THAT sound. He bites! Once we’re all living together under the same roof, I’ll keep a squirt bottle of water handy and break him of that habit but I think he feels like the sewing room is his domain and when he’s ready for us to go . . it’s time to go. Hopefully we will all live in harmony! The funny thing may be Boots and Rita. She’s never been around him. Speck and Boots knew each other and pretty much ignored each other but Rita is a bit aggressive with other animals. We’ll see.
KAy Sorensen says
I suggest you have everything possible on wheels in the sewing room. That way you use it and find better layouts for the way you work it is easy tomove things
Heather Sedlacek says
Not really about your layout but talking about Rita made me think of this: they make a kind of ‘halo’ for blind dogs that sticks out around their head so the halo hits things before their face does. If you google muffins halo that is one kind but there are others plus I am sure Vince could engineer an even better one for you! I agree with the poster above about keeping things on wheels if you can. We just started reorganizing a room with several very heavy., very full shelving units and just realized about halfway through that a different layout would be better…so now we move them again.
Judy Laquidara says
I’ve seen those halo things but she does so well getting around. We’ve taken her to my uncle’s and go maybe twice a year and she always remembers her way around. We had her in the apartment Tuesday night and she moves very cautiously but she was fine. I see her bump into things sometimes but it really bothers me when she gets under a table or behind something and doesn’t know how to get out. I panic for her.
Elle says
My LA quilter has her end rails at the wall in the closet in her quilting room. That could net you a TON of floor space in this room. Would another shelving unit net more storage than that portion of the closet? I’m with you on positioning work tables to view out the windows. I’ve done that as well.
Judy Laquidara says
I’m not sure what you mean about the end rails in the closet. There’s really not a wall where I could put another shelving unit plus there’s nothing else to put on the shelving units except fabric and the five I have would hold all the fabric . . unless I’m missing what you’re saying.
Susan Nixon says
I think with the square footage there, you will find a place for your yarn! Those longarms are much longer in a house than they are in a hotel presentation room or a quilt shop! LOL
Sherry in NC says
With all this talk about the longarm, sewing machines and fabric storage, does this mean maybe getting back to quilting? As much as I love all your other interests, quilting was my favorite. Just hoping.
Deb Praus says
That gave me a bit of hope also! LOL Maybe the garden won’t be so large and if Judy can see the sewing room without going to another building and if Nicole takes an interest or Addie. So many ifs! I too, enjoy all the other interests but quilting is how I found her!
I do like the layout but have put almost everything on wheels in my sewing room and it has been a back saver. The longarm never moves though! Good luck Judy, we will be anxiously awaiting the move!
Jeri Niksich says
I 3rd the notion about quilting lol. It’s how I discovered Judy as well. But as mentioned she still keeps me entertained. Thanks neighbor!
Carolyn Sullivan says
I think that looks awesome. I hate to say it but I never plan things out that well and then it’s a mess. I also wasn’t sure you still have the long arm. it’s been a long time since you blogged about quilting. Or maybe I missed it.
Judy Laquidara says
That’s the only room I’ve planned out and probably won’t plan any others though Addie may want to change her room around a bit. The sewing room just has so many different things – sewing machines, ironing table, cutting table kinda all need to be close together. The longarm can be anywhere it fits and it’s a pain to move around so I need to get it right the first time.
montanaclarks says
Many times over the last few years I’ve thought of selling my longarm–it’s certainly not getting much use!
Judy Laquidara says
I’ve thought the same thing but I’ve not been able to make that decision. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve not been without a quilting machine for so many years or because I know if I sell it, I’ll never buy another one and then if I do start quilting again, I’ll wish I hadn’t sold it.
cindy says
looking forward to you quilting again, even if it is to use up the stash. as far as Rita — does it panic her (as opposed to you) if she gets under something and has difficulty finding her way out? when my dog went blind and had to be brought into a house she had never been in, she walked very slowly and used her head to just touch whatever was in front of her and explore. she learned her way around the living room and entry way but never really went into any of the other rooms downstairs. she had never been around stairs and never tried to go up the ones in the new house. Boots will find his own place for getting away from it all and will enjoy visiting with you on his terms. God bless you in your new home.
Judy Laquidara says
I don’t think she panics but when I notice that she’s struggling to find her way out of a situation, I will speak to her and she seems to be able to follow my voice. Since the sewing room is probably the worst place for her to be as far as getting into a tight spot, I’ll keep the door closed when I’m not in there or when I don’t want her in there. She really likes Vince way more than she likes me so if he’s around, she’s going to be with him and not looking for me.