A friend on Facebook mentioned that she doesn’t like sewing facing the wall. Neither do I. Vince will stick his head in the door and say “Look at this!” If Addie’s in there doing something besides sewing with me, I should halfway keep an eye on her. I thought I had tried every possible way to place everything and then I thought of this: What if I turn two sets of fabric shelves back to back? It isn’t going to win me a cover spot on a home decorating magazine but I think it gives me a lot more room!
The longarm stayed in the same place. The one fabric shelf unit that’s right by the door stayed in the same place. The design wall is in front of the pocket doors. The cutting table is in front of the design wall and that makes it closer to the fabric.
Along the back, next to the longarm is the ironing table, then two sewing machine tables facing each other, then the little table that holds the coverstitch and serger machines.
It seems like this gives me room for the love seat and maybe room for an extra chair and a spinning wheel – especially if I can move the two fabric shelf units closer to the design wall – I could put a chair and spinning wheel there next to the door.
I have those fabric shelves drawn 2′ deep but they’re really 18″ so instead of 4′, they’re going to take up only 3′.
I think this works!
Tell me the truth – are those fabric shelves going to look bad sitting back to back?
Marilyn Smith says
Judy, I was just on a sewing site on FB but not able to share a picture. On a corner wall, meaning here where you have you serger and overstitch this gal put three rows of cubbies mounted to the wall. Three high and as many across as you could go. You could even do some over your sewing machine area. Perfect for yarn storage. Just need a stepladder! Many buy cubbies from IKEA. If I find it again I will try to copy and send to you.
Judy Laquidara says
I don’t store yarn in the open because of bugs but that’s a good idea for storing other things. Thanks!
justquiltin says
I have had fabric shelves back to back in my sewing room over the years to saved wallspace for a larger design wall area. I slid two large pieces of foam core board (taped together to get the right height) between the two shelving units. That way it looked a bit neater to me since I couldn’t see thru one shelf to the next and kept me from knocking things off the second unit if I was digging thru or moving around stuff on the first one.
Judy Laquidara says
Thanks for the foam core board idea!
Carolyn Sullivan says
I actually have my fabric shelves in another room.
Judy Laquidara says
That’s how I have it here but can’t do it there.
shirley swift-bruner says
no, they will not. i have done that in the past. think of library rows of books….shelves back to back.
Cheryl Lorence says
Like this arrangement. As you use up fabric you can eliminate some shelves (I think you mentioned this in an earlier post) and that will eventually open up the space a bit more.
I understand how excited you are about this move, especially since Vince is excited about it too. We moved to north GA to be close to our kids and grandkids. We might have considered a move back “home” to MO if they hadn’t been down here.
When you get settled and want to explore a bit, drive East of Carthage on Hwy 96 to Red Oak II. Lowell Davis, is the artist who created and still lives on the property. His brother and family were close friends of my family when I was growing up, so I saw him often as a kid and was quite familiar with his artwork. It’s a very unique and interesting place. You can google Red Oak II to get the history of the place.
Wishing you lots of energy and stamina as you begin to pack. It was so much easier when we were younger….and had movers doing it for us!!!
Judy Laquidara says
Thanks for the tip. I’ll look the place up and make sure to bookmark it so I don’t forget. Sounds like something Vince would enjoy too.
Pat Peele in SC says
Love the back to back shelves! We did that and then added another set of shelves across the end of the back to back shelves. We had albums of stamps and scrapbooking supplies on them. Lots of preplanning as Randy would say it is too much to move again.
melfunk says
I think the idea of putting the shelves back to back is a perfect solution. Adding the spinning wheel on the side near the door would be a fun too.
Shari says
You could even slide the back to back shelves another shelf at the end of the two and have even more storage if you have room. Or you could slide them toward the middle of the floor and use that wall space for the design wall if you decide you want that door after all.
Linda Rech says
Great idea! And think what you can do with those blank sides of the shelving that face the room—peg board for rulers and notions, pattern storage, even magazine storage in upright holders. And maybe a little wallhanging or two or a smaller design wall. I’m excited for you!
April Reeves says
This is what I was thinking too that you could find a use for the sides of the shelves such as mini design wall. I’ve seen a setup where clipboard were attached to a wall but you could put a clipboard or two and put your current pattern on it to be able to view it and not have it in the way on the cutting board.
Susan Nixon says
They’ll be fine. And anyway, who’s going to be looking at your room and criticizing it? Friends wouldn’t, and strangers shouldn’t be there.
Wendy Buchanan says
It sure sounds like you are getting back into quilting! I like that idea! I haven’t known you as a Quilter so am excited about that!
Nelle Coursey says
I think this is a great idea and the good thing about it is, if you don’t like it, you can always change it!
Laura Haynes says
Putting your shelves back to back like this may also protect your fabric further from the windows’ light.
Cassews says
I have back to back shelves with fabric on them on one side of My swear room and the other side has back to back shelves with tools, rocks etc for both of my hobbies ! I love that idea of more room and guess what if anyone thinks its tacky, not my problem its theirs.
wanda jordan says
When I moved to this house 7 years ago I had to do the exact same thing with shelves to get them on my craft room. I have 12 sets and still don’t have room for all my material.( I do tons of different crafts) I still have my old house and I’m trying to clean it out now. I’ve got a closet 6 foot deep 16 foot long full of material. Will I ever sew again? Who knows but I know that I’ll never have time to sew all the material I have. So what do I do with it? That is what I’m trying to decide now. I’ve given 24 boxes full away to churches for using in different projects( Little girls dresses in Africa, lap quilts for VA men, lap quilts for nursing home) etc. But still have over 400 pieces. So I feel your pain I really do. There are so many pieces I love. I’ve got tons of heavy material for making drapes and covering stuff. Then kids patterns thought would have great grand babies some day. But granddaughter studying to be doctor and says doesn’t thin so.SO what do we do I might ask? You might now ever quilt big projects again but you will never get material as cheap as what you got some of what you had. DO you take that chance.
Carol says
My concern is how close the cutting table is to the design wall. I think it’s going to be difficult to utilize–both in putting blocks on it as well as studying what’s on it from across the room. I step back at least 6-8 feet from mine to look the project over and the cutting table is going to be in the way to see the full length of what is up there. What is going on the closet wall that juts out into the room? Not sure that would be any better because of the long arm. The wall next to the serger table looks like a perfect spot, but that’s where you are thinking about the chair and spinning wheel. But that would make it close to your sewing machines. My room is 20×22 and it was so fun planning and figuring out where to place everything. Nice thing is, what doesn’t work after you are in, can always be changed.
Judy Laquidara says
The cutting table is on wheels so I can easily move it when I don’t need it or if I need a better view. Yo’re right about getting a better view from a distance but I also find that taking a picture can be quite useful. The closet wall is quite small/narrow and I think you’re right that the longarm will be in the way. I’m not sure but I might could put the design wall on that back wall and put the love seat at an angle in the corner. Another thought . . I don’t think we’ll use those French doors much so I might could keep the design wall behind the fabric shelves and then slide it out when I’m using it and have it in front of those doors, then slide it back when I’m not using it. It will all be much easier once I see it again and take measurements.
Thanks for the thoughts. Everything I read helps!
Melanie says
I have my fabric in Sterilite drawers, placed 4 high w 2 stacks side by side and back to back and another 4 stack on the end with a recycled tabletop on top as my cutting table. I have 2 desks facing each other for my sewing machines. I’m in a 9×10 room. Also a cat tree for my purr-babies. And a bookcase for my quilting books. It’s tight but it works.Using the drawers as my table base is a big space saver.