All About Me: My Sewing Room
Note: This blog post was written in 2011. It’s now 2020 and my sewing workspace has changed drastically. Same room, but better furniture, a great layout, and improved organization.
What is my workspace like? (2011)
Some sewers are meticulously organized. They have countless little boxes, each labeled with its contents: ribbon, thread, lace, buttons, trim, elastic, patterns, etc. Others are chaotically disorganized. They claim they can’t channel their creativity unless surrounded by their fabrics and trims and recent projects. I fall somewhere in between.*
(* Note to myself from 2020: Sorry to break this to you, sweetie, but you are insanely organized. Boxes and bins for everything.)
I strive to keep my sewing space tidy and organized, but let’s face it—there’s a lot of stuff! I have one room, fairly compact, that’s dedicated to my career of sewing. A large double window takes up half of the outside wall, and I have my sewing area arranged in an efficient L shape. Here is a diagram of the room.
Map of My Sewing Room (2011)
In this room, I have two short lavender bureaus that are filled with fabric, and three plastic dressers filled with fabric and unfinished projects. I have two tables, one of which holds my sewing machine, and one of which serves to hide two large tubs of fabric underneath. Two more tubs sit beside it. I have a bookcase stocked full of sewing books and my larger patterns. The smaller patterns fit in a pretty little box that sits on one of the tables.
Bureaus, Mirrors, & Dress Form (2011)
I also have a quaint little cabinet that holds all of my fabric scraps and projects that are on indefinite hold. On top of this cabinet is my “traveling” ironing board, which is set up permanently where it’s easy to access for pressing as I sew.*
Pressing Station (2011)
(* Note from 2020: Yikes! Well, I suppose this proves you can make do with anything.)
On top of my sewing table I have two tiny plastic dressers, about twelve inches high, that hold all of my notions and things such as elastic, bobbins, embroidery thread, and presser feet. My thread fits into two plastic bins designed to hold spools.
My Sewing Table (2011)
There is also a small closet to which I’ve added custom wood shelves. The shelves hold stacks of neglected mending, still more fabric, and shoe boxes filled with lace, ribbons, zippers, buttons, and all variety of trims. Hanging up in the closet are several of my historical costumes. When the closet is closed, that corner becomes a three-way mirror, with my dress dummy in front of it. So, yes, I am rather organized. And yet, I wish I could be more so! I would love a set of shelves in the room, a bigger bookcase, and perhaps a wardrobe of some kind.*
(* Note to myself from 2020: Oooh! I have good news for you about furniture!)
The room is painted a soothing aqua-blue and has a wallpaper border that contains shades of blue, green, lavender, and pinkish-purple. The curtains are sparkling ombré, fading from lavender to aqua, held back with matching ombré chiffon ribbon, and topped with a lavender chiffon window scarf. Some of my accessories are aqua, some are purple, and some are green. This color palette relaxes me, comforts me, and inspires me.
Inspiring Color Palette
2020 Update
Well, my sewing room’s color scheme is still aqua and lavender, but that’s about all that’s the same. I have a huge dresser that holds my fabric. (Seriously, this dresser comes up to my shoulder!) I got a proper cutting table with storage cubbies underneath. Two large bookcases with shelves for all my sewing books. A pressing cabinet. And my hubby gave me a real sewing machine desk for our anniversary last year.
My Sewing Room (2020)
The layout is improved, too. The room holds a lot more than it used to, yet it feels much bigger. (The map below is oriented differently than the map I showed you above. The window is at the top left, the door is at the bottom right.)
Sewing Room Layout (2020)
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So, that’s my sewing space. For tips on updating your own sewing room, see 5 Rules for Organizing Your Sewing Room.
