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See the sewing machine cabinet.
See the sewing machine cabinet open. See the niche inside where the sewing machine can hide.
See the fold-out table.
But wait! There’s more! See the pull-out bench.
Isn’t that nifty? This find wasn’t free, but it was a good deal. It’s old. (There’s supposed to be a cushion. It’s missing. I’ll replace it. I might replace the knobs on the cabinet, too. Not my style. Easy fix.)
I’ve always wanted a dedicated spot for a sewing machine. This is the office/craft room. It has mostly been a mess room. If you subscribe to my newsletter, you’ve seen the office/craft room as my embarrassing photo of the month for two months in a row. (Are you subscribed to my newsletter? The July newsletter goes out soon. See a sample newsletter here.)
But now the office/craft room looks like this!
I can’t believe it. I cleared it and cleaned it and moved boxes to the attic, making room for my office supplies, books, craft materials, and the sewing cabinet.
It will be so nice to do what I want, when I want, with the sewing machine always set up. I’ve never had that before. I’ve always set up my sewing machine on the dining room table, which means you have to set it up and take it down repeatedly.
It’s not really conducive to doing much sewing.
And, in fact, I haven’t sewn in quite some time.
A few more things will be happening to this room before it’s finished. We have a brand new (to us) woodstove that is going in this room, and there may be some rearranging. Probably, the woodstove will end up going where the sewing machine cabinet is now and the sewing machine cabinet will move to the space in front of these double windows.
These windows look out to the back of the house, to the hillside. This room is full of light. The other window looks out over the chicken house.
And a door in the room leads directly onto the side of the front porch, with a nice view.
I haven’t used my sewing machine in years. I had pretty much given up sewing. I want to sew again, though. I enjoy sewing–crafts, mostly. I don’t sew clothes often. (I have–it’s just not something I’m much interested in.) I hope that now that I can have my sewing machine set up all the time in a dedicated space, it will be easier for me to get back to it and spend time with it. I enjoy sewing. I love the creativity and sense of accomplishment.
And so, here lies my new sewing machine cabinet. It sleeps….. perchance to dream……
Because, well, honestly, I haven’t found the box yet that has my sewing machine. (This unpacking thing–it takes forever!)
Do you sew? If so, do you have a dedicated place for your sewing machine?
P.S. Responding to a question in the comments–I realized I had forgotten to show the storage drawer built into the bench seat.
I’ve moved the cabinet to the space in front of the double windows.
I think it works much better there.
P.P.S. I’ve looked all over it and I can’t find a manufacturer’s name anywhere. It cost $50, from an ad in the paper, which I think was a great price for such a unique and handy piece! (I think it would be difficult to find something like it made today, well-crafted and solid wood.)
Posted by Suzanne McMinn on July 24, 2009
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Since there aren’t any craft stores or quilt shops in Korea, I’ve decided to join a BOM (block of the month) club. Everything will get shipped off to me nice & neat – the fabric, the pattern & the instructions! Can’t beat that…
And with it coming just once a month, I won’t feel overwhelmed by such a daunting task…the Dear Jane qulit.
You can see it here: http://www.ourjennericlife.com/jennifer/hi-im-crazy/
If anyone wants to join up, I’d love a quilter-in-arms!
But I like your room much better than mine. While all I see is rice paddies, you’ve got a gorgeous view of trees & porch swings & lots of natural light…not to mention Clover and Annabelle and Pocahontas.
So what are you planning to sew first?
Much love from an overseas Army wife,
Jennifer
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Love your room and congratulations on the clean out!
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I like your sewing machine cabinet. I’ve never seen on quite like it with the seat and everything.
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I took the smallest bedroom and converted it to a sewing room. This allows me to leave things neatly placed (no, most times they re just randomly scattered) out at all times. If need be I can close the door…usually don’t as a closed door drives my cats crazy.
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We did have a spare bedroom/sewing room until my Dad took it over. Mom’s 1969? singer is in a small cabinet that looks like furniture (no seating included) and she gave me the 1950′s singer which still has it’s original sewing table (folding leg card table). She and I did sew clothes, but not for years. Repairs and odds and ends and such. I have always had a machine around and would probably feel lost if I had to live without one, kinda like a hunter without his guns
Tell us more about it … any furniture name/ the kind of machine it was built for ? I didn’t notice the cubby under the seat until it was mentioned. Obviously some thought went into the design of this piece. Where did all the ingenuity go ….???
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Doesn’t it feel great to have a place dedicated to sewing and crafting. Since my daughter is living downstate with her job, I’ve commandeered her bedroom to be my creative in-home studio. I can just close the door if I’ve left a mess.
I have two machines – a new Brother that has multiple decorative stitches and a 1950′s Sewmor that weighs about 45 lbs. It’s cast iron and literally you could run over it with a truck and it would keep sewing.
I say shop on Ebay and get a cool retro machine. There are a couple PINK sewing machines for sale right now (Atlas) and some cool turquoise ones also. (Morse) Good luck with finding the perfect machine to put inside that wonderful cabinet.
- the other Suzanne
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I have a sewing/craft room. Like you I always had to use the kitchen table and what a chore it was to get everything out and put it away again. I hardly did any sewing. Now my machine is up all the time and I love it. Haven’t sewn a lot lately but I’m thinking of Christmas gifts. Tote bags for my girlfriends I think…
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One suggestion: You might want to swap the position of the sewing table and the wire baskets, then you can open out the table top over the top of the baskets. As you have it now, you won’t be able to open it without moving something.
Happy sewing!
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Yes, I sew. I LOVE to sew. I’ve been sewing since I was a little girl. My first love now is quilting, then crafting, then garment sewing. I’ve also made costumes for the local high school’s musicals. That’s a lot of fun…and profitable. Profitable enough to finance my new Bernina sewing machine.
Dedicated Space – yes & no. I have all new sewing stuff – fabric, books, tools, etc etc in my ‘sewing room’, which is actually 1/2 of my laundry room. My sewing machine is in a cabinet just outside this room – in kitchen/dining room. So I have a dedicated space, but still have to clear off the kitchen table to open in up & sew. But it’s better than when I didn’t have a cabinet & sat at the kitchen table.
Good Luck with your sewing. Give quilting a try, too! Start simple & enjoy!
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It is also storing wall to wall shelving filled 9 months worth or dry, boxed and canned foods–HBA’s and pet items AKA the stockpile.
I recently joined a group of ladies and sew 2 times a month so I just got a travel machine so I can take it with me to the group and also to our camper on the weekends.
Is it overkill to have 2 machines and have one NOT be a serger? NAHHHHH! I only make clothes when all the planets line up in heaven just soooo…..
Your cabinet is great. I use and antique table so both my machines and my big honking rotary mat have a place to be 24/7/365.
9:53
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I have an old sewing machine my Uncle left me. It is from the 50′s.It has its own cabinet the is fold down into also. I took it to have it serviced one time and the owner of the shop kept trying to get me to get rid of it. There was no way I would ever do that the new ones just don’t sew like this one does. Well when I when to pick it up one of the workers and I were talking about the machine. I told her how much I loved it and would never get rid of it. She said her mother had one just like and ask if I would like to have it.:happyfeet: Well YES
She wanted someone to have it that would love it as much as her mother did. It is just like the one I already had with a cabinet and bench and the sales recipt from when she bought it back in 1954. OMG I still can’t believe it. I use it all the time.
People are wonderful. I love the cabinet and chair you got. Enjoy sewing again. its like baking, creating something out of nothing.
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P S That is the COOOOOOOLEST sewing cabinet. I WANT ONE!
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Great sewing/craft/art room! I am working on organizing mine too. In addition to sewing and crafts, it is a seeding room with shelves in the south facing window where I plant seeds. I have to find room in there for all my seeding stuff. It is also an overflow closet and a guest room for my daughter and …
Needless to say, its full.
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We’ve been rearranging things here at our house, and I am working on making a little sewing room/studio/quiet spot for myself in the guest room that was formerly dh’s office.
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I have a room that is totally mine. I have my sewing machine set up, all of my craft supplies . my computer, yarn, cross stich supplies and my unread books in it.
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Sometimes people made their own cabinets for things . . . If you can’t find an official marking, this may be the case. For such a gorgeous piece, though. . . surely the maker would have wanted to put their mark SOMEWHERE! Sometimes, under the drawers, on the backs of the drawers. Sounds like an item to take to the ‘Antiques Roadshow’!!! I would also at least save the old hardware and not throw it away–You could put your kids through college if it is a collectors piece.
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P.S. LOVE LOVE LOVE the new find. Well worth 50.00!!
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If you are speaking of an old Singer Featherweight….run do not walk if you find one in good shape, cheap….they are wonderful…make a beautiful stitch and are light enough to carry to classes, RVing, to visit the kids etc..Crafters and quilters love them..My husband traded mine years ago for a new fangled-one (at the time)as a birthday surprise, when I arrived home from work….I was sick…but he was trying to upgrade me to a better, he thought, machine…being selfish I had wanted a new multi-stitch machine and keep my portable featherweight too, but he didn’t realize that….ha In 1958, I paid 149.99 for it…Now if you can find one on e-bay or a Singer store if they have one, they are over 400.00, the last time I checked…
I have since found two, one needs a bobbin case..I found my two at estate sales…both still had their black carrying case..and buttonhole attachment…
My little singer was the first thing I bought when I started working as a young girl,…someone got a good deal on the trade….wish I had it back…I now have an embroidry machine, cheap one, and another machine plus my serger and two old featherweights. For what it is worth, I tried the little new lightweight crafting machine sold by Wally World and took it back, was very disappointed in it…
Always, I have learned this by trial and error, ask for a piece of scrap material and run a few stitches in fact several to check it out..For sure a used machine motor will still run but sometimes will not sew if the under innards are missing…so don’t let that fool ya’. Good luck in finding a good used machine…
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Suz’
This is really weird…
I have been making a Question and Ponder list to send to you….I have dozens of them listed… One of them was…
Question: Have you ever made a quilt?
I Ponder: How would you make it, the old-fashioned way with a newspaper template pattern, hand cut, hand pieced, and hand quilted.. or would you make it the new way with a straight edge, pricision plastic templates, rotary cut pieces and then machine pieced and quilted….
PS….I guess I will just send my Question and Ponder’s to you as the subjects arise…..
PSS…Guess you have guessed that I sew…I also am a crafty, person, I am also an R-teest..(artist,retired graphic).. among other things…errr….
PSSS…Love to write…but am not accomplished at it..just write what has happened in my life…Whoa Nellie!…
PSSSS…My math is terrible…I am right-brained married to a left brained man…thank goodness…
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A great sewing and crafting area…north light is always the best for truly seeing a piece of artwork or other work….without the glare…
Hope you have a great vac…’cause woodstove airborne dust can contaminate..paintings..fabric stash..etc…just ponderin’
Sewing table, I believe, has a Danish modern look…maybe from the beginnings…late forties to early fifties…
What do I know…but whatever save those beautiful pulls…ones like that, if brass, could easily fetch 6.00 or 8.00 bucks apiece…and if you want to sell it someday..you can put them back on the piece..looks like it might have been painted..has it?
PS….Have 52 fashion you a 2X4 with a felt base to fit under the table top when you have it open…so it will support some heavy fabric without springing your top….My table door swings out and then fits under my top…just the perfect place for “Fluffy”my cat to sleep to the hummm of the machine and then to torment me about the pins and needles getting in his mouth when he decides to wake up….and he’s no lightweight..
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hugs
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After moving into the old home place 2 years ago, I designated a part of the attic for my sewing area. I miss no windows, but love the ability to LEAVE THE DANG MACHINE SET UP and no one sets food or homework or mail on it; I have a large table for cutting too. It’s not ideal, but works for me. The lovely foam insulation on the walls and around the geothermal heat ducts are a nice visual addition. ha.
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I have a little window-less room for my sewing. I set it all up nice with shelves and fabric organized by color. But I hate that little room and always drag everything downstairs if I need to sew. Which means I just don’t sew. Maybe our next house will be better…
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Being a quilter- I have ALOT of fabric… I make MANY quilts that I give away as comfort quilt for folks who have lost a loved one- or to someone going thru cancer treatments- or babies in the NICU.
I LOVE to sew on the vintage machines. My oldest is a 1907 Singer Red Eye treadle named “Ruby” and I have “Janey” a new zig-zag Janome (I don’t really like,it is noisy) and then 3 older 1930-1951 machines I use off & on. I also have a quilting frame and machine… so that’s 6 machines.
I have taken over one room in the house- and the I got a quilting frame and it took up another room…so I have taken over a bit of space for my fabric & machines.
My neighbor has put me in her will so when she dies I get her Touch & Sew machine… I am honored!
I put them ALL to good use…Just ask Giz- I am her quilter- she’s been over.
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I have a dedicated room for my sewing. It also has my computer in it. I have three sewing machines. One does embroidery. The other is for sewing while the embroidery is working. The other is just an inexpensive machine that doesn’t sew very well. Only thing is, my youngest daughter has borrowed my number 2 sewing machine, so I’ll probably never see it again.
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Brings back many memories.
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