All I want for Christmas is a good sewing table. Well, truthfully that's not all I want. I still want world peace and Ann Demeulemeester boots. But a decent, counter-height sewing table is pretty high on my list, which is why I squealed out loud when I saw this DIY version on IKEA Hackers.
Cutting fabric on the floor is awkward, painful on the back, and no matter how much I sweep and Swiffer, little bits of floor dust always wind up all over my project. I've looked around for cutting tables before, but they were always too expensive, and DIY versions almost always required a full carpentry skill set.
This version started out as a pair of Expedit bookshelves. Now it has a padded, covered surface that can be ironed on and pinned into for cutting, and the shelves underneath are perfect for fabric storage. The key to this project was the addition of Besta legs to the Expedit to make it a few inches taller, which means it's a good height for cutting without having to stoop over.
To see all the details on pulling off this hack for yourself, check out IKEA Hackers.
(Image: Summer Frace via IKEA Hackers)
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More of a work table because sewing on it wouldn't work--no leg room. But still EXCELLENT!
ikea should the nobel prize for the expedit
Add an extra 12" to the length of the top so you would have a place to sit at the end of the table and you got yourself a deal.
What can't you do with an Expedit? It's like grown up Legos.
:)
That is the greatest comment and true LOL
Wow. I would put locking casters on it instead of feet for even more flexibility. I am a dressmaker in my spare time, and I can't reach across a 3x5 table top to cut large garment pieces. I roll my cutting table away from the wall and walk around it when I'm cutting, but keep it against the wall otherwise.
Here are the Expedit casters: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60169977/
Another suggestion related to Parnassus' comment: you could add flexible length to the table top by adding sections with locking hinges -- keep the extended table sections up when needed, down when not.
And how about a 2x4 + 1x4 for a counter height set up, plus casters?
I am seriously thinking of scrapping my current set up and changing out for this!
Bravo!
I use an IKEA stenstorp island for mine - shelves on one side, leg room on the other. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00116996/
This is a fun idea! Thanks for sharing
Technically, this is a cutting table. This is what S&CA says about height.
Cutting Table Height
Stand with your elbows bent at right angles, then drop your hands very slightly so your arms are in a comfortable position. This is the height your cutting table—and ironing board— should be. Lowering the table height slightly from the 90 degree angle prevents you from banging your elbows on the table. You may want to vary it a bit, depending on the type of work you’re doing, but it should not be much lower.
I'm 5'10" and mine is 41" with locking casters. You need at least several inches of overhang all around so you can use clamps to hold the fabric. I used pink insulation board covered by special padding and canvas. That way you can pin into it too, as well as iron on it.
I wanted to do this to make a work table, it wasnt tall enough though. Adding the legs might do it. However on my budget i need to find one on craigslist, the bigger ones are easy, but the 2 cube size is harder to come across
Grown up Legos! Hilarious. LOL.
And yes, a new Nobel prize category is in order. Any idea what to call it?
X2
That picture-ledge turned sideways at the far edge is genius.
Genious, I need this. We have three expedit bookcases and the desk extention in our library right now. This would gladly replace my adjustable height folding table that I use to cut on. Thank goodness we are driving by an IKEA during the holidays!!
Thank you so much for featuring my table! A friend of mine saw that you had posted it here so I thought I'd follow-up. :)
The commenters above are correct, it's really not as much a sewing table as it is a cutting table. I use it to draft patterns, cut, iron, make notes and do some pinning and unpinning when I'm tired of sitting. I also had my laptop up there last night and was using it as a little desk (again, tired of sitting).
You can see where I sew behind the table in the second picture there. It's also from Ikea, though I don't remember what it's called and it's a desk I don't think they make any more.
Every time I walk into that room now (which used to be mostly a dedicated office, but also housed my sewing machines) I do a little squee because I'm so happy with my organized space. I used to cut on the dining room table, but as my Etsy business grew (I make children's hats), I realized I needed a bigger space. My bolts were taking up tons of space and we could never use the table because it was always covered with my patterns.
Just in case anyone wants even more details about the organization/work space:
Since this photo was taken, I added adhesive cork boards on the end (Office Depot) to tack my current production patterns onto. You can also see where I've rewrapped all my fabric bolts onto comic book boards to make them much smaller and more organized. I prewash all the fabric for my hats to prewashed fabrics are all on comic boards - unwashed fabric remains on the bolt (you can see on the other side where the drawers are).
The purple bins (also from Ikea) on the outside edge (the edge with the ribba ledge) contain all completed and ready to ship hats. The purple bins on the drawer side contain scaps (usable on top, unusable on the bottom). I have a friend whose mom takes my unusable scraps. For what, I do not know! The drawers contain cut fabric pieces in the various sizes of hats that I make (I often do a lot of batch cutting).
Anyway, thanks again and happy sewing! :)
-Summer Frace
Super awesome idea! I was wondering if there was a way to somehow add a removable top to go over this if you lived in a small apartment & wanted to keep the fabric safe? Almost like a breakfast bar/sewing table 2-for-1 kinda deal.
Ideas?