I hold an advanced degree in procrastination, but when I’m excited about something I can jump into it head first. That’s how my sewing space came about.
Up until this summer my quilting supplies were stashed in a bookcase in our living room. If I wanted to sew I got what I needed out of the bookcase and set camp on the dinner table. We live in a small apartment downtown. While we enjoy the urban surroundings our space is limited. Thus it had always been out of question that I could dedicate a room to my quilting hobby. As my fabric stash kept growing things got a little out of hand; there just wasn’t enough storage space and I kept getting annoyed by having to clear the table each night. We thought, that this was just the way things were and we had to live with it until we’d eventually move.
I don’t remember what initiated it, but one day this summer I thought to myself that if we redid our office, got rid of a couple of things and put most of my remains from architecture school in the cellar, there could actually be just enough room to host a dedicated sewing table. That idea, like a spark, initiated some frantic pinterest searching for tiny sewing spaces, corners, niches, nooks, you name it. This image of a fresh, lively yet clean enclave (??) formed and I put together a mood board that I proposed to my boyfriend. He’s happy when I am, and I’m pretty sure he loved the idea of moving all things sewing out of the living room – proposal accepted!
Next, my planning skills came in handy. I took our office’s measurements, drew up a floor plan, calculated dimensions and picked out pieces of furniture from IKEA accordingly. And when our original plans to go canoeing were canceled by the provider that weekend, off to IKEA we drove.
I didn’t buy all the things I had originally picked out, but all the essentials. I had to work on a budget and I like the idea of adding pieces I find along the way, too. And I went with a different carpet that now covers he floor in the niche completely. I am a sucker for carpet under my feet! The sewing nook is tugged behind our convertible couch / guest bed at the back of the room. The sofa is covered with my Glass Half Full quilt. I didn’t originally intend to keep this quilt, but when I saw how well the colours harmonize with the other green hues I decided to keep it.
My sewing table isn’t big, but it holds my notions and thread in two drawers, which are now within reach without taking up space on the table. And since I was able to put up a design wall, I don’t have to lay out blocks and design on my table either. When I sit and work Í have my machine to my right and my cutting mat on the left and can easily switch between cutting and piecing.
My fabric stash and other supplies are stacked in the green sideboards. I will open it up and show you around soon, stay tuned! And now I would love to see your sewing spaces, feel free to share a link if you’ve posted about yours in the comments, let’s spread the inspiration =)
(The Monstera print included in the mood board is from the fantastic artist Janine Sommer)
This post is linked with Modern Patch Monday at Modern Cologne Quilters, Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts and Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story
