Welcome to the Quilt Qwasy Queens blog hop organised by Marian from Seams to be Sew to celebrate Worldwide Quilting Day. For this hop we were asked to show you our sewing room or how we organise, a favourite tutorial or something we make again and again. So no pressure to get a project made for the event and panicking if I'll get it finished in time.
We live in London UK and have a mid terrace house. For the last 2 years we have been renovating it, starting with a complete rewire and redo of the plumbing and heating system followed by a new kitchen, completely redecorating and in April having all the windows replaced. We have 3 grown up children and only 2 still live at home so finally there will be a bedroom that will become the guest room / sewing room. This room is still in a state of great turmoil being the last room that will be done so for the moment I am continuing to use my normal sewing space.....the dining room table.
The dining table gets used for all aspects of sewing. From cutting out my dressmaking patterns,
laying out and organising fabrics for my latest quilt,
and where I use my sewing machine. Currently in one corner of the dining room I have a box which contains my fabric stash and scraps. The box used to hold everything but now it's bursting at the seams with my projects. Maybe I ought to finish a few of them.
Soon all of this will move upstairs and will be stored in a cupboard (which has yet to be built). I store my projects in zip lock bags or plastic boxes and within them I keep the pieces for the individual blocks together by using plastic bags.
My two favourite tools for making sewing easier are my magnifier light.
This light makes it possible for me to see well enough in the evening to do some hand stitching such as cross stitch, applique, sewing on bindings or English paper piecing. This picture was taken when we were still decorating but now the bamboo flooring has been laid and all the furniture is back in its rightful place.
For embroidery where I need to copy the pattern I usually use Fabric solvy.
You need to follow the instructions carefully but I find it works very well and allows me to stitch without needing to have a light box to draw out the pattern. Once stitching is complete it washes out easily in lots of warm water.
An important element of my quilting is my piggy bank. This little fella likes to take care of my change. When I'm visiting quilt shops this means I have money to buy some of the delicious fabric on offer. Without my piggy bank I wouldn't be able to buy those items that I don't really need for the projects I'm working on but which I just can't leave the shop without.
As always with a blog hop there are giveaways. Unfortunately I can't get the files to open properly so I'm emailing Marian and hopefully will have it all up and running correctly very soon. Meanwhile why not go and visit the other people hopping today and come back later to enter the giveaway.
March 21
Thrift Shop Commando
Batts In The Attic
Adventurous Applique and Quilting
Sew Many Yarns (You are here)
Batts In The Attic
Adventurous Applique and Quilting
Sew Many Yarns (You are here)
It's been great to have you visiting and I hope to see you again soon. Once all our refurbishments are complete I post lots of pictures and show you round my sewing room.
Lyndsey
I know you are super excited about getting your own sewing room! I love your piggy bank!
ReplyDeleteWe have done several renovations over the years. Kids move in and out. My sewing room has gone from 12 x 20 to 10 x 10 and is shared with my home office. There it stays because I'm not moving it all over again. Glad you have not let the reno keep you from stitching. Thanks for being a stop on the hop!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. It's nice to know that you use your kitchen table for cutting and everything (I do as well). Happy Sewing!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Lyndsey for sharing your sewing space today. I,too, use my kitchen table for lots of my cutting and sewing projects. I love all the light I have in my kitchen. It really helps for all my hand sewing projects.
ReplyDeleteThe piggy bank is adorable! You make very good use of your current space. The fabrics for the compass quilt look wonderful. That light looks sew useful. I think I need to find one of those for my hand work. Thank you for inviting me in to enjoy my morning coffee with you today ... :) Pat
ReplyDeleteMy mom (a seamstress) always use the dinning room table to sew. Even after she had a sewing room.
ReplyDeleteLovely blog post, I am always interested in where people create. Excited for you that you will get a new space soon. Your piggy bank is the cutest ever.
ReplyDeleteA full house renovation sounds like fun...and a ton of work. Keep the little piggy bank safe:)
ReplyDeleteI'm a kitchen island "creator!" I have one spare room that I'm currently trying to convert to my craft space, can't wait til it's done. Neither can my husband, he'd love to be able to sit in the mornings and have his coffee without all my "stuff" cramming his space! lol!
ReplyDeletelstangl482 at aol dot com
I too turned a spare bedroom into bedroom/craft room...but last week I took the bed OUT, so it is all my studio now and I am having fun organizing it for my projects!
ReplyDeleteLol nice piggy bank.... wow so happy for you... ty for sharing.... happyness04431@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteYou're a hard worker and doing quasy well with all your projects!
ReplyDeleteYou're a hard worker and doing quasy well with all your projects!
ReplyDeleteI save my change too! And sometimes my hubbies if I can snatch it. LOL It sure comes in handy.
ReplyDeleteI love that magnifier. You have a lot going on. Great projects.
ReplyDeletei know you'll be happy to get back in a permanent sewing space.
ReplyDeleteBeing in a permanent sewing room will be great.
ReplyDeleteI used the dining room as a sewing room for 5 years till we moved and I now have a little room that is just for my mess. You so deserve a room of your own. Hope it happens soon for you and I hope you are taking good care.
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you. I hope your new studio gives you lots of wonderful fun.
ReplyDeleteMy sewing area is my dining table too-cutting, sewing, quilting, gluing....I'm slowly working on a quest/sewing room, but still lots to do! Thank you for sharing, Susan
ReplyDeleteHow exciting that you are going to have a sewing room soon. I do not envy your renovation though. That is a ton of hard work. Love your piggy bank. I think I'm going to have to start one myself. That way I won't feel as guilty when purchasing quilty things.
ReplyDelete;-)
Hi Lyndsey! I haven't talked to you in a while! It doesn't matter where you sew as long as you are enjoying it, but it sounds like it won't be long before you have a dedicated room. Take care of yourself!
ReplyDeleteWe redid floors last year and I am still putting things away! Wonder what happened to the piggy bank of mine from years ago? I put it away somewhere!
ReplyDeleteLiving through a remodel is always challenging, glad you still manage to sew!
ReplyDeleteAs long as you can sew... that's all that really matters😉
ReplyDeleteCute piggy!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are going to have an entirely new house before you're finished! You've made do nicely, but I know how lovely it will be to have that bedroom!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you've made great progress with the renovation. Hope you move into your sewing room soon.
ReplyDeleteI think most of us have used our dining room table and still do. I just recently got my very own sewing area. From looking at what you are doing now, I can see that you will be able to fix up your new guest room/sewing room to meet all of your needs. Thanks for sharing,
ReplyDeletenice. I love the piggy bank idea. have fun in your renovations
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I have used my dining room for many years and only recently have taken over one of the kids rooms!
ReplyDeleteIt will be wonderful for you when you get a room---enjoy! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI spent many many years sewing at my kitchen table. You will enjoy your new sewing room when your remodel is done.
ReplyDeleteGreat studio coming together.
ReplyDeleteI hear ya. my sewing machine is setting in my living room. No special sewing place for me to call home.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have a cutting table in my very small sewing(bedroom)room, I tend to use my kitchen table for cutting. The space on my actual cutting table is usually occupied. We make use of what we have! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThat fabric eye candy on your table looks delicious. I sewed on my kitchen table for 7 years and got more done then, than I do now in my sewing room. Have fun decorating your new room and thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tour. I often bring my machine onto my dining room table to sew when I work with my mom or when quilting free-motion on it. Also I like being on the main level and having people around, then. I will have to tell my mom about the Sticky Fabric Solvy as she embroiders a lot and struggles with marking the pattern on the fabric. Maybe this will work for her. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLove the piggybank idea, I need to get me one of those also... Although I've been pretty good so far this year with my spending habits.. Love the tip about the fabri solvy, and enjoyed seeing how using your dining room table can be done with more than just putting the sewing machine on it and stitching. It can't be easy to do, but imagine getting that sewing room done and then having all that room... you'll be beside yourself with all that space. :)
ReplyDeleteHow fun to see your space!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!! I, too, used to use my dining room table a lot. In fact, I still use it if I run out of space in my sewing area.
ReplyDeleteGreat that you are getting a wonderful space together. I still sew at the dinette table~ Some day the room will come together!
ReplyDeleteIt must be hard to get anything done while all of that work is being done! I'm sure you will enjoy your new room when it is finished. Thanks for sharing your space.
ReplyDeleteNice sewing space.
ReplyDeleteI have a piggy bank too by the washing machine (all the washed bills go in there for fabric purchases!!!)
ReplyDeleteYou are a busy gal!! thanks for sharing your space...good job setting up small space... You will love having more room when redoing's are finished!! :) Hope you will share new space with us all!! :D
ReplyDeleteI use my kitchen table to sew at also. Thanks!
ReplyDeletePlease click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.
How exciting that soon you will have a new sewing room to set up and decorate! I'm lucky to have a separate room for sewing. I can't imagine having all of this stuff in my dining room. I suppose there would have to be less stuff. Nah!
ReplyDeleteI spent many years on the kitchen table, took us moving, and two kids moving out for me to get my own room. Have fun with the setting up. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your room. It's great to have one of those magnifying lights to use.
ReplyDeleteHope you get your sewing room together soon! I have a sewing room but still have to use the kitchen table to do all my cutting.
ReplyDeleteSandy A
I love the idea of a piggy bank! And that fabric line up for your next quilt looks gorgeous! Thanks for the eye candy!
ReplyDelete