When someone first takes up sewing as a hobby, they’ll usually use whichever table or desk they already have in the house. They might have a whole room they can use, or they might only have a corner of the dining table that needs to be tidied up each day before the family can eat.
Whatever the situation is in the beginning, there’ll come a time when the new sewist realises they really need to upgrade their sewing table situation.
A dedicated space on which to sew makes the hobby more enjoyable, not to mention less stressful and – if you’re crouched over an unsuitable surface – painful.
Obviously, everyone’s space availability and budget are different, but here’s what to consider to help you choose the sewing table that’s perfect for you.
Size
Get the biggest table your budget and space allows for. If you’re limited on space, a drop-leaf table will allow you to fold the table up after you’ve finished sewing for the day and can be tucked away under the stairs or next to the sofa while you’re not using it.
Perhaps an L-shape table would fit in the room, allowing you to use one side for sewing and the other for cutting and/or ironing?
Speaking of cutting, as all sewists know, all that bending down is back-breaking stuff. HADO make electronic height adjustable desks that will save all that bending down and allow you to cut out your patterns in comfort.
Features
When it comes to sewing tables, if money’s no object, you can have all the fancy features you like.
The fanciest sewing tables come with a platform for your sewing machine. The platform raises your machine to make it level with the table, turning it into a flat bed machine which makes sewing large projects such as clothes and quilts easier. The platform then lowers to store your sewing machine inside the table. (If you do go for this option, make sure your particular sewing machine fits the platform.)
If your budget doesn’t stretch quite that far, there are plenty of sewing tables that have other features such as a built in cutting/measuring mat, shelves, drawers and spool holders. If you’re new to sewing, you might not think you need much storage space for bits and pieces but, believe us, you soon will.
Durability
Your sewing machine table needs to be sturdy. You may not care how robust it is in terms of how easy it is to get scratched or damaged but the table needs to be sturdy enough to withstand the vibrations of your sewing machine. Sewing machines run at high speeds and you don’t want your table wobbling all over the place when you’re trying to stitch a straight line.
Although size, features and durability are important factors to consider when choosing a sewing table, you need to consider these factors along with what you’ll use the sewing table for and how often you’ll be using it. After all, someone making king-size quilts all day every day will need a much bigger table than someone who makes the occasional coaster or scrunchie.
Whatever you go for, make sure it’s future-proof. You may not think you need much now but a new sewing hobby that doesn’t take up much room can soon turn into taking over your entire home.