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Having the proper table for sewing is important for your body. You are, after all, going to be spending a lot of time at the machine. 

When was the last time you thought about your body when sewing? Probably not until your shoulders ached or your back hurt. With the excitement of getting going on a project, we often overlook the fact that our work time can be diminished due to an aching back or shoulders. Having the proper table for sewing is important to your body. You are, after all, going to be spending a lot of time at the machine, so understanding a few important tips will help to make your sewing enjoyable and stress free.

"One of the key concepts of ergonomics is keeping your body in a neutral position as much as possible. Neutral position is the most relaxed state for your body. Your weight is centered and your limbs are relaxed. Whether sitting or standing, your body should be centered on your work...Since very few sewing tables are adjustable for height, you can choose a chair with adjustable seat height. Your seat needs to be adjusted so that when your arms and shoulders are relaxed, your palms can rest on the sewing machine bed with your elbows forming a 90° angle."  (Excerpt from Creating Your Perfect Quilting Space by Lois Hallock)

We will address chairs in our next article, but for this week we want to share ideas that just might be the perfect fit for your creative space.

When shopping for a sewing table or extension here are a few things to keep in mind from the folks at Sewing Furniture:

1. Check Sizing:

Before you shop, take measurements and jot down some numbers:

• The amount of room you’ve got in your sewing corner, the size and weight of your machine.
• Check to make sure the table you want to buy will fit your space, and that your machine will fit on it.
• Weight comes into account if you’re buying a table with a pneumatic lift.

2. Decide on Storage:

Make sure the sewing cabinet or table you’re planning to buy can hold everything you mean to put in it. If your storage is minimal, make other plans.

3. Do Your Quality Check:

Stability, Sturdiness, and Long-life, these are things that won’t come out in the manufacturer’s description, but you should be able to find them easily in user reviews.

4. Don’t Forget Assembly:

Also check the reviews to see the if the other buyers were able to assemble the beast.

If you’ve got that, you’ve pretty much got everything. Of course there’s a bit more to buying your table—you’ll be selecting based on color, style, and aesthetics as well as the practical details—but there you don’t need any schooling. Have fun shopping, and bring home a table that will stay with you through years of comfortable, well-organized sewing!

Sewing Cabinets and Tables

If you are purchasing a dedicated table...

• Is it stable? Does it vibrate during quilting?
• Is it high/low enough? These tables are generally 28" to 30" high.
• Can you position your chair so you sit directly in front of the needle? Craning you neck to accommodate for a poorly designed table causes neck fatigue.
• Is there enough room out to the left of your machine? Many of the smaller tables are centered in the cabinet. If you have a machine with a longer arm, there's virtually no room on the lefthand side.

Portable Sewing Tables

If you don’t own a cabinet that your sewing machine sits down into, an 18"x24" (or larger) acrylic sewing table is a MUST for quilting.

You'll need to know the specific make and model of your sewing machine to order the correct one. (The size of the cut out is different for each machine.)

I recommend you DO NOT order one smaller than 18" x 24". There's just not enough room to put your hands while you move the layered sandwich under the needle.

Tabletop extensions such as the SewSteady increase your working surface area and reduce fabric drag. SewSteady

The Sew & Go Table offers adjustable height, folds away flat, and offers easy portability. Sullivan

The SewEzi table includes a handy carrying case and inserts can be purchased to convert the table into a light box. SewEzi

Build your own for a customized and dedicated sewing table that includes storage. Keepsake

Upcycle a sturdy dining table. Amysfreemotionquiltingadventures

Create your own sewing machine space using a purchased pine table. Minneapolismqg
 

Build a custom sewing table with Ikea products for under $20. Badskirt

Not handy with power tools? There are a variety of sewing machine cabinets available on the market.

Olivia sewing table and matching chair on wheels in Olive. Joann

Fashion Sewing Cabinets

      
Go from sewing space to decorative piece of furniture. Sauder

With 31.5 square feet of sewing space, the Aussie Cabinet folds down to just a 99 1/2" x 22" unit when not in use. Arrow

Custom sewing cabinet. WoodenImages

Want improve support for your back? Leah Day offers a handy gadget that will help to improve your posture and relieve shoulder stress.

Just joined our year of organizing? Click here for other TQS Organization blogs.