Small Sewing Space 13 Inches by 32 Inches

A noisy sewing machine and an acid reflex baby don't co-live. So I decided to move my sewing machine away from the upstairs bedrooms area of my house. To where and how? Running out of space is not the only problem in my life, I'm time and power tools challenged too. No choice but to cleverly go around my own challenges. I eyed on the pre-existing storage shelves at the end of the washing room. Aha, all the noisy boys are in one place at the end and I have almost everything needed to sew by my hand.

Here are what I did:

Go through my books, throw away junk books, so I have two levels of empty shelves.

Adjust the middle board height so I sit up straight when I'm at the sewing machine and the shelf under sewing machine houses scissors, seam ripper, seam allowance ruler, tube turner, pen, pencil, etc.

Add metal (magnetic) blackboard to the left side for notes and thoughts coming up while I sew.

Install florescent lamp to the left side which is close to sewing machine needle plate to help me see better.

Add a rack to the right side for bobbin, top thread spools, thread spool caps, needle cards, and Velcro spool(I use it a lot, must have it by hand).

To avoid being deafened by the three noisy boys (washer, dryer, and sewing machine) by 45, I'll simply schedule washing and drying when I'm not sewing.

The other problem of this set up is the washing room is right next to garage, it's cold in winter. I got a small space heater from Walmart which can warm up the small space in a matter of minutes.

So if you want to get a closer peek at what I did, please click though the following steps.

Easy, I went through my books, throw away junk books, so I have two levels of empty shelves.

Adjust the middle board height so I sit up straight when I'm at the sewing machine and the shelf under sewing machine houses scissors, seam ripper, seam allowance ruler, tube turner, pen, pencil, etc.

Add metal (magnetic) black chalk board to the left side for notes and thoughts coming up while I sew.

I got the metal sheet from Hobby Lobby which has an assortment of metal black chalkboard. As shown I got a chalkboard marker in one trip to Hobby Lobby. Unfortunately it doesn't write so it'll have to be returned. I found the white dress maker chalk pencil I already have works perfectly instead.

The problem with the metal sheet is it is shorter than the side of the sewing space. To keep it stay on the side, I used 2 craft skinny sticks cut into 1.5 inches, stick them under the two board studs. I cut a piece of magnetic tape with one sticky side and stick it to the pencil to prevent the pencil running away. A scrap of microfiber terry cloth erases the chalk writing. With a magnetic photo frame and a printed photo of me with my kids, I'm surrounded by love when I sew.

My washing room has ceiling light and the storage shelves have ceiling lamp panel. It is bright enough for what it is intended for. To sew in that space, better lighting is a plus. I hang a florescent lamp I got from Walmart close to the sewing machine needle plate secured by nails for securing telephone lines or electrical wire cord. Done with the left side.

To the right side, I used the pre-existing holes on the side boards and 5 of 3/16 inches dowels, cut them into 4 inches long pieces and push them into the holes all the way until can't push further. They are perfect for bobbin and spool rack. I got almost a dozen bobbin and thread spools there and I still have space for needle cards, spool caps and Velcro spool.

The last problem to solve is staying warm in winter in the small sewing space that's so close to garage door. I bought a small space heater from Walmart which can quickly make the space toasty. I just keep it running on the floor when I sew.

That's all, easy, doesn't take long, doesn't need power tools to set up, just cleverly transfer two storage shelves to a sewing space.

This space is so small, it's so hard to take a picture. Considering its small space, it's a power space because it's where I fill my etsy store orders, do mending and repairing for a family of four. Often I hit by friends' alteration favors too because it's so easy to be a nice person and very hard to turn down people.

I intend to enter this instructables in the Small Space Contest and Guerilla Design Contest. Please vote if you can. I don't think I'll be a winner. There are too many amazingly talented people here. If you did vote so thank you for voting when I have no faith in myself.