New Cutting Table In-Progress |
This is my fourth custom-built cutting table, believe it or not. It consists of a kitchen drawer base cabinet that I bought and painted red for the sewing room in our last house, along with two ClosetMaid modified wire drawer units on either side. I saw these wire mesh drawer bins in Carolyn Woods' book, Organizing Solutions for Every Quilter, which I reviewed here yesterday. These are the bins that Alex Anderson uses to organize her own fabric stash, and I bought two of the 40" tall, 17" wide 5 Drawer Kit units online and then had Bernie cut them down for me.
The surface of my cutting table, for now, is an old 67" x 35 1/2" Pottery Barn kitchen table top that was previously repurposed as a kiddie arts and crafts table in our play room. Honestly, I'm torn about the cutting table size, which is why I want to try this setup out for awhile and see if I can live with it. My former cutting table (below) was a whopping 54" x 72". That table was sized large enough to accommodate 54" wide bolts of drapery fabric and was a nice size for quilt basting, but it ate up a lot of space in the room since it was positioned as an island, accessible from all four sides.
Previous Cutting Table, 54" x 72", 35 1/2" height |
However, one of my major goals from this rework/remodel is to free up enough space for a small seating area. It's nice having a Room of One's Own, but who wants to quilt in solitary confinement, after all? So we're testing out a much smaller (and much more NORMAL) sized cutting table, and I've positioned it up against the wall beneath the window to free up even more space. If I decide I can live with this size, then Bernie will morph this into something sturdier with additional storage space, perhaps on casters with a drop-down leaf in the back so I can pull it out and get additional workspace every once in a blue moon when I need that larger size.
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OSHA Cutting Table Dude |
I knew the table had to go a little higher than the 35 1/2" I had before, because I had that lovely red base kitchen drawer cabinet that I wanted to use and it didn't fit beneath my old table. So I decided to go up about 2" to a 38" table height -- remember that I'm 5'8" tall, my elbow height is 40" from the floor, and your mileage may vary! The idea is that I will be able to cut longer and more comfortably (sans back pain) if I don't have to bend down and stoop constantly at the cutting table.
11 comments:
I am also 5'8". I use a kitchen cabinet that I bought from Ikea as a cutting table. The top is a butcher block. I didn't oil it when I got it which was probably a mistake, and it is slightly cupped now. But I really love it. I figure that someday I can get a new top for it. I do love your red cabinet. It is very clever at maximizing storage.
I understand the push/pull over table size and having enough room to roam. I'll be interested to see what you think over time, and if you miss your big table. Maybe someday I will be planning my own studio...sigh.
Where was your old cutting table from?
My husband built the old one, too.
I'm currently trying to build a sewing table with Ikea shelves (Kallax), casters and a large piece of scrap wood I found. I'm 5'4" and my table is coming in at 34" high which seems low for me. I'm going to try it and hopefully it works... wish me luck!
I AM 5'1, I THINK I WILL JUST CUT OFF THE FLOOR. LOL. MOVING INTO NEW HOME SOON AND WHILE I HAVE AN 18' LONG SEWING ROOM, IT IS ONLY JUST SHY OF 10' WIDE. THANKS FOR ALL OF THE INFORMATION. I AM CERTAIN THERE IS SOMETHING HERE I CAN USE.
I am 5’ 3” and my cutting table is 39” tall, 5’ long X 24” deep.. At first it took some stretching but in time it has become very very comfortable and no more stretching. My back hasn’t ached since I built this. I did not build to anyone’s rules, only my comfort.
I am currently building my own dream sewing table. To determine the largest table that would work, I had to do a scaled version of my sewing room, with scaled versions of my industrial sewing machines and different shaped sewing tables (with leafs) to see what would work. I decided on a 7 foot by 38" wide table with a 17" leaf that folds out to 55" width. Yep -- this table is a monster, which is why it has a folding leaf and will be put on casters. 2-3 people could sit on the leaf side! Plus it will have a desk portion on the other side. I'm so tired of crawling on the floor when I need to roll a bolt of fabric out, plus my current table (70" x 42") isn't large enough and often gets cluttered. I am getting rid of a dresser I use for fabric storage and building storage underneath the table. I'm making the top of butcher block which I'm assembling myself. When done with the sections, I will take it to a wood shop to plane, so it will end up about 1-1/4" to 1-3/8" thick.
i have limited space for a permanent table . so i came up with o movable one !!
i found a keyboard stand @ goodwill . when set up it looks like an "X" that is adjustable in height. i then added shelving mat on the top bars so the table top wont slip. i use an older IKEA table that is hollow and easy to move, and set it up in the corner when needed. i am 5'4 and the middle setting is perfect. I can cut. and piece and then put away when not sewing
keyboard stand $4 , table used $3 ..not bad for under $10 !!!!!
Late to the post and comment party... but when you are talking about table height and cutting. Scissor cutting and rotary cutting are very different!!! And use a very different angle for from the hips to the neck. Scissor cutting (think garments/yardage) your table should be at the height closer to the elbow. Rotary cutting, because of the pressure on the ruler and cutter needed for a good cut and anti-slippage of the ruler and the degree of a bend it takes for a 24" ruler, should be a bit lower, so you are working more from the waist, not the shoulder. Personally, I prefer working at a big high table, but like a lower table for cutting. Maybe we should call it a work table because I think I do as much sitting at my table as standing...
Thanks for your information and that if the commenters also. I recently moved to a new house with what I think is a huge master bedroom. I am going to make a flip down cutting table to go behind the small sofa I am putting in the bedroom. On the wall where it folds up I am going to put peg board and cork board for my rulers and cutting stuff and also my idea area. I am also taking an old treadle sewing table and using the treadle as a base for a pulley system to raise and lower my machine. Since it is the bedroom, and I just sew small projects for fun I want it to be able to be Disguised when not in use.
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