Whether you have an entire room or only the corner of one, you must have a comfortable and dedicated sewing space to inspire your creativity and desire to sew.
It starts with your chair. All sewists know how many hours we spend sitting hunched over our machines or tracing patterns and cutting material.
Without the right chair to keep you comfortable, you're more likely to suffer from strained, fatigued muscles, which can lead to neck and backaches. It's essential to choose a chair that has been ergonomically designed to provide proper support for your muscles and joints, in addition to providing the level of comfort you want.
Next, your sewing table. When it comes to choosing a sewing table, you must consider the entire area where you sew. Your table should provide enough room for you to handle your machine and also offer extra space for cutting, pinning, ironing, and basting. Another important consideration is the ease of handling. Do you need to store it? Then make sure it folds easily. Rollers are essential if you're the type who likes to rearrange the room. And above all else, make sure your workspace is stable to prevent wobbling since your sewing machine will produce vibrations.
Storing your tools, materials, and notions can be tricky, depending on space, but there are lots of creative solutions. Fabric can be stored on t-shirt boards or filed in hanging file folders inside filing cabinets found at thrift shops and garage sales. Pants hangers are also an excellent way to store fabric in a spare closet or roll your fabric and store in baskets.
If you are a scrappy sewist, plastic drawers are handy. Whether you stack, fold, roll, you'll find your sewing space to be far more comfortable and productive when it's tidy, organized, and under control.
Finally, a well-lit sewing space is essential for reducing eye strain and fatigue, which will help you sew for longer periods of time.
Start with your sewing machine. If you're sewing with a modern machine, chances are you have bright lights built-in above the needle, which is a good start. Adding a task light over your sewing machine will help light the work area around your machine. This will make it easier to grab tools, make adjustments, and so forth. Natural light is always a welcome addition to any room. But, keep direct sunlight away from your sewing machine and supplies to prevent UV rays from damaging fabric, threads, and even your machine.