A New Cutting Mat

On Day 11 of IGQuiltFest2026, we were asked to share about our studio cutting stations. I shared mine, and also a plea for recommendations for new cutting mats.

I currently had one from Quilter's Select, 24" x 36". It had served me well, but both sides had become quite worn. Luckily, I got several good recs, several of which I'd never heard of before:

• Martelli, - This brand got good reviews from several folks, and it even offers an extra-large (30" x 60") version that I might have been interested in. But it was out of stock everywhere I saw it. There was a 26" x 38", but is it terrible to say I just didn't like the colors?
• Havels - Which is pink and numerated both left and right handed on each corner (but apparently not confusing). Sounds like it makes it good if left-handers share the space with right-handers.
• Olfa - Comes in green or gray. Pretty sure this is what I had for my first many years of rotary-cutting.
• Alvin - Comes in several colors, including translucent. I noticed later that they offer a wider variety of the larger sized than most - good to know.

But what I ended up ordering was:

• From Riley Blake Designs designs, advertised by Christopher Thompson aka the tattooed quilter @thetattooedquilter. The person who recommended it said it was not as slick as others. I liked the black on one side; white on the other. One thing I noticed is that it only has 1/8" markings around the outer edges, where mine from Quilter's Select has them on every inch cutting line. I thought I could live with that, so I ordered from Fat Quarter Shop, and boy did they pack it well. It was shipped flat and taped to the side of the box. 

So it feels good to have that task taken care of for now. If you love/don't love your cutting mat, I'd love to hear about it, for future reference.

Subsequent Studio Refresh

Last year in July - see here and here - I shared about a couple of refreshes in the studio. There were quite a variety of things I was organizing, like threads, needles, labels; recovering my pressing and cutting tables; even replacing old irons with a new one. And most of that has continued to work well. (The lazy susan for the batting roll, not so much.)

That said, I meant to post more refreshing tasks, but got held up, and I know exactly why. I bought this:

 >> Handheld Steamer. The Conair Hand-Held Turbo ExtremeSteam Garment Steamer was recommended by Shannon Fraser @shannonfraserdesigns, and I got it because I thought it would be handy before gifting, showing, or even using quilts that had been stored away. And I fully expect it will be. Except I've never tried it. AND it is no longer available where I bought it, though I provided the link anyway, both as reference, and in case knowing anything about it is handy. Let's just say, I have it in case I need it.

Meanwhile, it's way past time to report on other things I did in my studio to organize.

>> Perle cotton storage. Mine was an absolute mess, just jumbled all together in a basket. So I bought two of these large square plastic bins, and it's better. Still not great, but it's better than what I was doing so there's that.

>>New iron - THIS is probably what folks are most interested in. Still back in July 2024, to my dismay, I realized I had SIX irons in the house, most of which I was not happy with, for one reason or another. I ended up replacing all the full-sized ones with a model recommended by Maria Shell @mariashellquilts in a workshop I was taking. It's a Beautural - my first - and I've been happy with it for over a year now. One caveat - I have yet to put water in it, even though Maria says she does it all the time with no bad results. I confess I like steam, I really do, though I've been getting along without it. So this is my current iron of choice. Until it's not.

>>Large booklet pouch for my Aurifil 12wt threads. My 12wts have also been stored in a jumble, and it wasn't going well. I made the large version (9" x 11" x 3") of Aneela Hoey's Booklet Pouch, and it has been a life-safer. It has four large vinyl see-through zippered pockets, that hold all of my 12wts loosely organized by color. I use it all the time.

>>Small booklet pouch for needles. After having the large booklet pouch work so well, I made the small version (6" x 8" x 3") for my hand-sewing needles. They aren't organized in a super logical way, but at least they're all in the same place now.

>>Recover pressing table. A year hence, it was time to recover my pressing table again. This time, I used Rifle Paper Co.'s  Lea in Navy Canvas from the Bramble collection. It always feels good to refresh this space.

>>New sewing machine! This is a biggie, I know. It wasn't entirely planned, but I'd been thinking about it. As you probably already know, I got a Janome Memory Craft 6700P, and so far, I'm really liking it. I've posted about it twice - here and here - if you want to know more about why I got it, and my experience so far.

>>Thread box storage. Just last weekend, I did the latest refresh, in the form of a new little Pixie Basket, a tutorial by Heidi Staples @fabricmutt. I've made oodles of these before, but I needed one more for the base of my miscellaneous thread bin.  

I rescued this small toolbox (my husband's childhood art box) from the donation pile ages ago, and it's perfect for a nice collection of threads. These are all those random small Aurifil spools + odds and ends ...other brands, metallic, etc. More threads that I use occasionally rather than my every-day spools and cones. The new Pixie is on the bottom left, and will help keep that bottom section neat. 

So whew! It feels good to finally gather all these things together and share about them. If you have other organizational tools or methods in your sewing space that you love or suggestions for me, I'd love to hear about them in the comments!

The Iron Consideration

Frequent readers will recognize this photo from my Studio Refresh post from last week, when I shared about discovering I had not five, but six! irons in the house. As I explained, a few were 'backups' that were having issues. Those have since been disposed of. The two small irons remain, as does the yellow Oliso, my current backup. That in itself feels better.

Meanwhile, there were lots of interesting comments when I posted about the irons on Instagram. If you're in the market - or just interested for future reference - check it out. There were a couple of types of irons that I'd never even really knew existed:

• gravity-fed iron (suggested by Wawak)
• irons with stainless steel soleplates without steam - thus without holes in the soleplate

So there's lots to consider when purchasing a new iron, and since folks asked, I went with one recommended by workshop teacher Maria Shell. It's the BEAUTURAL 1800-Watt Steam Iron. Maria does use the steam function, and I did buy some distilled water just in case I decide I need it, but for now, I'm using it dry. And I like it! I use it on level 9 (linen), as hot as it goes, and it seems to be working well with my quilting projects, plus it feels really good in my hand. One of these days, I'll report back in on it. It does have a ceramic soleplate, so I'm hoping that wears well.

Anyway, I just wanted to bring the conversation over to the blog, as I thought it was interesting and enlightening, plus I think irons are something we're all interested in. Let me know if you have any thoughts....

Studio Refresh II

In the couple weeks since my first studio refresh post, I'm still working away at small projects. It's an eclectic collection but all these things have definitely contributed to improving my sewing space.

 >> Organize wool yarns. I don't have many, but they needed a place to be together. I use them occasionally with my embroidery. A Vinyl Zipper Pouch, a pattern by @sotakhandmade, seemed a good solution. This is the large version (13" x 9") and I paired clear vinyl with one of my favorite Melody Miller fabrics ever to feature on the quilted back panel.

Svetlana's recent patterns have featured zippers by the yard, and I am loving the product from @sullivanstrim. Sorry for the glare on the photo below, but you get an idea how well this pouch worked for my need. And the zipper isn't really warped! Not quite sure what's happening in this photo.

>> Organize bag-making hardware. Similarly to how I organized my quilt labels in my previous studio refresh post, I did the same with the assortment of hardware. This helped so much! I had everything in little [cute] jars before, but this does work better, as I can see everything at a glance.

>> Sharps. You probably all already do this, but I had never been that good about disposing of used needles and bent pins. Having a small lidded container feels so much better, and I've been faithfully using it ever since I put it on the cart by my machine.

>> Restock batting. The truth was, my latest roll of Warm & White had run out a month or two ago. I'd tried a couple of other batts, but in truth, I like Warm & White as my default batting. So I waited until I saw the '50% off + free shipping' deal at Joann and stocked up. Hubby had the clever idea of setting a lazy susan under the roll so I could pull batting off the roll without laying it on the floor. (That's getting more difficult than it used to be.) He ordered a 10" Bamboo Lazy Susan, and honestly, it could have been a little bigger, but it works, and once I make a couple more quilts, it'll be quite perfect.

I also ordered a couple of packages of Quilter's Dream Select, because I've been enjoying using that too. So I should be good for ages now, and that feels good.

>> Irons. THIS is embarrassing. Over the years, when I've been unhappy with an iron for one reason or another, I set it aside as a backup (right? Do you have a backup iron??) and tried something new. Honestly, I've gone from paying good money for an iron to asking for one for Christmas to receiving them for free (the Olisos, thank you very much). And honestly, it is what it is. Some of them spit (I've since sworn off putting water in my iron), or the coating on the soleplate begins to wear off (on two versions of the same iron) leaving black specks in their wake. The latest has a feature that in essence is admirable, but sometimes it crinkles the seams when I'm pressing them. It was when I decided recently that I might pull out my backup iron that I realized the truth. I haven't thrown an iron away for years, letting the backups pile up! IE. I had FIVE irons in the house.

Make that six.

The small irons don't really count. One (a Rowenta) gets super hot and is actually a travel iron, which I've taken with me at various times over the years. The second was a gift from Oliso, works great, and is what I take to workshops. Those two are staying. But three of the large irons have been disposed of. One for spitting, one for peeling soleplate, and the last one to be found was discovered to actually be broken, so bye bye. The large Oliso remains because it does work well despite the crinkling issue which isn't 100% of the time. But that said, I ordered a new iron that I happily found on sale, and had been recommended by a workshop teacher. It's 1800 watts, hotter than any of the others, and it sounds like tolerates water well if I decide I need steam. I don't have it yet, so we'll see. But it feels good to have the truly EXTRA stock of irons out of my space.

Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small percentage of any sales linked from this site. Trust me, I would never suggest a product that I don't actually use and enjoy without saying so.

Studio Refresh I

Over the last few months, I've been trying to organize the ole studio a bit, update a few things, and generally just freshen up. Nothing is really profound, but still, these things have made me happy. 

Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small percentage of any sales linked from this site. Trust me, I would never suggest a product that I don't actually use and enjoy without saying so.

>> New pins. I made a point of going through all my pincushions and tossing any bent or rusted ones. How do they rust over time? I'm not sure, but I was tired of dealing with them. I tried the following, all recommended by quilting friends. They all felt a little fragile to me, or maybe I'm just a rough pinner. Basically, I think I'm just used to a thicker pin, and still on the look out for others to try, so suggestions welcome.

Clover Extra Fine Patchwork Pins

Clover Quilting Pins Fine

Clover Marbled Glass Head Pins, Assorted

>> Organize notion drawers and labels. My cutting/sewing table has four small drawers on one end, and I keep tools, notions, labels, and other odds and ends in them. I found bags or containers for like-items, and also copied an idea I'd seen on IG, and bought a Plastic Organizer Tackle Storage Boxes with Dividers for my labels. This has helped a lot when it's finishing time for my projects. 

>> New rotary mat & cutter. Oh my cutting board was really showing some wear, and I found a great sale on a new brand to try by Quilters Select [https://youtu.be/sVPWP9UgRzw] at my local sewing machine repair shop. While I was at it, I went ahead and purchased a new rotary cutter, which I'm still getting used to. I'm not going to say I don't like it, but it works different than I'm used to, so I'm real conscious of using it safely.

>> Cover ironing table. Every few years, my 42" x 50" drafting-table-converted-into-a-pressing-table needs a fresh cover. I was lucky enough to find fabric in my stash for it, Finlandia Dot by @freespiritfabrics. Pink is not my go-to color, but it was worth it, finding it in my stash, plus it's just plain fun. Under the cover is a layer of batting, and then I use painter's tape to secure the fabric on the underside. This time I used Scotch Rough Surface Extra Strength Painter's Tape, which worked really really well.

>> Aurifil thread cases. Besides the beautiful threads, another benefit of being an Aurifil Artisan was that occasionally, there were extra thread cases available. I was able to receive two, which was just enough to really sort and better organize my thread stash. For the first time, I sorted solely by color, mixing the various weights of large spools together. AND I ordered several spools I was running low on, 50wt for piecing, and 40wt for quilting.

I have a few more refreshes that I either need photos of or actually need to take care of, so stay tuned for a little postscript to this post. Meanwhile, are there any refreshes or updates you've been making in your sewing space? I'm always on the lookout for ways to make my space more workable and enjoyable.

Studio Ten :: Laser Levels

Squaring up is not my favorite part of the quilt-making process, but I gotta say, using laser levels to square and trim my Looking Up was highly successful! A while back I purchased a pair of Bosch GTL2 Laser Squares, which are pretty hefty levels. I should have shot a wider angle for you, but imagine in the photo below that there is another level opposite the first; and same with the square ruler, with all the laser lines lining up.

Mandy of Mandalei Quilts posted a really helpful tutorial on Trimming Your Quilt with Tools from the Hardware Store, so if you're interested in trying them, do check it out. I got mine on sale, as they're a little pricey, but worth considering. Oh, and rather than using painter's tape for marking the edges like Mandy did, I used a long ruler and FriXion pen; I just found it quicker and I was less likely to nudge anything out of alignment as I worked. At any rate, the levels made quick and accurate work of a task that often can be frustrating, and I'm all for that.

For previous studio posts, see hashtag #aqtstudio on Instagram, or individual posts below:

LED Lighting :: Ironing Board Cover :: Design Wall :: Mailing Supplies
Storing Quilts  ::  Sewing and Cutting Surface :: Pressing Surface
Customized Sewing Machine Cover :: Zippers

Studio Nine :: Sewing Machine LED Lighting Kit

January started off with a small but helpful studio enhancement - improved lighting. Specifically, the lighting right in the space where the sewing happens, thanks to a Sewing Machine LED Lighting Kit, which I'd seen others rave about, and you can just add me to that list.

Here's what you'll find when you open the box:

As advertised, it's very quick and easy to install, and comes with everything you need. The string of LEDs is 24.5", which was more than generous for my JUKI, and the excess was easy to snip off.

Of course, the real test happens once you turn the switch on, and I found noticeable improvement. I do sew next to a window, so I use as needed, but I'm really pleased for the option.

An expansion pack is available, so you can make use of the length of lights you snip off on a second machine, if that applies to you. At any rate, for old eyes like mine, this little addition helps alot.

For previous studio updates, see hashtag #aqtstudio on Instagram, or individual posts below:

• Ironing Board Cover
• Design Wall
• Mailing Supplies
• Storing Quilts
• Sewing and Cutting Surface
• Pressing Surface
• Customized Sewing Machine Cover
• Zippers

Old Eyes

I don't even know why I'm telling you this, but I've got an issue, and maybe some of you can relate. I swear it happened the year of my 50th birthday. My eyesight just went from mediocre to much worse. Even with my contacts and strong readers, I find it difficult to thread a needle - especially on my sewing machine. Not good.

So about those needle threaders you see above. That's my current collection. At the top is my old favorite, the Clover Double Needle Threader. See on the right end? Yeah, pretty unusable now, and as you see on the left end, its time of usefulness could be limited.

So I recently purchased the other two. The red one is the CottageCutz 2-in-1 Needle Threader. See what happened the first time I used it? Oops. Totally user-error, as I raised my presser foot when I shouldn't have. But still. Needle threaders are kinda fragile. And then there's the one on the left, which is the Creative Notions Needle Threader I got from Nancy's Notions. It seems sturdy enough, and after reading the instructions, I thought I had it figured out, but it doesn't pull [correction: push] the thread through. Is it me? Is it my Auriful 50wt? Anyone have one and can clue me in?

So a random bit of info I discovered recently was to moisten the needle - not the end of the thread - before you try to slide the thread through the needle's eye. The thread is attracted to the moisture and slips into the needle's eye a little easier. (credit: @trashn2tees) It doesn't work for me every time, but sometimes! But as a backup, I need those needle threaders, and if you have one that works great for you, I'd love to hear about it.

Studio Eight :: Zippers

It's been a few months since I've done any studio improvements, other than a new machine, of course. But recently I was totally inspired by Katy/The Littlest Thistle and her recent Organizing Your Sewing Supplies series, and I even challenged her for a solution for zippers. I was still mulling over my options when hubby came home with a nondescript household hanger for a totally different purpose. Lucky for me, it didn't work for him, so I nabbed it, thinking it would be totally perfect hanging in my sewing closet, holding my zips.



So I ordered some 2" binder rings, grabbed some paper clips and blank tags, and started sorting my collection of zippers.

Each ring holds one size of zipper, and is labeled so it's easy to see what size I'm looking for. I had more than six different sizes, so some hooks hold multiple rings, but they're all still pretty visible and easily accessible. Better than all stuffed in a zipped pouch, eh?

So I'm pretty pleased, and grateful to Katy for giving me an idea I could adapt for my own space!

For previous studio updates, see hashtag #aqtstudio on Instagram, or individual posts below:

• Ironing Board Cover
• Design Wall
• Mailing Supplies
• Storing Quilts
• Sewing and Cutting Surface
• Pressing Surface
• Customized Sewing Machine Cover

10 Tips to Instant Sewing

The other day, a friend asked me to share about my processes, techniques, and practices that support me staying actively sewing and making progress with my creative projects. She was experiencing a sense of overwhelm when she often had just 30 spare minutes, unable to decide how to make the best use of the time she had to create. I've been thinking about her dilemma ever since.

I'll say up front that I have the freedom at this stage of my life to walk in the door after work and spend an hour sewing before I even think about what I might do about dinner. And weekends often allow for me to squeeze some sewing in around chores and errands and such. That all certainly helps. But personal timing aside, here's some things that I think help me walk right into the studio and pick up where I left off.

1. Make your space inviting - Favorite mini quilts are hanging in my space, which encourage the spirit of creating. My pressing surface is covered in a bright cheerful fabric I love. And the basic tools I'll use are easily accessible. 
2. Tidy counts - I keep my space relatively uncluttered, as that's the way I work best. Also everything has a home, so I don't need to spend alot of time searching for what I need. Each session when I'm done, I take just a moment to slip my tools back in their assigned places, put away fabrics I won't be using, and toss scraps in their basket.
3. Keep what you use on hand - If I run low on interfacing, a basic thread color, or machine needles, I replace as soon as possible, so the next time I need it, it's there waiting for me.
4. Use a design wall - This isn't always possibility, but if it is, do it. Leave your current w.i.p. where you can see it and pick up where you left off. Just seeing it there will help draw you in, enticing you to get back at it.
5. Don't ever think, "I don't have enough time." Maybe "I don't have all day," but see what you can squeeze in. Even 10 minutes is enough time to trim a few more blocks, press a handful of seams, or gather some fabric from your stash so it's ready to go. Each step - every few minutes - is progress, and it really does add up. I've been known to do a sort of "trade-off"....do a chore, run and sew for a few minutes, do the next chore, back to the machine.... a bit hectic sometimes, but a way to balance what you need to do with what you want to do.
6. Save something for t.v. time - In other words, whenever you have just a short time to sew, accomplish as much as you can in that time. Save the handwork, major seam-ripping, etc. for sitting on the couch or riding in the car. Ie. when you aren't near your machine and cutting table.
7. Keep a list - Know what you want to accomplish in the upcoming weeks. That way it's easy to remember to squeeze a bee block in here or making a binding in there, and feel like you're moving forward. Another trick I use, if I'm following a pattern, is to complete one step per sewing session. Whether that's all the time I have right then, or I'm just setting it aside to do something else, it's progress without the overwhelm. [Note that being an active blogger helps motive me to keep producing. If that's not you, maybe you could make a goal to post project progress twice a week on Instagram, or whatever works to help you keep creating while staying connected with the sewing community.]
8. Multi-task - Noone ever said you could only work on one project at a time, and I for one function better/accomplish more if I have several things in the works. So if I don't feel like basting a quilt, I may feel like piecing. Or if it's too hot to press seams open, it might be a good time to pull fabrics.
9. Save the hard stuff - What I mean is tackle more complicated details when you have time to really focus. You won't usually find me basting a quilt or installing bag hardware on a work night when my stamina may already be low. But that may be the first thing I attack on a weekend morning before the day's commitments begin, and yes, sometimes I even schedule it in on my personal calendar.
10. Take time to play - Oh yeah. The best motivation I know is to ignore the list, set the w.i.p.s aside and do something that just popped into my head and I'm itching to try. That's exactly how the Postcard Quilt came to be. And A Step Towards Home. Yes, and most recently, Crosscut. That's some of my very favorite kind of sewing. Let's not forget to sometimes just do what we love.

So that's what came to my mind right now. I (and my friend) would love to hear what works for you, so please feel free to share in the comments!

Studio Seven :: Customized Sewing Machine Cover

Years ago, I made a perfectly good sewing machine cover using Camille/thimble blossoms' Just Swell pattern, and it served me very well until I purchased a cone of Aurifil 50wt late last year. Quite simply, the original cover no longer fit. And even though I sew frequently, if not covered, my machine gets very dusty very quickly. So I've been wanting to replace my method of tossing a small quilt over the machine with a cover that actually fit it.

Back in the summer, when I made the paper-pieced Geometric Sewing Machine by Kristy/Quiet Play, I though it would make a fun front for a sewing machine cover. Nowhere did I find a pattern for a cover to accommodate a cone, so I finally had to wing it.

This isn't a full-fledged tutorial with photos of every step, but those willing to take a gamble too, here's what I did, with all seams being 1/4":

   1. Measure in front from table to top of thread holder - the tallest point of your machine. [front height]
   2. Measure in back from table to top of thread holder - the tallest point of your machine. [back height]
   3. Measure widest portion of your machine. [width]
   4. Measure deepest portion of your machine. [depth]
   5. For the front panel, I added 1" to my front height and width measurements and framed my paper-pieced block to become that dimension. I placed it on top of a piece of cotton batting and quilted. (If you want to do dense quilting, or have more leeway, quilt your front panel before trimming to size.) Of course, any block or design as a focal would be fine or even a single fabric.
   6. For the back panel, I added 1" to my back height and width measurements, placed it on top of a piece of cotton batting and quilted. (If you want to do dense quilting, or have more leeway, quilt your back panel before trimming to size.)
   7. Sew front and back panels together along top edges and press open.

***Note that while I thought my front and back heights might make more of difference in how I assembled the final piece, it really didn't, so if I was to do this again, I'd probably make one long panel, as shown below.

8. For the end pieces, choose an ultra firm fusible stabilizer as a base. I used pellon Peltex 71F. See diagram below for measurements of end pieces. For the top curve, I used a roll of painter's tape with a 3" center. I drew right on the non-fusible side of the stabilizer, fused onto my fabric, then cut out. You'll need two, one for each end.

9. Now that you have your front/back panel and end pieces, use them as templates to cut out lining pieces.
10. For outside of cover, find center of panel piece on one side and mark with a pin (or marker). Fold one end piece in half lengthwise to find the center top, and mark it. I found it easiest to start sewing the pieces together at this point, down along one side of end piece. Then flip as needed and sew down the other side of the end piece. Repeat for opposite side. Now your outer cover is complete. If needed, trim any pieces necessary so the bottom edges are even all the way around. My trimming was minimal, but there was a bit.

11. Repeat step #10 with your lining pieces. Turn right-side out.
12. Slip lining into outer cover so right sides are together. Pin along edges, matching corners. Sew seam around this edge, leaving an opening of 10-12" long back edges, back-stitching at beginning and end of stitching.
13. Turn entire piece right sides out, and tuck lining into cover, pressing edges well. Press seam allowance in at opening and pin. Top stitch along entire edge, catching seam allowances of opening securely.

So, I made it up as I went and it turned out ok! It is tall, but it serves the purpose well, and besides....this project was on my 2015 Q4 Finish-A-Long list!

For previous studio updates, see hashtag #aqtstudio on Instagram, or individual posts below:

• Ironing Board Cover
• Design Wall
• Mailing Supplies
• Storing Quilts
• Sewing and Cutting Surface
• Pressing Surface

Linking up with Sew Modern Monday.

Studio Six :: Pressing Surface

Well it's been nearly 2 weeks since a trip to Ikea resulted in a new sewing and cutting surface in my studio, and I am enjoying it immensely. What I didn't tell you then is that hubby and I also re-purposed my old cutting table.

If you've ever seen where I sew, you may remember my cutting table was a second-hand drafting table. It's worked pretty well, but now that it was no longer needed, hubby had the idea to recraft it as a pressing surface. I was still in love with the cool canvas I'd used to recover my ironing board last year, so I ordered more for this new project. It's Emmie K Geo Pop Canvas Chevy in Lagoon, which I happily found at Fabric Bubb and is a bright spot in my sewing space.

We padded the table with 2 layers of cotton batting, then covered it with the canvas, and secured it on the underside. So far I really like it. Dimension-wise, the ironing board was 15" x 53", and the drafting table is 31" x 42". So I lost a bit in length, but the width sure is nice.

So the ironing board has been delegated to the actual laundry room, just in case I change my mind, but I'm thinking the new pressing space is going to work out just fine.

 

Previous studio updates:

• Ironing Board Cover
• Design Wall
• Mailing Supplies
• Storing Quilts
• Sewing and Cutting Surface

Studio Five :: Sewing & Cutting Surface

A week ago, hubby and I were talking about some home-improvement projects that needed done, and somehow, a discussion on what kind of new couch we wanted turned into an exchange about my studio space and a subsequent trip to Ikea. Yay me!

The major problem area in said studio was my sewing surface. As sentimental as it was, working with my modern machine on top of my grandma's vintage sewing cabinet wasn't the best ergonomically, nor for quilting. With nothing for a quilt to rest on, the weight hanging off the edges caused issues, as you can expect.
 

There weren't a lot of space layout options that would work in our shared studio/computer room, so what we finally settled on was to combine my sewing surface and my cutting surface, which was a second-hand drafting table. At Ikea, we purchased 2 KALLAX shelving units, and just to enhance their usability, 2 sets of drawer inserts (4 drawers total), and a set of SKUBB boxes. On the way home, we stopped by the local plywood store, where we happened to know the owner. Lucky us, he had a variety of random sheets of plywood that he was willing to cut to size, and we chose one 3/4" thick with birch laminate. Our original idea had been to use a hollow-core door (they measure 32"x80"), but we decided we liked the plywood option better, and had it cut to the same size.

You've probably guessed where I'm going with this . . . the Ikea units became 'legs' for the long table. A roll of veneer edging finished off the edges nicely, and super-strength double-stick tape keeps things aligned. Time will tell if a couple of metal angle brackets are needed, but whatever, I've moved on in. A new chair is in order, but otherwise, I'm more than pleased with my new set up. And there's some storage space at each end - bonus!

On a side note, without grandma's sewing cabinet, I lost my drawers that had held my immediate sewing supplies - bobbins, machine needles, etc. So I joined the RÅSKOG club and will use this utility cart to keep those items and more at easy reach.

It's been a year since I posted Where I Sew and since then there's been several studio updates:

• Ironing Board Cover
• Design Wall
• Mailing Supplies
• Storing Quilts

We actually accomplished one more improvement yesterday, so I'll post about that soon. But meanwhile, I'll keep testing out my new space. And so far, definitely so good!

Studio Four :: Storing Quilts

By now, there's a theme here . . . baby steps in improving the look and usability of my studio space. Over the last few months, I have:

1. sewn a fresh, new ironing board cover
2. created a design wall, and
3. organized my mailing supplies

Like all of the above, today's project had been on my mind for a while, and in reality didn't take long at all, but made a huge difference, at least to me.

So up until now, if I'd finished a quilt that hadn't been gifted or otherwise sent on to a new home, either it got hung or put to use somewhere in the house. Believe me, there are quilts on every bed, a quilt ladder in the living room, stacks of quilts on shelves as display, and quilts hanging in several rooms in the house. The quilts up on the shelf are mostly my show quilts that have returned home,  plus a couple I just hadn't decided what to do with, all thrown haphazardly up on the closet shelf. I know. Not good. 

So today, I took them all down, and got to work. Basically I found another home for the shelved items that were not sewing-related, which vacated a nice long spot on that shelf where said quilts could be rolled and stored more appropriately.

See how simple that was? SO much better!

Now to straighten up that stash . . .