The Crafty Cottage is finally getting the reorganization and TLC it's been desperately needing for two years. See how I'm rearranging this space to fit both a Hoop Frame Pro and a sit down home sewing machine table as well:
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Reorganizing the Crafty Cottage
When I set up the Crafty Cottage in 2015, I'd only ever free motion quilted on a home sewing machine in a table. I hadn't tried ruler work, quilting on a longarm, quilting on a frame, or any of the techniques I now use every day to make new quilts.
So this space was in serious need of an update! I no longer need a home sewing machine surrounded with a tabletop this big:
I made many wonderful, gigantic quilts on this table and various home sewing machines:
Salsa Verde - King sized quilt for the workshop Quilting a King on Your Home Machine
Mega Star - 68 inch throw quilt for the workshop Mega Star Walking Foot Workshop
Rainbow Quilt - 80 inch rainbow quilt for the Walking Foot Quilt Along
While yes, I still do quilt on a home machine set in a table, this is usually small art projects or baby quilts for Betty. I have better tools and equipment now for quilting bigger quilts that make the process faster, easier, and a whole lot nicer to my body.
Setting Up the Hoop Frame Pro
Hoop Frames are excellent for small spaces. At just 4 1/2 feet wide, this little frame can fit just about anywhere.
I've set mine up in front of a window, in a corner, even in a little nook in my office. But I've never been really happy with where my hoop frame has been set... so far!
I first tried setting up the Hoop Frame Pro in the back corner of the Crafty Cottage next to the air conditioner. Quickly I realized this wasn't enough space. It felt too tight to move around the cottage, I couldn't walk around the frame, and there was barely enough room for the machine carriage to roll all the way back.
So I had to demolish that giant table around my affordable quilting table. The frame needed to go in the main space of the Crafty Cottage and this took a bit of effort.
I unscrewed a million screws holding the melamine board to the walls and the legs and then grabbed a saw to cut it in half. After a lot of clean up, I was able to slide the hoop frame into position and I experimented with lots of angles.
Now I love where this is set up! I can walk all the way around the frame and stand at the back comfortably. I don't feel squashed by low ceilings or tight walls. The space is so bright and cheerful and perfect for quilting on this frame.
And yep, the above quilt panel is a sneak peek! Click Here to check out the new Free Motion Quilting Starter Kit!
Another thing I've done is raised the height of my Hoop Frame Pro. Before I had it set to seated height. These days I prefer to quilt standing up - it feels healthier and is easier on my back.
Setting Up My Affordable Quilting Table
I still wanted a home sewing machine table in the Crafty Cottage, largely for making new quilting tutorials and fun projects. But this arrangement also needed some fiddling.
After a lot of trial and error, I rotated the table face the corner at a diagonal angle to the walls. The two drawer cabinets on both sides could rest against the wall and I only had to cut three triangle shapes from the scrap melamine board to finish the table top:
There are a lot of holes to patch and this is still looking pretty rough, but it feels great to sit at this sewing table!
While I'm still needing to find a home for many things, and the walls are in need of a touch up, it's wonderful to be back in the Crafty Cottage once more. This reorganization has been a long time coming and now I can't wait to plan a new batch of videos to film on my Hoop Frame Pro and home machine table.
Would you like to see the whole Crafty Cottage building process? Click Here to find all the posts I've shared on this so far!
1 comment
Please,please’ please post a tour when you are done. I am in the process of moving and looking for ideas to set up my new sewing room.