Today’s photo mini-challenge is your sewing/creative space, and even though I did try to think of some creative and interesting way of interpreting the challenge I failed, sorry, and have just had to go down the boring path of the literal. Anyway, here we are.
I’ve kinda held off introducing my sewing area in the past, because I’m afraid my little workhorse of a sewing space is not very pretty, there are no decorative bits and pieces lined up gorgeously around, or anything remotely aesthetically pleasing at all. I sure don’t expect this to get “pinned” as an inspirational space to create in, haha! But I shouldn’t be ashamed of it really; it’s done me pretty good so far!
It’s a small space; everything in it has a permanent home where it has to live if it is not being used right then and there. I have to be super vigilant about tidying up constantly as I am sewing or it can easily get too cluttered to be functional.
Everything pivots around a bench in the laundry, which has the middle underbench cupboard left out so that my knees have somewhere to go when I sit at it. My sewing machine and overlocker (both described in more detail in this post) perch beside each other on top. The black bag hanging on the door handle is my knitting bag.
The cupboard to the left stores most of my “current” fabric, along with interfacing, knitting and embroidery patterns, cleaning rags and my haberdashery basket…
the underbench cupboard just to the right of that stores all my sewing patterns, books and magazines…
and the underbench cupboard to the right of the room stores old patterns that I’ve inherited, zips, dyes, trims, embroidery threads and all my knitting wool and knitting needles.
On the opposite side of the room, a short roll away in my un-pretty, but ergonomic office chair, is the ironing board and laundry stuff. I do most of my pinning and basting sitting at the ironing board there. To get that above picture of myself in my sewing room, I perched the camera on top of the washing tub bench to the right there, hard up against the wall.
Sometimes I read on other sewing blogs, about the music people “sew to”. The usual audio backdrop to my creating is not some awesomely cool mixtape, but instead the hypnotically soothing swoosh of the washing machine.
My cutting table/tracing table is the lounge room floor, the kitchen bench for small things, or the dining room table when it isn’t being occupied already with my children’s studying paraphernalia.
Not shown, partly because it is too dark to photograph and partly (mostly) because it too closely resembles a rubbish tip and I want to retain some shred of self-respect here, is the part of my stash that lives in the cupboard under the stairs; namely a few more rolls of fabric plus a small mountain of plastic bags stuffed with old garments and scraps and remnants. It’s definitely not lovely, except maybe to a fellow fabric enthusiast. But I do know every single last piece that is in there, and often venture in, bravely, like Indiana Jones into that cave, to track down that little treasured leftover scrap of cotton that I know is just the perfect weight and shade to make bias binding and pocket lining for the latest garment, whatever…
Hmmm, you know how that goes, right?
min 13C, max 21C, weather-wise a bit of everything!
Details:
Tshirt; self-drafted, blue jersey dyed red, details here
Top; Vogue 1247, orange cotton dyed brown, details here
Skirt; Vogue 1247, red velveteen dip-dyed brown, details here
Sandals; c/o Misano
Today in my family’s MMM13; Craig is wearing this shirt and Tim is wearing this jacket
Craig’s shirt; Burda 7767 modified, white cotton, details here
Tim’s jacket; Burda 7767 modified, grey corduroy, details here, and my tutorial for making that interesting lined combined welt/patch pocket on the front here
Love this post on your sewing space! Thank you for sharing it, I've been curious about it because you seem to be so efficient at sewing as well as knitting. You have a very functional and quite neat creative space, indeed. I love your today's outfit very much too, the blouse is one of my favorites!
Aaaah….so good of you to share your creative space with us Carolyn. This can only mean something to an enthusiast! Your creative space is well organised, and the fact that you can lay your hand on a long-ago would be forgotten scrap buried in the cupboard under the stairs, is amazing.
Even if your sewing space is small and organised, your laundry is big! I bet it's nice in someways, you're right in the thick of everything and because you are so organised, you can find everything just like that, instead of routing around for ages. I'm envious!
And today's outfit looks perfect for the slightly cooler temperatures…
Lovely space, size doesn't matter when you are happy on it, and you are … So many cool outfits come out from it x
Thanks for sharing your sewing space its light, airy and functional, and definitely nothing to be ashamed of. I have to store all my sewing things all over the house, under my bed, on top of the wardrobe, I also sew from our kitchen table and cut from it too, if I attempted to cut on the living room floor, Milly our dog would just paddle across it. All this calls for me to be very organised and tidy,not easy for me. Im forever trying to compress my sewing stash etc. I would love a little corner of the house like you have just for me and my sewing.
This is a bit weird, but I've been looking forward to this post. What a great place to sew. So efficient.
I've been looking forward to it also, so I'll be a bit weird with you!
This is brilliant. I love that curvy mirror – sort of art nouveau. Bill is determined we are going to do some construction work around this house. He wants a downstairs loo. We've sadly scrapped the idea of a conservatory – issues with boundary walls with our neighbour, etc. The current idea is to build a laundry / sewing room on top of the garage with a south-facing window. It was his idea and I've been saying that it makes a lot of sense to combine laundry and sewing, because they share the use of an ironing board. I still dread the whole process, not to mention the expense, but some architects are coming by on Monday. I'm thinking of moving back to the US until it's all completed (just kidding…mostly).
My sewing space is similar and very much shared. I also cut and draft on the lounge floor. I don't really mind. I think using a shared space forces me to be tidier. That is the theory anyway.
I love the idea to show our creative space, I have to write a post about it! I think that your sewing room have the perfect size and a perfect window, and it seems you have plants outside, great!
Your space is fabulous – so well organised. I love to imagine all those lovely creations starting their journey here. I am totally going to have a go at following the hoodie pattern – thank you!
Just realised – got the hoodie tutorial by following one of your links…
Love your sewing space, it is light and tidy, oh how I wish I could keep mine that way, that is why you only get a glimpse from the doorway 🙂
You know, every time I read your blog I learn something.
The best things I've learned is that you sew on a lovely old machine with limited features, and today, that you don't have a huge workspace… you make me feel like I can do it too… even with the limitations of my space, and although I have a really beautiful machine now, you have removed the feeling that I had that I am not using enough "feature / fancy" stitches.
Simple, elegant, efficient. And inspiring. Thankyou Carolyn.
Love your sewing space. It's so light and airy and just goes to show you don't need masses of things and space to achieve great results. Thanks for sharing 🙂
your sewing space is great! for years i sewed in the corner of our bedroom or hauled my stuff out to the dining room table if my husband wanted to sleep or something… haha! now i have a small room, and while it's not gorgeous, it serves it's function! you do have great light in there, for that i am certainly jealous!
What a great post! You have a nice sewing space, everything is right near you. My space is in the basement and my laundry room on the first floor, so every time I have to open a seam, I do a fly of stairs (great exercise!)I don't even have natural light so like Lisa G. I'm also jealous!
Have a great weekend!
wonderful! I love having a look at other people's work places. amazing how much you manage to achieve in a rather small room 🙂
I'm so thrilled that you showed off a space that does .not. look like a magazine spread with newly purchased and matching bins and boxes. Your space, organized with many repurposed boxes, functions beautifully, as evidenced by your prodigious output of gorgeous clothing.
Now I'm off to photograph my space, which sadly has twice the amount of stuff and less than half the output…
LOL, don't I know the feeling – more stuff and less output….
My sewing space is in my laundry room, too! It makes me feel okay to "sneak in" some sewing time — if the washer is going, I must be working;)
I love that you shared this with us. I too have been curious about your sewing area for a long time. I'm so jealous of your laundry room. It's so very light, airy, and spacious. Mine is between our garage and the pantry. It has no windows and the two machines fit very tightly in the space. As for the sewing, my machines sit on the kitchen counter and I sew standing up.
Ok it's not beautiful ..but the things that come out of it are and that is what is important wouldn't you say? I have finished my dress for little one. Jo x
http://joeveryday19.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/hooray-red-dress.html
It's so fun to see other peoples sewing space, and I like yours quite a bit. It seems to have room for everything you need and everything in its place. Also, so many wonderful creations come out of here – so it really is a magical place :o)
It's Great To see Where You Work! 🙂 Compared To My Tiny Closet/Nook It's Definitely Light, Airy And Spacious, Perfect For Creating And assembling Our Pretty Clothes Hehe…
interesting to see your space. Mine is always a bit messy as I rarely put things away. But it is nice to have a dedicated room and to me the most important thing is a lot of light. I have been thinking about getting matching bins but now I am thinking I won't bother – rather spend those funds on fabric!
I enjoyed seeing your sewing area. I like its clean functionality and simplicity. Mine doesn't look as tidy as it has shelves rather than a cupboard. They had a former life as office shelves, but if I choose again I would certainly consider doors for putting everything out of sight! Also, the expression on your face in this photo made me smile!
I like how very functional your sewing space is. Mine is way more chaotic – I saw the theme for today too late, but maybe I'll use it as a backdrop some other day. It's fun seeing other stitchers' spaces!
Lovely space – nice and light. Love that mirror too. It looks a bit art deco to me or am I wrong? Great outfit again.
I actually love your sewing space and am not surprised. I think it matches your style. Clean, efficient, and practical with a twist! Thanks for sharing!
I have wondered about your sewing space for such a long time – and I think EmSewCrazy is right – it matches your style. And, it shows us all that one does not need a 20×20 massive area to produce lovely garments. Thanks for showing !
I agree it's so much fun seeing where other people sew. I also sew in the laundry, but I've completely taken over in there. It looks chaotic but, like you, I can put my hand on anything I need. I also have a huge cutting table in the garage, which is fantastic, but precludes us from ever getting a second car!
Oh, this was inspiring! It's so positive to see someone create beautiful things in a normal, utilitarian space. All of us who do not have a dedicated space except a pitiful corner are glad to know that lovely things can be created in less than optimal conditions. Your space is functional, and that is all that is required. You are all about the craft, momma!
I'm so glad you went literal, because I really did want to see where you create all of your lovely goodies. It's as clean and fresh and elegant as your look is; I love it!
I really like this actually. It's real sewing and real creating and less pretence, so very you 🙂 I also read about your sewing machines. I have the cheapest of the cheapest (and it's stiches are probably not as good as it could be), but when I see the issues my friends seem to have with their computerised machines I am baffled. They do have lovely buttonholes, which I'd love, except that they throw a wobbly every time you clean out the bobbin casing and try to put it back together …
oh thank you! i do very love thiss place especially the bamboo hanging thing that you did not even mention! everything, I love it all.
much neater than mine … I have all my dodads in rubbermaid bins so it is not beautiful. Maybe I will get after that this summer. The problem is keeping "useful" scraps.. . !! I love your background "music" . I never remember to put on music when I am home by myself, and when I do it is on cleaning day when I need motivation … a pandora of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Fishin' in the Dark" which I affectionately call Kevin and my song. Of course, I have to edit out the more tasteless songs ….
Clearly having a small space doesn't stop you from creating gorgeous garments for you and the family! I like it because it's bright! I personally can hardly sew with music in the background…the more complex the task is the more silence I need. Maybe those people with gorgeous sewing spaces don't do any sewing 😉
So I can guess that you don't have overlapping projects? I'ld be too ashamed to show you mine, it's all chaos. I admire your productivity, and envy your height! The clothes you make suit you & your lifestyle beautifully.