Sewing Cabinets and Cutting Tables

How to find the right style for you at the right price

Not many of us are fortunate enough to have unlimited space for our hobbies. My sewing room is a fairly large loft space over our garage, and there’s still not enough room for everything. That’s what makes sewing furniture so important. Not only do sewing cabinets, cutting tables and craft centers save you space, they also save you backaches, headaches and many trips to the chiropractor. There are several types of sewing tables and each serves a different function. Let’s go through them together.

Cutting table-Arrow 98602

A cutting table is an absolute necessity whether you’re a seamstress, quilter or crafter. You’ve got to have a place to lay out your materials and patterns and do some cutting. If you have lots of room to spare, a dedicated cutting table is a no-brainer. They almost all fold down for easy storage, and some come with pinnable cutting mats to protect the table surface. Most people need at least 28″ of height for comfort. But if you’re extra tall or extra small, you may want to measure where you need your surface to be.

Sewing machine cabinet-Arrow 98503

The second type of sewing furniture you might choose is the sewing machine cabinet. This is where you store your machine, tucked away when not in use. Most sewing cabinets come with at least a small fold-out table section on the left side for easier sewing. The biggest decision with this piece is how you want to lift your machine out of the storage area. Some older antique cabinets have a simple hinge that screws onto your machine and folds away. This is fine if the table was built for your machine and the hinge screws fit exactly. More modern cabinets have a retractable section that your machine sits on. Some have automatic hydrolic  air lifts, and some have manual lifts. Either way, these cabinets will work with almost any machine.

Combination sewing and craft center-The Kangaroo Center

When space is an issue, an all-in-one craft center can be a great choice. These specialty craft centers are great for small rooms. They give you a place to put your machine, storage drawers and cabinets, and lots of table space for cutting and designing. Some of them even fold up completely into a fancy armoir or credenza, so your craft supplies are never in view when not in use. Check it out:

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Some things to consider when buying sewing furniture:

• Is it the right height for you? Find a surface you’d be comfortable with and measure it. Most adults will prefer about 28″.
• Is it big enough? Quilters, costumers, upholstery workers and other professionals all need lots of space to lay out large pieces of fabric for cutting and piecing. Many tables are available in multiple sizes. Make sure you measure your space and think about what you’ll be sewing before you order too large or too small.
• Is it mobile? If you’ll need to move your table around, you can purchase models with wheels.
• Is there enough storage capacity? The more drawers, cabinets and bookshelves you have, the neater your whole room will be.
• Does the surface need protection? Some of the higher end sewing tables really are fine pieces of furniture. If you’re going to be cutting and gluing, make sure you purchase a large protective cutting mat to put on top.
• Does it meet your budget? You can get some great bargains online for all types of sewing cabinets and craft cutting tables. Whether you want to spend $100 or $1,000–they’re all cheaper than the cost of a round of doctor visits for a bad back or migraines.

Where will you get the best price on a sewing cabinet or cutting table?

The best prices I’ve found to date are on Amazon.com. Most of the major online retailers of sewing tables also sell on Amazon, but at a reduced price. So, I always check there first.

Browse prices on Amazon.com

What’s the next step?

If you sew or craft on a regular basis and don’t yet have a healthy, satisfying furniture setup, I strongly recommend you check out the different types of sewing cabinets and cutting tables available online. Your birthday must be coming up soon, right?