Released August 11, 2009
by Barbara “Elfie” Taylor
Some of us have problems resisting the call of fabric. Worse, we can’t seem to say no to those poor women who are looking for places to unload their own unwanted fabric, who have alas, been pushed over the edge by their own stash. We take in their orphaned buttons, their rag-tag upholstery sample books, their vintage jeans, their thousands of dollars worth of ribbon and trim and silk and wool and velvet … after all, would can say no to silk and velvet?
Some of us have a bigger problem. We don’t just hoard fabric, we collect sewing machines. If we were guys, it would be computers, or cars, or Lego. But we’re “sewistes”, and we need to have good sewing machines, the way a chef needs 14 different knives to properly prepare a 5-course meal. We admire a gorgeous 1920 Singer with all its original accessories and attachments in its original wooden case the way Jay Leno smiles at his Duesenberg. They just don’t make them like that anymore.
But we also have to share our homes with those other people who live there (e.g. children, spouse, extended family, pets).
Some of us are lucky enough to have a room for our obsession. Maybe there’s no door on it, but it’s a dedicated space nonetheless. Some of us play at making the obsession pay for itself by offering our sewing services, and thereby justifying our next indulgence. It’s a charade, everyone knows it, especially those who graduated with fashion design diplomas and have industrial sewing machines in their boutique sewing studios, but we dilettantes are humored by good natured clients.
I am a compulsive sewing machine collector, but I’m not looking for a support group! I love being that sewing machine addict! It’s like swinging really high on the back-yard swingset and pulling the legs out of the ground, making it thump backward and forward and you wonder when it’ll tip over on top of you, but you swing back down and get ready for the next surge anyway … and it feels like “that moment” all the time.
I didn’t start out that way. I bought a department store cheapie, which as it turned out, served more to teach me new ways to make a sailor blush while I stitched away on my bridesmaid dress for my friend’s wedding, until that friend gave me her 1940s vintage Brother straight-stitch she’d inherited from an aunt who’d moved on to knitting. It had only one stitch type, straight, and did it extremely well. It served until my kids wanted stretchy fabrics and buttonholes, so I bought a basic mechanical 21-stitch sewing machine with a one-step buttonholer at a really deep discount, which served until I wanted to play with chiffon and nylon and make winter coats with ‘ultra-fray-y’ linings, so I bought a basic 4-thread serger on sale, and then I won a computerized quilters’ sewing machine with a stitch speed regulator in a drawing, and then I felt I needed a cover-stitch machine because I’d “gone pro” as a crafter…
So insidious, how the addiction crept up on me.
Even so, I have one machine named “Workhorse” who does most of the work. Workhorse has a permanent spot on my sewing table. Workhorse has a serger partner named “Zoom” occupying the other permanent spot on the table. As a project called for a specialized function (a keyhole buttonhole, for instance, or a cover-stitched hem) I’d set up the appropriate machine, do what needed doing, and put it away.
And then I discovered machine embroidery, online embroidery design websites, and a really, really good sale on embroidery machines, all at the same time.
When my embroidery “Baby” arrived, we had a problem.
I needed three permanent spots on my sewing table, and had room for only two. I was also out of storage space for my sewing machines, and my stash was crowding my creative space. My exercise bicycle was already smothered in fabric, with sewing machines at either end, and my shelves weren’t sturdy enough to support a Jem, let alone a 1940s Juggernaut.
It was obvious what needed to be done: add a new wall unit!
But “Baby” had eaten up my entire discretionary spending budget for the year and my next Christmas gift, to boot. But there are ways to get around that (if you’ve planned ahead). For instance, collecting ‘loyalty points’ for buying non-perishable groceries at department stores, especially stores that allow you to convert your Air Miles to their own loyalty ‘currency’.
I used department store loyalty points (plus $20) to buy a new TV cabinet for the embroidery machine. You can also find suitably deep units at garage sales, on Craigslist, Freecycle groups, thrift stores, or just by putting word out amongst your neighbors that you’re looking for a discarded TV cabinet that’s still in good condition. Dare I suggest curbside shopping here? Remember though, the shelf MUST be 18″ deep, front to back, to accommodate the range of your hoop’s movements.
“Baby” now sits where the TV would go, and her cord runs out the back, just like a TV’s; the VCR/DVD player shelf is set as high as it can go, and holds my embroidery stuff in little organizer baskets and jars and binders and such. I used cup hooks on the inside walls to hang my USB keys, so I don’t have to fumble for my designs. There is room to the left of the machine for thread cases and to support larger projects in the hoop (e.g. beach towels). In fact, everything to do with embroidery is encased in this shrine to the machine: no hunting for stabilizers or bobbins or USB keys. When I switch off for the night, I just close the cabinet doors, and all is tucked out of sight of both children and bobbin-eating cats.
As a bonus, I reclaimed some floor space and my stationary bike, as the other sewing machines have been safely and accessibly stored in the cabinets below the embroidery shrine. They’re out of the way, and they’re not collecting dust. I gained extra storage space on top of the cabinet for more plastic drawer organizers. Those plastic organizers freed up more shelf space for the fabric that had smothered the bike, and lo! My bad cholesterol levels are falling as a result!
Truly, a sweatshop is born.
I did much the same thing with a wall unit that held a large t.v. and theatre components. It’s easy to use the embroidery machine while working on other projects because everything is at hand and still out of the way. I do not have doors where my machine is so I just put up a curtain I open and close as needed.
Thanks for sharing your ideas with us.
Comment by Anonymous — August 11, 2009 @ 5:30 pm
This was SO delightful to read. I read it to my mother and we both enjoyed in thoroughly.
Comment by Gina Reddin — August 12, 2009 @ 11:57 am
that was fun to read thank you.
Comment by Anonymous — August 12, 2009 @ 1:01 pm
Love it. I’m off to find a TV cabinet!
Comment by Carol — August 12, 2009 @ 1:26 pm
I liked your story particularly one TINY thing, the use of a cup hook to keep cord from getting in the way which they do rigt now undr my computer desk. It wont be that way 5 minutes afterI send this off.
A great hint. Thanks
Comment by Connie B - Jax Fl — August 12, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
Pictures would be nice!!!!!!
Comment by kim — August 12, 2009 @ 2:18 pm
Hi, ‘Elfie’,
Thank you for the humorous article “A Sweatshop is Born”. You are not alone out there in ’sewistes’ land. I’ve eaten up two bedrooms in my home. Children grew up and moved on. A guest room was converted to “Embroidery Room” when the embroidery machine was added. For a period of 10 years or so I was the proprietress of The Sewing Room designing and making custom bridal gowns. That didn’t prevent me from continuing to shop for fabrics for myself. Am now working with some of those fabric making garments to wear to my 55th high school reunion. Sewistes live long lives because they know how to get rid of stress!!
Patricia A “Penny” Corley
Jacksonville, Florida
Comment by Penny Corley — August 12, 2009 @ 2:19 pm
How funny! And too true. I have 2 sewing machnes, one embroidery/sewing machine and 2 sergers.
Comment by Margaret — August 12, 2009 @ 2:41 pm
I so enjoyed your article.
Many smiles since most of us know exactly what you are talking about. when it comes to our sewing rooms.
I’m trying to talk my husband into moving our bedroom to the small sewing room and letting me have the master bedroom for sewing. So far…no luck.
Comment by Linda — August 12, 2009 @ 2:49 pm
So funny! It’s good to know someone else ‘collects’ sewing machines. But now that I’ve read this article, I have to start looking for a entertainment center with doors. LOL
Comment by Anonymous — August 12, 2009 @ 3:02 pm
Sounds just like me! I could have written the article except buying the TV cabinet. Don’t know what my children will do with all this “stuff” when I’m gone!
Comment by Sari — August 12, 2009 @ 3:06 pm
How about a picture? Pretty please?
Comment by Diane — August 12, 2009 @ 3:41 pm
Oh, this article is priceless. Laughed all the way through ’cause I recognized myself in there. I’ve moved into the spare bedroom as well and still need more room!! 2 sergers, 3 sewing machines and only 1 small embroidery machine (currently looking to move up to a more sophisticated machine but nowhere to put it) What a revealation! A TV cabinet. Thanks for the humor and great idea!
Comment by Anonymous — August 12, 2009 @ 4:01 pm
This look in the mirror gave me a good laugh today and I really needed one! Also helped my sense of guilt for my addictive indulgence.” I just need one more gadget….and then another…. and then another..” And they’re oh, so practical after all. I think I’ve used every storage gimmick possible but now I can’t seem to reach what’s in- back -over there…. and oh Lord! I hope the weight of it all doesn’t bust through the living room ceiling!!
Comment by Rachel — August 12, 2009 @ 4:06 pm
Confession - I also am a collector - several treadles, some straight stitchers and lots of old Singers, Featherweights and others. 2 of the Featherweights need body work and I would love to get them painted but not on my budget! And 3.5 embroidery machines. How did I do that? well, I sent the basic machine to my niece and she said it didn’t work and tossed it. I still had the embrodiery arm. Anyone need the arm for an OLD babylock embroiderer? The computerized screen is about 2×3 as I recall. Not that I know where it is right this minute - I became a free woman again and moved - stil unpacking 2 years later.
Robbie Fanning was the first sewing person I knew of that talked about having more than one machine. I think I have beat her number …. I even have a beautiful rose pink straight stitch Morse! Gorgeous!!
Collectors Unite! We are a valuable addition to society - I need help thinking of the reason though…. preserving our heritage? keeping vvaluable meetal from the dump? lifting weights?
Comment by Hagrids mom — August 12, 2009 @ 4:07 pm
I love your story and can identify with you. I’m always looking for ways to increase my space (for more of something). I had a good laugh and it makes me feel better to know there are more of us out there.
Comment by Dorothy McCann — August 12, 2009 @ 4:12 pm
Sounds great! Would love to see a photo, if possible!
Comment by Linda — August 12, 2009 @ 4:25 pm
Brilliant!
Comment by kristie — August 12, 2009 @ 4:29 pm
Too funny…and TRUE! I laughed and shook my head in agreement the whole time I read your article. Although I haven’t gotten to the ‘machine addiction’ part yet, I’m sure I will be there before I know it. I do however, have the dare I say, dreaded ‘fabric addiction’!
It’s everywhere but it IS organized for the most part. I outgrew my sewing room upstairs so I just had my basement finished to make myself a new sewing sanctuary. I keep searching garage sales, craigslist, freecycle and the like, as you do, but I do it, still looking for ‘that perfect bargain’ on fabric, which I always manage to find. I can’t help myself. It IS an addiction but one I’ve come to accept….and love!
Comment by Alison — August 12, 2009 @ 4:56 pm
So true, this is excellant.
Comment by Brenda Sweeney — August 12, 2009 @ 5:20 pm
Cute story. I’d love to see a picture of your converted TV stand.
I laughed at the stationary bike story. My eliptical has been the hanger for much of my stash now and then. More often than not LOL.
Happy embroidery,
Loronda
Comment by Loronda — August 12, 2009 @ 5:44 pm
this article is very enjoyable! I too am a collector. At the moment I have a rtoom in my basement for painting and messing projects. Presently I own 3 sewing machines. A combo embroidery machine and sewing. A computized serger machine and a emergency little one for when my machine is in the shop. I have a sewing room upstairs. Plus the serger is in my room. I have a singer feather weight which doesn’t work for show. I presently desire a short arm quitling machine like quilter’s pro, as well as a newer larger sewing format. they keep getting larger! There is no way in this life time that I could possiblity do all the embroidery designs that I purchase.All well, truth be i love them all, plus my knitting and crochet needles and scapbook supplies!
Comment by sandra — August 12, 2009 @ 5:48 pm
Barbara, I so relate to your tale. It recalls the saying, Many a true word said in jest.
Swap your TV unit for a brand new sewing room built on to the house at a 90 degree angle, half the size of the original house, and you have my situation to a ‘T’.
Suddenly the old machines which we couldn’t resist buying have a new home. My fabric stash and notions collection migrated from a small bedroom to the new cupboard that covers one complete wall, floor to ceiling. Everyone who knows me knows that I can’t say No to unwanted sewing stuff - Give it to her, they laugh as they sit in their lovely clean, neat sewing rooms. I can’t even remember where all my knitting yarn lived before I tubbed it and filled up the underside of one six-foot table and built a tall tower with the overflow of tubs.
Now I am so busy planning projects, mainly sewing and knitting but throw in a few more crafts for interest, that I have very little time to begin, let alone complete, most of them. Since machine embroidery took over my life my sewing space is littered with stabiliser, practice stitch-outs and such and actual working space has been reduced to the size of a medium cutting board and an ironing board.
I love my studio; I am happy in my space; but this ‘tidy up when I’m finished’ bit isn’t in my schedule at all.
I just switch off the power things, breathe a contented sigh of relief, walk out and close the door behind me.
Comment by Alma — August 12, 2009 @ 6:15 pm
My husband calls my Sewing Room my “Sweatshop” too. I have started my collection and so far have a sewing machine, 2 embroidery/sewing machines and a serger…I don’t feel guilty anymore. I feel better knowing there are others out there who have an addiction like I do and don’t want the cure. Thanks for your ideas about the cabinet…I may have to start looking!
Comment by Cheri — August 12, 2009 @ 6:22 pm
I understand totally. I have no room to move in my sewing room either. It is 18′x19′. I have lost all my sewing things which was 2 rooms of fabric and 4 sewing machines in Hurricane Katrina. Now I have all my machines back plus a Mega Quilter with a 10′ frame. I haven’t got as much fabric as I had but it is getting there quick.
Comment by Marsha — August 12, 2009 @ 6:26 pm
I am very interested in your sewing cabinet made from a TV cabinet. I would like to see a picture of it.
Thanks,
Patsy
Comment by Patsy — August 12, 2009 @ 6:28 pm
Oh my gosh, when was this strange women in my sewing room? It appears she knows me well and has found all 6 of my sewing machines and the surger. She found my stash, all the treasures I have let people give me and all the things that I still have but will probably never use. I just cannot understand how she missed the 2.5 shelves of qulting books on the floor to ceiling shelves. Shocking!
I enjoyed the article a lot. It could be my life.
Comment by Sherry — August 12, 2009 @ 7:02 pm
I am ‘all of the above’, a fabric hoarder and a sewing machine collector. I have lost count on how many machines I own. I am sure it is over 30. For a while there, every machine I saw at a yard sale, thrift store, aucion, etc. had to come home with me. I will pass this story on to at least two friends/relatives who are in the same situation.
Comment by Bev — August 12, 2009 @ 7:20 pm
Hi, this sounds like me, I collect sewing machines too, but some antique ones. My husband put up a sturdy self to display them. I also have 2 reg machines, a serger and an embroidery machine, which I use an old student size desk we had down in the basement. It has 3 drawers on the one side & the one where you would sit. It holds all my embroidery folders,thread, stabelizers. The drawer where you would sit holds all my parts (needles bobbins, screwdriver) and whatever. I was grounded by my husband from buying any more fabric. But our Walmart is getting rid of fabrics at 1/2 price. So I added to my stash(some)
Comment by Linda — August 12, 2009 @ 7:57 pm
Barbara, I loved your story. I have a huge stash of fabic so I purchased 3 commercial shelving units on wheels last summer and I love them. I find myself collecting machines too. I have nine which includes my serger and my newest machine still in the mail, a singer featherweight 221 centennial. Machine embroidery is a favorite of mine also and have upgraded many times. Collections are so much fun. Take care all and thanks for sharing.
Comment by Sharon k — August 12, 2009 @ 8:22 pm
OMG! THIS SOUNDS JUST LIKE ME RIGHT DOWN TO THE BOBBIN EATING CATS (PLURAL).
Comment by DIANNA LOFTIS — August 12, 2009 @ 8:28 pm
I feel your pain
I am also a packrat when it comes to my hobby. I have a path that can get me from the door to my machine if I turn sideways.
I have grown out of space also, I have 3 white shelves with 5 tiers each. So I went up the walls, I added a 3 tier shelf to each one. good thing I am tall
Comment by vwbug — August 12, 2009 @ 8:29 pm
I got a chuckel out of your post. This could so be me.I have the antique pedal machine up to the upholstery machine.My baby is my Phaff 2170 and all it’s bells and whistles.I AM AN ADDICT.
Comment by anita — August 12, 2009 @ 11:03 pm
Oh it is sooo nice to find a kindred spirit.
I’d have to add that my room also has a 2 story rat cage ( my grandson’s..not allowed to keep it at home ) but hey!! what a wonderful addiction to have…we have a Wertheim with inlaid bench welcoming everyone into our hallway…my husband is into model yachts and THEY invade my lounge-room….life’s good when you can laugh at yourself…thankyou for sharing.
Comment by Cherrylmaree — August 12, 2009 @ 11:07 pm
loved reading about your machines, gave me a giggle. You must be a happy person, would love to meet you if we wer’nt so far away.
Happy sewing Dallas.
Comment by Dallas — August 13, 2009 @ 4:04 am
Oh! what a wonderful article, it really appealed to my sense of humour and has given me some great ideas. I’m not a machine junkie, but I am an embroidery design and knitting pattern junkie and can’t bring myself to “throw anything away that may come in handy”. But I do have a machine I use for embroidery and one for sewing and there are those knitting machines stored in the cellar …….. ummmmm …….. rethink, maybe I am a machine junkie after all (lol)
Comment by Jean — August 13, 2009 @ 4:30 am
You are great!!!!!!
Comment by neena — August 13, 2009 @ 7:41 am
I had this real nice big dining room, It has a big hutch and four glass curio cabinets and a big dining set. But started out with one embroidery machine and one computor. Now I have four embroidery machine, three computors and two long tables that sit in front of my hutch. Good thing my room is very large. My regular sewing machine has to be by it self in another room. But two of my daughters coming over a lot and sew on theirs. Life is so good.
Comment by Lorna Freer — August 13, 2009 @ 7:56 am
You just made my day. I lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvved your humorous story. I didn’t think I had that many sewing machines, but when you count my mother in laws antique treddle (totally re finished) oh well. I consider it decorative furniture. I just wish I knew how to work the serger. But collecting embroidery designs, hmmmm. You just can’t have too many. Thanks for the smiles.
Sandy
Comment by Sandy — August 13, 2009 @ 8:37 am
What a great and humorous story! I, too enjoyed reading it, I’m there! I out grew my spare room so hubby knocked out wall and now I’ve growned into the second guest room with all sewing and embroidery stuff. It is cheaper to have guests stay in a hotel than ‘keep the room available incase’ there is an occasional guest sleep over. That way I use ALL my house everyday. It takes some getting used to having guests stay at a hotel, but no problems so far. Love your story! you should write more humorous articles.
Comment by Debi — August 13, 2009 @ 8:40 am
Nice to know others name their machines! Mine are named Anna and Louise, (both Janome embroidery machines), Florence (an old Singer Featherweight) and Sally, the Serger. Of course, I talk to them when I am sewing and they are very good listeners!
Comment by Carol4700 — August 13, 2009 @ 10:01 am
Let’s see - - hubby took “my” room for his office when he decided his knees hurt too much to go to his office upstairs. It’s now a combination my son’s art room, my husband’s desk (ewww) and one sewing machine. The knitting machines (2) {one more in the garage), linker, most of the fabric, felting machine, cutting table, and double bed in the guest room, embroidery machine and serger in the dining room (covered in stuff, of course), Mom’s Kenmore I learned to sew on in an alcove and my tiny Elna is in a closet somewhere. Now I’m going to look for TV cabinets (cheap) and figure out where best to put them (in place of hubby’s ewww desk?). The yarn is in the garage along with the rest of the sewing stuff.
I agree, would like to see pictures!!!
Comment by Patti — August 13, 2009 @ 10:57 am
Love this article! Have a TV cabinet my husband would love to move out … now I know just what to do with it!
Comment by Paula — August 13, 2009 @ 11:05 am
I laughed at this - you didn’t say if you ever have timet to use your exercise bike.
My downfall came with Machine Embroidery - all the specialty thread, stabilizer, hoops, etc. I had to cut a bag on the foyer floor because my cutting table is loaded. 
Comment by Shirley — August 13, 2009 @ 11:48 am
Totally enjoyed your story. My stash and machines(4) are nothing compared to yours. I don’t feel guilty anymore either. You are a stitch…must be hilarious to be in your circle of friends. I try to use my creativity to let others see Jesus.
God bless you.
Comment by JoAnn — August 13, 2009 @ 1:41 pm
OMG-I am not alone!!
Comment by Trish in AZ — August 13, 2009 @ 3:13 pm
OK, my name is Sue and I’m an embroidery addict! Funny story, and I’m right there with you. When the kids moved out, I thought (generously) that I’d only claim ONE of the bedrooms, leaving the second for DH and his “stuff.” I forgot that he could move so quickly! He grabbed BOTH of them, so I had to move my computer, sergers (two), sewing machines (I have since donated two to my daughter and three to others from Craigslist), three embroidery machines, an industrial machine from my days reupholstering (and which I will NEVER use again!) — etc. etc. etc.
The problem is that when I got into machine embroidery I also needed one of this, two of that, a multitude of THREADS, stabilizers, my daughter’s discarded closet organizers for inventory –
Well, you all know what I mean! And do you know why there are no chapters of Embroiderers Anonymous? Because NONE of us want to quit!
Comment by Sue Chapman — August 13, 2009 @ 6:07 pm
So funny… could relate - I would have never thought of a tv cabinet. I have seen quite a few lately as so many new TV sets are designed for the newer syles of theatre set ups.
I will have to keep that in mind while I redecorate my sewing room.
Thanks for your inspiration.
Comment by Susan — August 13, 2009 @ 7:54 pm
Hi Efie, I just loved your article, it has made me feel normal as I also seem to be spreading further and further into the other bedrooms, (I already have 2) One room for all my machine and the other room for the computer and printer, which is another requirement for the embroidery machine. I have;
1 Husvana normal sewing,
1 Bernina Serger,
1 Janome Cover Pro
1 Janome 900 Card Embrodiery machine,
1 300E Janome Embroidery machine,
1 Janome 1100 Embroidery machine (this machine required me to buy a Lap Top computer so I could plug directly into my machine)
(I am giving the 300E to my daughter who is now very interested in sewing)
I tried to add a photo of my room but this comment section doesn’t seem to have the facility to do so. The cutting table is in the garage with my lead lighting gear also I have comandeered most of the wardrobe space in the house for my “stash” I now have only one option -that is to talk my husband into selling up and buying a house with a very large shed with wall to wall cupboards and benches which I could have for my sewing additions, then I wouldn’t have to tidy up and put things away!!!!!!!!
Comment by Iris McCathie — August 13, 2009 @ 9:01 pm
What a great idea. I wish you had enclosed pictures of this wonder cabinet. I am always struggling for added space, and I only have two machines. My space is 11×11 which also is my bedroom, computer room and sewing room..Help!!!
Comment by Frances — August 13, 2009 @ 10:38 pm
Laughed till I cried… This is so me.. When I moved from Ohio.. I had to downsize my Hobby.. Got rid of 8 sewing machines .. Curb Shopping is the Best.. My sewing room has 3 machines. 1 serger. 1 old kenmore to sew on . and 1 embroidery machine… We won’t count the old singer that My husband bought me in 1968,,it needs new gears. and the singer that will sew slow so the grandkids can learn on it. I have a 10 x 12 sewing room.. I use computer desks that people throw out or get from garage sales for my machines.. I just love my addiction.. Glad to meet another one..
Comment by Buzygranny — August 14, 2009 @ 12:55 am
I laughed and laughed because it sounds so much like me. Those who know me, would think I had written this.
Comment by Martha Hartman — August 14, 2009 @ 7:07 am
I can relate 100%. My sewing room looks like an obsticle course. Be careful coming in if you don’t know what you are looking for! I have one question, where is the computer. Gotta have that baby to add to the “other good stuff” in there. I bought a “slimline” tower just so I could make more space for something else. Gosh, I love my sewing room. It is my haven from the rest of the world. I loose track of time, all troubles seem to disappear. It is worth every minute I have spent in there messing it up!
Comment by Willie — August 14, 2009 @ 8:21 am
Are we “sewists” all the same, I can see it all happening, (sounds like home) what fun normal people must have reading about us. I enjoyed the smile - thank you.
Comment by Sheila — August 14, 2009 @ 10:44 am
I loved it. Would you post some pictures pretty please??? I love pictures (-;
Comment by denice — August 14, 2009 @ 11:50 am
HHmmmmm bobbin eating cats….so THAT is where they have been going. I too am aflicted…fabric…taking on orphan fabrics, and oh my the sewing machine addiction….
Have a tredle singer with original attachements and wooden box, as well as original owners’ manuel for both, 1940’s Fleetwood, 1976 Bernina 830 that has been my workhorse since new, and now my new Elna Dec touch , Elna Xperience Embroidery and a Janome serger. As I sit in a cubby hole of what used to be an attached 1 car garage, I am surrounded by my stash. I will get organized one day….and an additional storage room….
one day
Sandy
Comment by Sandy M — August 14, 2009 @ 12:05 pm
This was brilliant! I laughed so hard and sadly can relate much to my husband’s frustration!! I keep telling him that crafting is an addiction with a positive outcome, but he’s not buying it! Now if I can only get some of those husbands out there who have knocked out walls, given up space, purcashed a bigger house to get my husband on board, I would be in business!
Comment by Angela — August 14, 2009 @ 12:54 pm
I about wet myself laughing! I had my stass, Auntie passed and got her’s, Mom passed and got her’s, an elderly lady ended up in a nursing home and I got her’s at a “steal” and so it goes! Dad drove 1/2 way across the country to bring me all of Mom’s sewing room furniture which made organization a snap! Hubby hated the family room and shoved me in it; I hung bi-fold doors to keep out Chihuahua’s who like to nest in baskets of fabric! I have my customers come in thru the French doors on the deck and let them fend for themselves because despite all of the neat storage stuff and shelves it is still a happy disaster!
Comment by Deborah - TeddyRN — August 14, 2009 @ 3:33 pm
What a great article. It reminds me of someone - just can’t quite put my finger on who !!. I would love to see a photo if you can. I don;t mind if you send it to my addy. Thanks for the giggle Regards Loretta
Comment by Loretta — August 14, 2009 @ 7:15 pm
Oh Dear God, if I had only thought of this when i got my flat tv and the old tv stand went to the street!
Comment by MikeG — August 15, 2009 @ 7:36 am
Great article! When you reach my stage of addiction you design a sewing room into your dream retirement home, then have the contractor install 2 used base cabinets (from somebody’s old kitchen) in the center of the floor and top it with a 4X8′ sheet of melamine, add a strip of trim around the edges and attach 4 rotary cutting mats to one end to make a cutting (and work) table. Then you have your husband build you a 10′ melamine counter with shelves underneath, leaving space for your knees here and there, and put the embroidery machine, the ‘workhorse’ (which in my case is also an embroidery machine but I upgraded to a new one) and the serger on it. My husband and I also put together flat pack base cabinets and had a nice formica top added for the length of the opposite wall. We put up shelves near the top of the wall to display some of my finished produces and metal mesh ‘cubicles’ sit on top of the formica counter to hold my yarn. In addition to all this storage I have not one but three ‘entertainment’ units (appropriate name!) and a dozen 14″ cube boxes which fit ingeniously atop each other (and the bottom ones have wheels) full of other ’supplies’ to feed my habit(s). You see, I not only sew but knit, crochet, embroider, macrame, make jewelry and stuffed animals and dolls - the ‘drugs’ go on and on and feed off each other!
Comment by Kristy — August 15, 2009 @ 10:13 am
Well, I believe I do have a Sewing Machine addiction too. I have four Sergers: Babylock Evolve (8 thread WOW) set up for cover stitch, Babylock Imagine Wave set up for the Wave stitch, Juki 735 does chain stitch threaded with white, and a Juki 634 threaded with black thread.
My Crown Jewel is the Babylock Ellisimo Embroidery sewing machine (which cost me the same as our Ford F150). I have a Brother Duetta (cost what I paid for my used Altima) and a Simplicity SE3 for small quick embroidery jobs, that’s 3 Embroidery machines.
My “workhorse” is a Bernina 1031 which I will keep to my grave, and may ask to have it at my feet in my coffin. I also have a Bernina 153 QE for quilting, and there are two Janome machines (Jem 660 for classes and another for the Granddaughters to sew on). I have a small Brother machine which was such a buy I couldn’t resist. I have a Juki 98E Lockstitch which sews 1500 spm and could win the Datona 500. Oh, then there is my Babylock blind stitch hemmer. Yet, my heart longs for the Babylock Embellisher, I search e-bay daily.
For software, I use Brother’s PE-Design V8. Anita Goodesign is my best friend. She fills many bookcases along with OESD, and countless Brother designs. I have an Amazing Box to do amazing things.
I haven’t seen my dining room table in years, it is covered with fabric and sewing machines. I have picked up at least two computer tables recently, they are the proper height and the pull out keyboard drawer works great for scissors, pins etc. Each computer table holds a serger and a sewing machine (you can piggyback the serger with another one behind it).
I follow in my Mother’s footsteps, her Credo: She who dies with the most fabric wins!
Comment by Patti V. — August 15, 2009 @ 11:44 am
Wow, I just got a wage job, so I haven’t been able to check in here at all… the sheer number of comments and compliments in less than a week is overwhelming! Thanks!
Pictures???? ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? Do you know how long it would take to tidy up and make the sewing area PRESENTABLE???
Well, um, OK. I don’t know how to add pictures to a comment, if it’s possible, so here’s a link to my Flickr image hosting account. This is how my sewing room looked “before”:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/28/61278947_883147ab57.jpg
(Sorry, couldn’t resist. That’s my Hallowe’en sewing display in the garage from a couple of years ago.)
Here’s the “after”:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3015/3083892720_57113951de.jpg (doors closed)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/3083892710_397f96f924.jpg (doors open)
All three of these images are part of the “Misc Sewing Projects” photoset, in case you get lost in all those strange images of unidentified people.
The pictures are out-of-date, of course. I have ‘way more thread and a new roll of tear-away stabilizer, a bolt of Fabri-Solvy WSS, more baskets of destashed buttons on top (can’t say no to buttons, either)… But I’m proud to say that even though the chair I usually sit on is covered with bags of fabric and blank onesies waiting to be hooped, there’s still room for me to park my tush in front of it and worship the machine.
And everything else in the sewing room is not FlyLady-worthy. (That’s a reference to the cleaning-challenged’s online shrine to organization: flylady.net.) Seriously. I just had a new water heater installed two weeks ago, and I had to rip everything apart to make room to let the old one out and the new one in… and my sewing room has not recovered. There are older pics of how I redid my sewing area, but they simply do not reflect the total chaos of loving fabric to bits.
Comment by Elfie B. — August 15, 2009 @ 6:56 pm
P.S. Does anyone else here have a spouse who is seriously thinking about hooking up the exercise machines to the embroidery machine, to generate your own electricity?
Comment by Elfie B. — August 15, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
WOW! Very nice story,I feel she was standing outside my sewing room window taking notes. I sure can relate to this. Thanks for having space for all us to share. Now I know I am not just a “Sick” person but a “Sick Sewister”. Hey you should make up a badge or club patch for that…I would put it on my sewing jacket. M
Comment by mamacrafter — August 17, 2009 @ 7:47 am
I began my collection over 40 years ago. I sewed, raised children and pets. In the meantime, I collected my share of machines, cloth and so forth. I went back to work as a seamtress in a couple of differnet locations. I managed to collect three commercial machines. These I love. I do not seem to have the patience for my home machines. They sew too slow and they are not as heavyduty. Having said that now that I am home, I have more time to play with my embroidery machine, #2. #1 resides with my daughet-in-law in another state. The computer sites hold my interest. I enjoy new techniques. What fun! My commercial machines do the “meat and potatoes” and my embroidery machine cooks a fine “dessert.” It is fun to sew volunteer projects for nursing homes, church, etc. As I get older, I wonder if there will be room in the nursing home for my collectibles? Perhaps we can have sewing classes or crochet classes on a weekly basis and I will be the in residence leader of the mayhem. Perhaps in another 20 years or so, who knows. By the way I have been fortunate to have a husband who has weathered all my many projects all these years. His idea of heaven would be for me to make room in the garage for the car!
Comment by Joan — August 18, 2009 @ 6:30 am
hello you must be my pod people double because we are exactly alike i have sewing machines and fabric from every yard and estate sale i could find and two embroidery machines etc.etc.you just can’t let all that good stuff be left behind now can you?
Comment by rose j — August 19, 2009 @ 3:07 pm
Loved the story, I have to say I can’t wait til the grandchildren move out to their new home (still being built) I’m taking over the living room for family and friends to come over and sew. We don’t use it because we built a new family room with all windows.(would love that room but hubby says No that is our room). I have two hutches full of fabric. better scratch that, I have fabric everywhere. Hubby just bought me a quilting frame but no room to put it up yet…
Comment by Darlene — September 24, 2009 @ 2:25 pm
Thx, this has definitely made my day!
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Comment by LarryXA — November 6, 2009 @ 3:34 pm