Before we moved to Japan, and we had rented our house already, I had grand plans of having a play/sewing room in the room next to our kitchen/living room. That way I could still be a part of family life downstairs. Then we moved and the lighting isn’t that great in the room, plus it was just going to be asking for trouble mixing a 2.5 year old and a 15 month old with my sewing stuff.
Plan B was to use the upstairs spare/guest/washing room as a sewing room – great lighting, safely away from playroom, could sew during naptime. Even picked out an Ikea Expedit desk/bookshelf combo to use as a sewing desk, had imagined hanging mini quilts and a design wall and some pretty curtains, and bunting… And until this happened, I set up downstairs on a borrowed table. A temporary set up.
Except it gets stinkin’ hot upstairs even now and it’s not yet at the peak of summer and the only air-con is in our bedroom. Most of the time I have to leave the kids’ door open for air circulation or put the air-con on in our room too to try and get cool air across to their room. None of which is conducive to sewing upstairs. Plus sewing after bedtime would mean that I was upstairs while hubby was downstairs. Also not ideal. On to Plan C…
Plan C was to have a little desk next to the dining table and the original little computer desk. It was working well enough for the past couple of months until we got the big writing desk from one of Ben’s colleagues last week. It’s perfect for a mini home office as it can get packed up and it’s all kept away from prying little hands. But it takes up more space, and there isn’t any space for my sewing now. For the moment while we’re eating in front of the TV to watch the Olympics, this is working for the moment, but it looks like after all this, we’ll be returning to Plan A and setting up in the playroom (visible in the photo)!
But I will miss this spot – I can see the TV and/or Hulu on the computer screen if we’re watching it at night together, the air-con is right above the writing desk, and any naptime sewing is always complemented by watching Hulu on the computer on the desk. And the lighting is pretty good here too. But hey, until we get me a desk, a lamp and a plastic mat to protect the tatami, I’m stuck here. What a pity!
And as for my stash? The futon cupboard in the playroom is huge, perfect for piles of organised chaos tucked in behind nappy stackers and toys…
I do plan on getting some shelving and/or drawers to get it organised at some point!
How is your sewing space set up? Any tips?
Janice says
I’m in the same boat as you! I sew on the dining room table and with a 2 year-old and 14 month-old, I probably get more sewing done being downstairs, than having my own sewing room. When I did have my own room, I missed my husband at night!
I just organized my fabric by color into plastic shoe bins and I’ve taken over the bar. I also have a small latching bin where I keep all the basic essentials and when I am not sewing I put all sharp things in there. All my other sewing supplies are stored in the garage.
Kristy QP says
Oh that’s a good set up where you can see the play room and the tv! 😉
I have a sewing room/office that the kids have kind of taken over, but it’s in an area I can see the kidlets while they’re playing which is great!
Cherie says
What a shame you have to move things now, maybe you could just take it over and throw the kids out.
Haha I’m glad I read again on the organised chaos part =P
Jeanne says
My kids are grown and I made my daughter’s bedroom into my sewing room. I forget that I am living the life now. I look at your sewing arrangements and remember when. Someday you will have a whole room to sew in also. But I miss my kids. I would trade my sewing room to have my kids little again and back in the house in a heartbeat! Kids first, sewing third or fourth. They grow so fast! I use to make their clothing when they were little. Now I send them quilts for their birthdays and Christmases. They each have about 14 quilts. I think they are too polite to tell me to stop. Note to self: Stop sending quilts to the kids. How many can they pile on the bed after all?