Welcome to the next sewing space tour in our ongoing series. Today, we’re visiting the sewing room of Jeanne Marie.
Tell us a little about your sewing space.
My sewing space is along parts of two walls in the master bedroom. I lost my dedicated sewing space when I became pregnant with my son 12 years ago. I thought I’d get it back this year, since my daughter is starting college, but as it turns out, the need for a dedicated office space is more urgent. Denied again!
I sew on a Viking Husqvarna Sapphire 930. There have been some reported tension issues with these machines, but I am thankful not to have encountered them. I love this thing! I also have a 1924 Singer 99K that I recently used to make a garment, and it’s wonderfully nostalgic and satisfying to sew on, but I do enjoy the bells, whistles and automatic buttonholes on my Viking! I also have a few other sewing machines in my collection, which are housed in our entryway and the garage. The serger is relegated to a back corner of my closet. The thought of never using it again makes me smile (and I took a 3-unit college class on how to use it)
When I’m working on a project and the cutting table is open, I block my husband’s path to his side of the room. He can’t complain, though, because he has a den with his computer set up and the kids’ desks and computers.
What is your favorite part/feature of your sewing space?
The only thing I can really see from my sewing machine, which faces a wall, is my 4-foot-by-3-foot bulletin board. The bulletin board is also my favorite feature of my sewing space. I did have my sewing machine facing a 6-foot-wide window, which had a pretty view of my backyard, but the bulletin board is so much more practical. I never wonder where my instructions are! They go up on the board at the beginning of a project and come down as part of the cleanup when I’ve completed it.
This is the part of my fabric and pattern stash that resides in my clothing armoire. The other two-thirds is haphazardly stored in my closet.
How do you organize your fabrics, patterns and notions?
To say my patterns and fabric are organized is wishful thinking. I have stacks of fabric in an armoire with much of my clothing, in plastic file drawers in my closet and on top of my folding cutting table. The patterns are kind of everywhere, although most are in pattern boxes. In theory, I load them into the Sewing Kit app on my phone when I buy them, but they don’t always make it in there. I actually tidied up my space a tad for these photos (if you can believe it) and found some patterns I was lusting over. I had no idea I had already purchased them!
This drawer is to the right of my sewing desk. I’m right-handed, so having my second-tier tools here is really convenient. The plastic container is some sort of two-level organizer. Marking tools, machine needles, bodkins and other fun things that are not used daily live in this drawer.
This is the bottom part of the cabinet with the notions drawer. Having all my pressing gear easily accessible in one place means I actually use them. Pressing cloths are on the upper shelf.
What is your favorite thing to sew?
My favorite things to sew change with the breeze, but the most satisfying thing to sew is home dec. If you make a fabulous dress, how often can you wear it? Once week? Whereas the pinch-pleated draperies I made for our sliding glass door enhance my life every single day. Custom window treatments make me happy-happy.
Check out Jeanne’s blog — Jeanne Marie’s Sewing Studio — to see what she creates in her lovely sewing space!
Jeanne is also active on Instagram and Pinterest.
That’s me! Taken in June.
I loved reading about & seeing your sewing space Jeanne. I can relate to that feeling concerning custom made draperies. Many moons ago I allowed a friend to con me into making pinch pleat, lined draperies for her sliding glass door. I had never attempted them before. We had fabric all over the house. It was quite a job, but I learned a lot & they were beautiful. I have made others since & they are fun. Don’t give up hope you may get a sewing rm. all your own one day.
Re: your comment on your serger- why will you never use it again? I like the idea of tacking up your pattern instructions. I was thinking of that same thing. I’m always shifting them from here to there and they get buried as I work. Good idea!
Small, but mighty! I love your nook!