I have a 48" folding table that I use for my main sewing machine. It has room to the left of the machine for a small pressing mat and room to the right for a pincushion,etc.. I don't know if it would work for two machines.
I bought it several years ago at one of the large office supply stores.
Linda OH

I have a folding table for one of my machines that is 48x24 that is a good ht. for sewing. We have another for the same type that is 6ft. long that would work well for 2 machines. Very sturdy with a molded plastic top. We got ours a BJ's but I imagine they are available elsewhere. Not real expensive. Jayne

I use a large folding table and I love it. I have room on it for my sewing machine, my serger, a cutting mat and things to hold needles, marking pens, etc. When I set up my embroidery unit, I just put it on the cutting mat and it and my laptap fit there just fine. (I think my folding table is the kind you are referring to as what was found in churches for meeting space.) I could fit a small ironing pad where my cutting mat is, but I just bring my ironing board in there and go to the ironing board to iron. I have noticed that the newer folding tables have a thicker edge. I'm so glad mine is the older style with the thin edge for the top - I use binder clips to hold the quilt to the table top when I pin the quilt layers and those clips would not fit over the wider table edge. I guess I'd better hope my table lasts a long time! You are right - you can stash things underneath the table, but I try to just keep my waste basket and the serge protector with powers cords under there. Sometimes it does become home to some containers holding my current projects.
I think you posted a very interesting question.

My kitchen table. :) Sorry, I know, not useful.

Check out the 4' folding tables from some of the big box or discount stores, like Home Depot, Lowes, BJs or Sam's Club. They are sturdy, easily stored and handy for lots of things besides sewing. With a pretty table cloth, they double as serving tables for any holiday and since they are plastic, they work for garden parties too.

If you have room for something more permanent, think about using two 2-drawer file cabinets with a door laid across them. This makes a huge and very stable table, plus it's easy to put away when you need extra room.

I have several plastic totes - all bought on sale - that I use to store fabric.

Kate

I use a 24" x 48" plastic folding table (similar to everyone else) for my main machine and a stack of plastic drawers for active projects & storage. I think it would work just fine for two machines.

My larger 36" cutting mat is on it (with the machine sitting on top of it) and provides a decent amount of space for cutting.

I've seen them recently at BJ's Wholesale and I know Lowe's/Home Depot/Walmart, etc. have them normally. Not expensive, room for storage underneath, and very sturdy.

What a good question! And the answer varies, I believe, depending on what is going on in our lives and what we are working on. I won't bore you with my very large dining table with leaves that is generally covered with machine, mat, fabric, thread, etc. Or my machine in the bedroom in a cabinet that only gets used with the portable machine on top.

Sometimes I will just pull the piano bench up to the couch and sew on that if I want to stay in the living room with the family. Very soon I will have mom's old machine in a lovely cabinet that looks like a desk and it will sit in a corner in the living room. We just bought a desk blotter to put on top so it can be used as a desk, too. Yeah, I know, I'm pretty spoiled. But I also get a lot of nasty looks from my husband at times because he thinks my sewing is taking over. Would you like to trade? lol

But a decent solution for you could be one of the following: go to your local Home Depot, Lowe's or hardware store that sells lumber and will cut it for you free. Many years ago my husband went and bought a sheet of MDF and had it cut to fit a pair of fold-down legs he bought there. Screwed the legs in and voila! Instant table. The problem here is that the MDF can be rough. So I covered it with contact paper which smoothed out the top and made it suitable for sewing.

Second alternative: do you have a closet that you could dedicate to sewing? a panel cut for a table, with a hole drilled in it for electric cortd, etc., can be mounted within a closet so you can sew in there. Pull up a chair and you're all set. A friend had this kind of setup in her house so she could just close the door and everything was contained within the closet. Really nifty solution.

HTH,

Odessa

How about a drop leaf table? You can leave the machines set up and lift the end (or ends) whenever you want to sew. I have an old kithchen table I can leave set up.

I have a 4' rolling table that fits under a desk (mine is old - and cheap - I think the brand was Sauder) it's one of those that come in a box & you assemble from Walmart/Kmart but it's a great height (low!) I keep mine at a 90degree angle to the desk but I can slide it back under if I need to. It's that white laminate stuff - easy to clean. I have the luxury of a sewing room/guest room. I saw a rolling workstation/computer table that looks like it was low & could slide under another desk at Kmart online. http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_3260000000089395P?keyword=desks
Good luck!
Sue/polardream

What about a library table or sofa table? They come in different lengths and widths. I have one that I bought off a truck of old furniture from a customer at our store for $20.00 years ago. I don't use it for sewing but I could and it's long enough for two machines. If you have nearby flea markets or yard sales you could possibly find one and as someone mentioned, you could put a table cloth over it to hide whatever is beneath it. Just put a plexiglass or glass top on it so you can pin on it.

I have my MIL's old sewing cabinet and my DH cut a board to fill in where the machine went since mine's a portable and it works just fine. I also use my kitchen table when I don't want to work upstairs by myself.

Nancy

If you Google "banquet table" you will see that at walmart.com they have several sizes. They are also available at other places. That's what I use, it's 6 feet by 30 inches and it's perfect for cutting, layering and pinning, ironing, hand quilting, and using the machine. I did notice they have one in there that is 4 feet long. You might have to get an adjustable office chair to get the sitting height at a comfortable level. And if you have to, you can put a tablecloth over it for company and use it to dine on.
Rita

You might want to check out the Quilters Table from Joanns. I am not a quilter but I think they call it this because of the grid on top. I received this from my daughters for Christmas. It is a cabinet that folds up. It is 47" long, 15" deep and 29" tall. The top has a quilters grid on it. The back has 2 pieces that fold out and makes the top double in size. Very nice cutting area. Nice casters for pulling out when you want the top expanded. There is a drawer plus a door with 2 shelves on the left side. I am leaving the door off you I can use baskets. Then there is a table that rolls out from the other side and folds back in the seating area. It is attached to the right side. It is suppose to be so you can have a sewing machine and a serger set up at once. It is a Sew Essential product from Joanns. It is called Quilters Design Table - # 184-8746. It is $229.00 but the girls got it for $139.00. They ordered it online and payed only &2.95 shipping. I will be able to wheel it out in my livingroom if I want or sew in the bedroom. Just perfect. In my bedroom I have a 4 drawer file cabinet that will set at the end and I am going to get some of those wire basket type comtainers ( they are magnetic) to put my scissors, pencils and such in to have right where I need them.

Not all of the Joann stores carry it so you might have to order it online. It is very heavy.. It is a perfect size if you don't have much room. You can also sit the machines inside the fold out part and use it for a table when not sewing.

Susie

Susie

When my son moved out I converted his room to a craft/sewing room. I used a 4x8 foot table my father had made years ago that pretty much dominated the room. I kept migrating to the kitchen table to sew because of the wonderful natural light from the sliding glass doors behind my chair.

I suggest you consider your lighting in addition to figuring out the size of your table.

PS I eventually replaced that monster table with a guest bed and computer desk/shelf unit. I still do all my projects on the kitchen table (Hey, Canna!). In the cabinet above the radio I keep a box of sewing supplies that I use every time I sew (scissors, needles, pins, small rulers, rotary cutter and mini-mat, etc.). In the cabinet below the radio is my machine and Tupperware containers that hold my threads/bobbins. Fabric and large mats are still in the guest room closet.
{{!gwi}}

Diane, that is the exact same kitchen table as mine! And, my kitchen is white and blue. Yours is much newer and prettier though. :) I have a french door with southwest sun. In the winter, the door is blocked off by my orchids and hoyas, but they are under lights too which gives me a ton of light in the winter.

If and when I ever get a sewing room, I will probably put that table in there and continue to use it. It is scarred up so badly from my daughter and I crafting that I couldn't bear to get rid of it. It has too many memories of painting, beading and quilting!

My machine and Fiskar suitcase live in the coat closet in the living room. The suitcase has everything I could ever need in it. My big cutting mat lives behind the dresser in my bedroom. Fabric (and yarn) stashed everywhere!

Rebecca

Pretty kitchen - I must say, you two are tooooo neat--and organized! Are you sure you are sewers??? Just kidding:)

This is a gorgeous space - I see why you want to sew there.

Nice kitchen, and my favorite color too.

Both my machines have a cabinet, but I am blessed to have a nice big sewing room. Or perhaps it is a curse, since it is so easy to leave everything strewn about.

beverly

I've used everything from a hollow core door set upon two filing cabinets to a pair of desks set back to back.
It all depends on what works for you AND the space you have.
DD when in college used one of those 6ft folding tables for costume design. When not in use it folded up and slide under her bed.

I bought the 6 foot folding table with plastic top at Wal-mart. I was excited to get it set up, but alas my joy was ephemeral. Once I put in in place, I realized it was too big for the space I have. About a foot too long and several inches too deep. I want something I can keep out always, so the search continues. Maybe the idea of having wood cut to the exact size I want is the best idea yet. I did get a wooden thread spool rack to hang on the wall.

I got sad walking through Wal-mart. All their fabric is 25 percent off and all sales final. They are getting ready to close the fabric department in February and even though the fabric there isn't very good, it still bothers me. I wonder what they will carry for notions once all is said and done... I've frequently bought machine oil, thread, seam rippers, stuffing, rotary cutters, shears and sharpeners, snippers, bobbins, and machine needles from them. The nearest Joannes is 30 minutes from me with traffic, so I don't go there often... Wal-mart is across the street!

I have a sewing/craft/computor room so i have 2 big office desks in there.Got them at the goodwill several years ago for 35.00 each.Both have 5 nice size drawers and are very sturdy.Got my computor chair there also for 15.00.Around here we also have places that sell used furniture from hotels and motels,they are another good place to look.
I like nice sturdy surfaces for sewing,nothing that jiggles and wobbles.

When my kids were little i sewed at the kitchen table,glad those days are over!!

My cutting table is one of those 8' conference tables from office depot and dh made risers for it,i put a skirt all around it so i can store stuff underneath.
Kathi