I have a small cabinet that my sewing machine sits in, no drawers or anything. For cutting I have a folding table that sits by my machine cabinet. It is just the size of my cutting mat and I can just turn to the side and cut. For pressing, DH cut me a BIG piece of plywood and I covered it with batting and muslin. We screwed it to an old ironing board and it works great. I do eventually hope to get a cabinet with drawers so I can get rid of my variety of storage boxes.

beverly

I have one of those tables from JoAnn's where the top folds down on both sides when not in use. It's about 12" wide folded, and pretty good size when open. It's taller than my sewing tables or kitchen table, so I don't have to lean over to cut.

I also have an Alto's Quilt Cut II system that I really love! You can cut a lot of pieces really fast with it.

Donna

My kitchen table. My large cutting board fits perfectly on there along with my sewing machine.

Rebecca

I cut and sew on my smallish dining room table---the dining room has become the sewing room. I usually put the cutting mat on the table, cut units for a block or two, exchange the mat for the machine to put the block together to see if I like it and and if I do, I then cut the rest of the fabric. I do have a small cutting board that I use on the coffee table. That table is right by my dining table and is covered with an old cotton sheet so that I can press blocks. I have 3 of those see-through organizer cabinets plus some boxes and othe small storage containers. I have a big box in my bedroom closet where I keep batting.

It's not an ideal situation but it serves the purpose and I've spent many delightful hours sewing.

~Geraldine

I have a blonde 40" wide dining room table with 3 leaves that was left at a house we bought in 1965. It folds up to 40"X20". Right now I have 2 leaves in it...70"X40" that is used for cutting and stacking things on and under. I have the big cutting mat on that one. For sewing, my machine is on a heavy metal desk I was given....60"X30"...the 3 drawers on the left and the 25" center drawer are for sewing and there are 2 drawers on the right. I have a smaller cutting mat next to the machine. I would really like to have a flat area to slide the quilt across, but I'm content with what I have....I'm well taken care of.

Sharon

I have green mats on my work areas in several rooms, like a person might use a table cloth. My work table downstairs has a really big one. I'm prepared to cut anything anywhere at a moment's notice. I have a rotary cutter near each.

Because of our recent move, I had to get new stuff for a much smaller sewing area which I borrowed from the parlor. I got a 6' folding table and a set of bed risers; the risers raise it up to a comfortable working height for me (I'm 5'2") and I cut on one end and have a small countertop ironing board on the other end. I have my fabric under it in large, shallow totes, organized by color. However, I may do a swap and move into the dining room, in which case I will probably cut and press on the dining room table which I will put up on the risers. The dining room's not really being used since we usually eat in the kitchen and we could use more space in the parlor.

Back "home" in my studio in Wisconsin, I have a section of base cabinets that we pulled out of my parent's kitchen when they remodeled. That is also a good cutting height for me and I like the storage.

I sew on my dining room table. It's round. It's awkward. I cut in my living room. I purchased a small portable ironing board that I have set up on my coffee table in the living room. I put my cutting mat on that and sit on the sofa to iron and cut....well, I take the cutting mat off when I iron. So I'm constantly running back and forth and that's why I don't usually get much done. At least my dining and living room is combined and not very big. Still....it's not too condusive for a completely enjoyable experience.
Salijo

I have an 8' conference table that DH put up on blocks for me.I put a skirt all the way around it,well not all the way,3 sides,so i can store stuff underneath.Works great and i have one of those 60" long cutting boards on the top.
Kathi

I use a 5' heavy duty folding table for both sewing and cutting. Along one short side, against the wall, I have those stackable 12" drawers for projects, so my actual sewing/cutting space is about the 36" of my large cutting mat.

I use another of these tables at a right angle for more tools, and my embroidery machine & threads. If I do big embroidery projects it gets moved to the other table in place of my reg. sewing machine.

My DH made me a table 4' by 8' of 3/4 in. plywood and laminated it with arborite..even the edges...with a dropped corner for the sewing machine. Then he mounted on the wall at 32" high. This enables me to cut, pin piece at a comfortable height without major back pain. I have a drafting chair which is higher that a regular office chair and the foot pedal for the machine is on a block made of wood so that I can reach it comfortably while sitting on the chair. This is all in an 10' by 11' room which still has a high boy dresser as well as a desk where sets my sergers, and a double dresser which is full of materials etc. Under the table is storage for all tot bins of materials etc. I would still like to get a LARGE cutting mat for the top of the table. Some day I hope but for now will be satisfied with the smaller one.

After retiring and the kiddies growing up I FINALLY have my own sewing room.
It is the smallest bedroom in the house and a small closet.
I have my sewing machine on a desk with 3 drawers.
The embroidery machine and cutting mat are on a 6' folding table that stays open. I have things stored underneath and I plan to put a skirt around it too.
The ironing board stays up and I have storage bins in the corners.
I would LOVE a larger area (the whole house LOL) to quilt in, but I know that I would just fill it too, so maybe it is best that I have the smallest room LOL!!
Rosa

After reading these posts I just have to smile. Quilters are such special people; we will quilt no matter what size our space is; no matter what we use to cut or sew on or even sit on. We will quilt because of the love and passion we have to create treasures using fabric.

I honestly feel blessed to have found this wonderful group of quilters.

Susan

I have a regulation size pool table sitting in what one day will be my dining room. On that pool table I have several pieces of plywood. That's my cutting table for all sorts of sewing projects.
For my machine base I have a old sewing machine stand with drawers on each side.

I have a 4' table that I sew on. I have been looking for a sewing cabinet but haven't found what I want yet. The Koala cabinets look wonderful but I don't want to spend $3000 for it. I have a cutting table from Joann's that I love. I have the old cabinet from my first machine, a Singer 237, that I have my embroidery machine sitting on. I also have my old 1030 Singer in a cabinet but don't use it often.
I was really surprised when I read the question today. I had been thinking of asking the same thing but didn't get online until this afternoon. Great minds think alike! lol
Linda OH

My sewing room evolved from a bedroom,and a wall with 2 dressers, a bookcase and desk that provided me with storage. I have my Janome set on a drafting table against another wall. With a new machine to set up I decided to eliminate the desk under the window as my machine had a shelf that made it too tall. It was replaced with a 40"X30" folding table, a cutting mat beside it and under which I put 2 rolling carts with draws. Next to it and the other machine I have another smaller folding table that adjusts to the ht. I like, where I have a pressing mat and a 18'x12" cutting mat. I find this indispensable. On a 3rd. wall I have a commercial cutting table 34"tall, 12" center with folding sides. My room is only large enough to have one open. On that I have a large cutting mat (and lots of everything else) I use this for major cutting but like the little one better for many things.
My drafting table also has 2 rolling carts with draws and the cutting table has a file cabinet and a more rolling storage which will be replaced sometime. The 4th wall has industrial shelving with sweater boxes filled with fabric.
No room for an ironing board to be set up all the time.
I think the commercial cabinets are useful but I like my arrangement for the room that I have. A bigger room would be wonderful but not realistic for me. I also use a drafting chair. Jayne

When my children moved out I got a sewing room. DH built me a sewing table 5'x4'. Then to cut and lay out fabric I covered one half of the pool table with a piece of plywood. Over the plywood I put a sheet and then a plastic table cloth. I actually used two sheets and two table clothes because I wanted all of the pool table covered. The end with the plywood I have my cutting mat. At the other end I can lay out things or I have a table ironing board I set up. The big ironing board I leave set up in the sewing room. The sewing room and where I cut are rooms next to each other. I love being able to spread out. Tara

I did buy one of the fancy Koala tables a few years back - it was while I was sewing professionally, so I could depreciate it on my taxes. That said, now that I am older, with a slightly cranky back and such - I would certainly buy one again. Being able to position the machine and chair at the right heights make sewing so much more comfortable.

My cutting table is custom made by DH. It's 5' x 8'. It's also just above waist high, which is higher than my kitchen countertops by 4 inches or so - I'm tall. I have two large cutting mats, one at each end. The table is a welded steel frame with an inset table surface of finished masonite, with a full shelf below. It's also on heavy-duty wheels, so I can move it. He made it when I was doing upholstery work, but it's absolutely marvelous for quilting.

My stash is in the guest room closet. I set up my sewing machine on the kitchen table and my cutting mat on the kitchen island. At least now that the kids are out of the house it's not imperative to clean up each mealtime. We do what I forbid when raising kids--eat in the living room in front of the TV (gasp!).

For awhile I had the guestroom set up as a sewing/craft room. The lighting is much better in the kitchen so I ended up going back to my old routine.

Dianne

I cut my fabric either on the floor or on a bed, I have a piece of wood about 2 1/2 by 3 feet and then I put my cutting mat on top of the wood.