My DIY Sewing Table with My Jukis
For most of my sewing life, my studio was my dining table. We eat at the coffee table while watching TV (I know, I know, we are grown-ups, but what can I say?), so we never really had much use for a dining table. First, it was just the sewing machine—and only when I was sewing, but then I was sewing all the time. Then came the serger. When I bought a cutting mat, the table was completely taken by all things sewing. And for the last seven years, this was my sewing studio.
Last year, I decided that I needed a more permanent situation. I did my research and planned to “make” my own table. I purchased these legs from Amazon, bought a cheap piece of wood, some stain, and built my own sewing table. I sanded the wood until it was smooth to the touch. Because I did not want the house to be full of wood dust, I had to take the wood outside. It was not fun balancing it on the railing of my very small porch while making sure that I did not rip the plug of the sander off the wall.
To stain the tabletop, I used MinWax Wood Stain in Golden Oak. The fumes can be dangerous, so I did the staining in the garage. I applied one coat, let the piece dry overnight, and applied a second one for the best color result. Another day of drying and the tabletop was ready a clear protective coat of Minwax polyurethane. The process took a few days because of the drying between coats.
For my cutting table, I was lucky to find a pair of used Ikea trestles for $20 apiece (original price $50 each!). I spent less than $10 on an Ikea table top. My 24×36 cutting mat fits perfectly on top of the table. I am living dangerously as I did not screw the tabletop to the trestles; so far, no accidents, but I should make the whole thing safer with a handful of screws.
For the first time ever, I have a sewing space. No more moving everything when we have guests; no more bending over a table that is too short not to cause some serious lower back pain; no more feeling guilty about making the place look like a mess.
Cutting Table, Meet Sewing Table
I have the most satisfying sense of accomplishment. We have a dining table (even though we continue to have our meals in front of the TV), and I have my own sewing space. I can cut, pin, sew, and serge to my heart’s content.
