NeedleCraft Plus/needlecraftplusvolume1.iso/quilt/q-sewrm/q-sewrm.txt

Text File | 1997-01-06 | 35KB | 577 lines

Quilt Sewing Rooms

This FAQ includes comments on
a.  what contributors would like to have in their ideal sewing
room/studio space
b.  good ways to organize sewing room/studio space
c.  workroom flooring
d.  best height for cutting boards/tables
e.  work room lighting - general
f.  work room lighting - safety of halogen lights

A.  The ideal workroom/sewing room/studio

Big closets and lots of 'dead' wall space! (SS)

I would like 3 tables (at least) in the room.  1 for sewing machines
(serger & 1-2 sewing machine -- depending on current project), 1 for
knitting machine and 1 for laying out and cutting items.  I would like to
have shelves above the tables.  Above 2 of the tables will be deep
shelves for storage, etc.  Above the sewing table will be shallow shelves
for threads, tools, etc.  I would like a small lamp (attached to the
tables) on the knitting and sewing table.  I would like a dress doll in
the room (I sew most of my wardrobe).  I would like a radio, tv and vcr
(I watch tapes to study certain techniques from time to time).  I would
like at least 2 bookshelves to hold all my craft books so they are near
at hand when I get inspired (magazines are stored in book frames).  Of
course I would like plants around the window and a window shelf for my
cats to sleep while I work.  (CK)

I would suggest a lot of natural light.  I have my fabric in either boxes
or behind cabinet doors, so the fabric would not fade.  I read in one of
the quilting magazines that one can store material on open bookshelves
(for faster searches) and put shades covering the fronts of the shelves
to prevent fading in a bright room.  (JS)

My dream sewing room would have  lots of light - preferably a big
office-type fluorescent hanging from the ceiling - also, a nice source of
natural light, if possible; lots of outlets; hard, smooth floors - no
carpet or tile or linoleum -  something easily swept; walls to which
plenty of shelving can be attached; storage, storage, storage; a place
for my little cd player; and room for a nice, big cutting/work table
(SA)

Your sewing room should have as some part of it a nice view/an openable
window.  Fresh air does wonders for a bad mood ("darn machine! darn
seams! darn pins!....  ah! spring! mmmmmm......") (LD)

Make sure your dream sewing room is big enough so that you can put a
table up in the middle of it and walk easily (without climbing over
fabric) around it.    Well, a little study will not be big enough.  You
need a good sized room.  Built in cabinets or bookshelves lining the
walls for fabric would be nice too.  (JR)

Personally, I think that my dream sewing room would have one wall be a
design wall, so nothing else could be on the wall, because I would want
it accessible.  Another wall would be shelves for fabric (I am currently
designing such a beast - I want the fabric accessible (thus shelves) but
also protected from light and dust, so I will want doors or a curtain in
front of the shelves, for when I am not in the sewing room.  On the last
two walls, I want a sewing/cutting/ironing corner, where these separate
surfaces are adjacent so you can easily go from one to the next to the
next.  I envision a cutting table that is as high as my waist, as least
30 inches deep (maybe more, similar to the ones that they sell) and 40 -
60 inches wide.  A sewing table at I don't know what height (with an
adjustable chair!) with enough room on either side to have project laid
out to the left and gadgets and stuff to the right.  And then the ironing
board, probably against the wall with the outlet RIGHT behind it, so no
extension cords! If there is a closet, I would use that to store batting
& large pieces of fabric & other things I don't want to look at (like
UFOs).  Hopefully I would have room on the shelves (we are talking LOTS
of shelves) to display quilts that I have done or almost done.

The windows in this room definitely need to have shades or blinds (I like
mini venetian blinds the best, all sorts of different ways to adjust them
depending on the sun/glare, etc.  No TV or VCR; would want a radio or CD
system though, I love having music around and it helps me stay motivated
and enjoy my work.

Personally, I HATE storage boxes for my fabric.  I always need to get to
the one that is on the bottom.  a BIG PAIN.  I also want my sewing
machine to be out and ready to sew at all times, but I am planning on
making a cover for it, to keep my daughters fingers off the knobs!  (KO)

For my dream sewing room I'd like a large room, like a loft with a view
of my garden, or if I had children I'd like my sewing room next to the
kitchen/family room, so I could be close to the children.  But it would
be large with lots of open shelving so I could stack my bins and stuff in
one place, maybe a wall of shelving.  You would also need a blank wall as
your design wall.  I don't have that yet in my room.  Maybe I'd want
bi-fold doors to hide my mess, and to keep the fabrics and stuff from
fading.  You need a bookshelf for books too.  Lighting is important also,
I like the peace and quiet of not having a radio or TV, but that's a
personal choice.  (GC)

My DH is currently converting a single car garage into a sewing/craft
room for me.  I'm having him make a 'fabric closet' for me that is cedar
lined and has spaced doweling to hang my fabric (I sew clothing, crafts &
quilts so I have LOTS of fabric).  The bottom of the closet will store
clear storage container for small pieces of material.  Along one wall I'm
getting book shelves (to about waist high) for all of my books (I have
LOTS of those too).   My DH has also figured out a way to make me a
L-shaped table in one corner to accommodate my sewing machine & serger
for a lot less then the tables we've priced.  The room is about half done
right now--the fabric closet will have the doors put on tomorrow (so I
can move my boxes of fabric, so he can start on the shelving).  (VT)

You need a lot of light (overhead, over the shoulder, natural) as much as
possible.  I don't have this feature, but have seen it in others rooms
and would love it.  Wall to wall open shelves to house fabric.  The one
thing I do have that is great is a Foam Core Board that I covered in
flannel to hold current projects.  I am currently in two exchanges, and
as I receive a block, up it goes and I look at them every time I am in
the room. (SP)

I'd like a room that had adjustable shelving along some of the walls.
I'd like a flannel wall also.  I find it useful to have a cork board near
my machine to hold instructions for whatever I'm working on.  I use a
pegboard to hold a lot of my equipment.  The floor will need to be
resilient tiles.  I need something that won't tire my legs and feet if
I'm standing for awhile, but I also need something that my adjustable
chair will roll over easily.  Carpeting isn't a good idea because it
traps so many pins.

You need good ambient light in the room for general illumination.  I like
the new fluorescent bulbs that work in regular incandescent fixtures and
have been color corrected, or halogen.  You then also need task lighting
at the cutting and sewing areas.  I use flexible neck lamps that clamp
onto the edge of the tables.
You need sufficient space to keep your cutting table set up and
accessible from all sides.  I don't have this right now and it is a pain
to keep moving things.  I have one of the craft tables that folds down
into a smaller space for storage.  I also have a cutting mat that fits
the top of the table- but now I can't fold the table up to put it away.
I have a sewing table that has space for my sewing machine and serger.  I
bought a very good secretarial chair that adjusts in many ways to help my
back and neck problems.

I can always use more storage.  I like being able to see my fabric when
I'm making a choice on color or design.  It's useful to have it on
shelves for this.  I do have the bookcase as far from a window as I can
get it to protect the fabric from UV light.  The only other requirement
is for good electrical service to the area.  You don't want to have to
run extension cords all over the place.  I listen to the radio while I
sew.  I have a portable boombox that I use now.  I have an old tuner and
speakers that are in storage that I'll use in the future.  (DS)

We are in the process of remodeling our long attic into a combination
sewing/dressing room... The only thing I am sure of at this point is that
the table will be long enough to accommodate 3 sewing machines when
quilting friends come to visit and that the rotary cutting area be
higher.  Right now I cut on my dining room table and if I do it too long
I get a backache.  (LS)

I only have two items that are REALLY important in mine--storage space
and a window with a view.  A wall is nice, but not essential, you can
always make a freestanding one, but I can't imagine a room with out at
least one wall :).  I have my machine or my ironing board directly in
front of a huge window with a view and a bunch of bird feeders.  I can
see birds, moose, rabbits etc.,  right out the window, it makes me feel
less isolated.  I'm not a tv watcher so that's not too important to me,
but a comfortable chair would be good if you like to watch tv while you
sew.  I generally do my hand sewing in the living room with the rest of
the family.  It would be nice to have a sewing table with enough room for
my sewing machine and my serger, but for just quilting I'm not sure
that's really necessary.  My sewing table has a gazillion drawers that I
wouldn't trade for anything, even though it looks a bit clunky and old
fashioned.  I used to have a big table for cutting, but got rid of it, it
was more trouble and more in the way than it was worth.  Besides, it took
up a lot of room, and being a flat surface, was always full of junk when
I wanted to use it! So I got a piece of countertop that was cut out from
a building project about the size of a triple sink that I keep behind the
sewing table and lift out and put it on the ironing board for cutting
after I iron.  It's no hassle and sure saves a lot of room (and clutter).
 I am probably in the minority on not liking a cutting table.  I do have
room for a stereo (a small one mounted on the wall above the window,
since I listen to recorded books when I sew. (KR)

My little room has nothing fancy, but it does have a large window facing
East, into our back yard.  I can watch the flowers and the birds at our
feeders while I stitch.  It's heaven!  (SG)

When we moved about 2 years ago, there was a funny L-shaped room that I
thought would be my husband's office and he thought would be mine! After
all the fighting was done, it was mine.  :( I was initially very bummed.
 But gradually it has come into being a fabulous work space.   Off in the
little part of the L I have my computer desk - small desk,  computer,
printer set up.  Also have a little wall room there which I've  earmarked
for more fabric shelves one day.  There is a little hexagonal  window in
this room I can look out of as I work on my computer and see  city
lights, quite lovely.

 In the main body of the room I have 4 walls - one big one for fabric
shelves, 2 design walls, and the last wall (which has the window) for my
sewing desk.  What I've discovered is that the light streams in after
noon  or so, but it never hits my fabric shelves, only one of my design
walls.   I can also look out constantly from the window and see the world
passing  by.  I  have a little space for tv and vcr too, which can be
viewed without  craning around.  And I have lots of light.  I used to
think I preferred morning light, but ever since we moved west I have
preferred the western  light.  Since I'm usually still running around
doing errands in the  morning, I usually don't make it to my "studio"
(ok, ok, so it's really only a sewing room, but studio sounds better!)
until the afternoon anyway  - just as the sun comes around.  I wouldn't
trade for my husband's office  for the world.  Who would want a boring
old square room with morning light  at the back of the house?

The only thing I might change is the floor, which is light-colored
carpeting.  Kind of hard to keep completely clean of threads, but they
don't bug me too much, and in the winter I like the warmth of the room.
I also have one overhead light that is ugly and very yellow, I've been
meaning to change it, would like track lights but that's probably out of
the question (a new bulb is what I <can> afford!).  I use two lights on
my  sewing table, one tall bendy (goose neck?) one, one bendy halogen
beaming  onto my machine's needle.  These work fine for me.

 Anyway - think about the different kinds of work you do  -- designing,
sewing, reading (oh yes, I've got a reading chair too), fabric stash,
ironing (ironing board permanently open under one of the design walls),
etc etc.  There's a lot to this quilting biz! Then figure out how to work
 in the stuff the way it works for you (iron on the left, desk on the
right, for example) as well as makes sense (no direct sun on fabrics, for
 example).  (PF)

For my dream sewing room.....a large walk in closet for Fabric.  Shelf
space for books and patterns.  A full wall for a design wall.  Space for
a sewing machine table that will hold both a sewing machine and a serger.
 Plenty of space in the center of the room for a cutting/design table.
Lots of good lighting, preferably halogen lights.  Room for a comfortable
chair for relaxing with some handwork....facing the VCR/TV.  Room for a
desk for my computer, a phone (might as well have a phone, gotta have the
line for the modem).  A window with a nice view of the mountains (I live
at the foot of the Rockies) would be pleasant too.
I'm sure I'll think of more, but that's it for now.  (SW)

Be sure to have a design wall: a large, empty space on which to pin
blocks, swatches, and works-in-progress.  I have a 4'x8' sheet of
cellotex (sp.?) mounted on one wall; it's so wonderful that I wish I had
room for two sheets, side by side.  I can even pin quilts on it to
photograph.  I got in it a lumber supply place for $13.00.  My son
mounted it for me with an electric screwdriver.  At the very least, mount
a length of flannel on your wall and use it either for pinning or as a
flannel board.  (PS)

Mary Mashuta has written articles for Threads and maybe also for QNM or
AQS on how to design a sewing room.  She gives recommendations for
lighting and window covering, etc.  You certainly need storage for fabric
(out of light) and books (I ran out of room so books are going into
another room) and a 8x8 design wall (or 10x10) as big as possible.
Cutting table at standing height is great, etc.  Good luck.  (S/B)

I've made two changes that have really helped me.  First, my sewing area
is beside several windows, the second is halogen lighting.  At first I
was afraid the 500 watts would break the bank! I haven't noticed it at
all!! Of course I use the natural light as much as I can. (TS)

I have a room for my sewing and computer.  It is small, but it is
mine!!!! The best feature, besides the sewing machine and computer, is a
remote control CD/stereo.  I can sit and sew, talk on Internet, and punch
buttons to hear whatever music I like.  This room has only one window,
though.  I would rather have a wall of them.  Outside the window I have
bird feeders and bird bath...Quite nice for entertaining the wildlife and
me!  There is a large folding table and only one bookcase.  I was going
to put shelves on the wall, but we are probably moving in about a year or
two, so no holes in the walls.  I have (a must) a design wall--white felt
up with push pins around and above my  sewing machine.

When we move, one of the main features I will look for is a room for my
sewing and computer.  Right now I am working full time., but in 24 years
(sooner if I can help it) I will retire, and now I am buying all the toys
I might need! The other thing I would recommend in two tables for cutting
and rotary stuff.  The one table I have seems to keep getting occupied
with exchange envelopes, etc.  Room for two would be nice!  (PK)

We must have a design wall. Mine is portable and has been in the studio
apt, my previous sewing room and now rests in the "Wing". I took an 8'
length of thin wood (molding works well) and use about 4 nails to nail it
to the top of the wall where the ceiling meets it. then I used some cheap
muslin (as mentioned above) and tacked it to the wood molding. During my
last move in Nov. I just pulled the wood, and the nails, off the wall and
rolled it up (with a few projects still pinned to it!). My farm house is
old and has no closets, there are a few nooks here and there with narrow
shelves so I use them for my ever expanding quilting library. My sewing
machines are scattered all around. My latest acquisition is in my "fabric
room" along with my antique sewing table.

I'm using self standing closets to store my non-quilting fabric, batting,
ufo's, etc. I have a small (24"x36") drafting table that I use as a
cutting table but will use my huge table out in the porch when it warms
up outside. Use peg board to hang your tools. You'll only need a couple
of nails to secure it to the wall and then can hang lots of goodies from
it. Also use the hanging thread racks. They keep your thread neat and
visible.  (MB)

My sewing room is about 10x12, so not particularly large.  A double-size
window is in one wall, the door from the hall is in the opposite wall at
the corner, and a sliding-door closet is in a third wall, the one the
door is nearest to.  When you walk into the room, to the immediate right
of the door is a small desk with shelves and drawers.  The shelves
currently contain books not pertinent to sewing (and so can be moved out
to the new bookcase if I need the space).  My sewing machine sits on top
of the desk and the drawers have stuff like attachments, needle cases,
and other small impedimenta for sewing.  To the right of the desk is a
tall (over 6') set of shelves.  The shelves are something like 15" apart.
 One shelf is all sewing books.  The other shelves hold UFO's, finished
projects waiting to be mailed out, fabric for clothes (as differentiated
from fabric for quilts), and yarn.  In front of these shelves is a floor
lamp.  The shelves tuck into the corner of the room.

The wall right of the door has a 2-yard length of ecru flannel tacked up
on it.  This is my design wall.  In front of it are a couple of little
picnic end tables...I put my current project on one of these, and the
other is for guests and for projects that have to be put on hold while
(for example) a round-robin exchange block gets done or something.

In the corner opposite the door, and next to the window, is a small
bookcase (3' high?) holding magazines, safety pins for basting quilts,
fusible interfacing, ribbon, knitting needles, marking equipment of all
kinds, floss, templates, clothing patterns, all that stuff.  Next to the
bookcase is a cutting table:  a 3'x6' slab of melamine (like Formica but
not slick) on tubular sawhorses.  The cutting table has a couple of
cutting mats on it, the rotary cutter, various sized rulers, and
sometimes a pair or two of scissors.  The cutting table runs under the
window.  On the wall next to the window on the other side from the little
bookcase is a spool holder.

The corner next to the spool holder is occupied by the closet, where I
hang clothing to be mended (and hide my ironing basket when I have
company!).  Between the closet door and the door in is another bookcase.
This is the bookcase I emptied out when I got my new bookcase.  Now it
holds all my quilting fabric.  The top holds fabric I haven't sorted into
colors.  The bottom shelf holds large chunks (3 yds or more) of fabric
that aren't needed yet for UFO's.

What the new bookcase did for me was:  when all my fabric was on the
shelves right of the sewing desk, I put all my UFO's and FO's on the
cutting table. This got to be quite a heap, and discouraged me
psychologically from working on anything but the current project (which
had to stay on the design wall).  Now everything is  both at hand and in
its proper place.

On the bookshelf where I have my quilt fabric, each piece of fabric is
folded into a rectangle so that its narrow dimension is a touch under 1/4
of the shelf length (so I have four stacks of fabric on each shelf), and
the long dimension is a touch under the depth of the shelf.  If the
fabric came off the bolt right sides together, then I fold one strip of
fabric over so that the right side is visible.  The sun from the window
can't reach this bookcase, and the lamp is on the other side of the room,
so I expect fading to be minimal.  And the neat rows of fabric on the
white shelves are quite inspirational, too!  (CB)

I recently moved and was able to designate one room in the place a sewing
room.  I consider my arrangement a masterful response to a difficult
situation! My new home is a 2-story duplex apartment, with two tiny
bedrooms on the first floor, and one tiny and one enormous bedroom on the
2nd floor.  The 2nd floor is built right up under the eaves, so in the
tiny bedroom the ceiling slants from 4 feet up off the floor nearly to
the center of the room.  The full-sized walls are taken up by a window
and the doorway out.  There's no room at all for a design wall.  In the
enormous bedroom, however, one wall is shared by the other apartment, so
I have a full-height wall about 12 feet long, uninterrupted by anything
like windows.  The tiny bedroom opens onto the stairs; if the door to the
enormous bedroom is left open, one can stand in the tiny room and look
across the length of the apartment to that big blank wall.

The tiny bedroom upstairs is now my sewing room.  I have adjustable
shelves that reach 7 feet in height; I rearranged them to be two smaller
sets of shelves 3 1/2 feet high and tucked them under the eaves.  Another
4' bookcase also fits nicely under the eaves.  These shelves hold UFO's
and equipment.  One 6' bookcase fits just barely between the eaves and
the window; it holds my stash.  A jelly cupboard fits just barely between
the eaves and the door; it holds my knitting supplies.  A 6-foot cutting
table runs from under the eaves to under the window; it holds my current
project plus cutting mats, etc.  A wicker trunk also sits under the eaves
and holds batting, large hoops and embroidery frames, etc.  A small desk
sits next to the door opposite the jelly cupboard and holds the sewing
machine and its detritus.  The ironing board stands in isolated splendor
in the middle of the room; from it everything is within reach.  And if
I'm sitting and slaving over the hot sewing machine, I can lean a bit to
my left and look out the door and see, on that enormous blank wall in the
bedroom, a 6 foot by 7 1/2 foot design wall with my latest creation
forming on it. (CB)

B.  Good ways to organize sewing room/studio space

Place storage containers under your worktable to take advantage of the
"dead" space there.  Keep the ironing board right beside the worktable.
With an auto-off iron you can keep the iron plugged in at all times (GH)

Take one or two 4'x8' paneling, really cheap and thin. Nail with paneling
nails to studs. These nails make a very tiny hole. Staple white felt to
them and voila, there is your design wall.  (SC)

I ordered a book by Nancy Crow that had wonderful pictures of her
workroom.  Huge.  She had free standing board with feet that formed a v.
If you have seen the blackboards that are movable, you can get the idea.
{The name of the book is Nancy Crow: Quilts and Influences, published by
AQS.) She had a stepladder standing by it.  It could be used on both
sides.  Of course, you can never have too much pegboard.  Maybe the free
standing design wall could be pegboard on one side. (KS)

We have two pegboards mounted, one for each of us, and shelves mounted
high on the wall above our worksurfaces.  We also hung two shop lights
over our desks for better light.  We plan to have a house with a finished
basement someday.  When we do, we'll set the basement up so that we can
each have our hobby areas. I'd like enough space to allow me to have my
sewing table (which has insets for the sewing machine and serger), my
cutting table (32 x 60 inches), a couple of shelving units, pegboard on
one wall, a flannel wall and an ironing board all setup at the same time.
 I make many of my own garments as well as quilting, so I'd also need
space for my dress form and some sort of drawer system for notions.  It
would also be nice if I could have a separate table for my jewelry
making.  (DS)

I have a "crafts room" in my house, but it's only 10'x10'.  There are
shelves  built in on one wall, and a closet and built-in desk on another
wall.  I like to stack fabric and "stuff" on the open shelves, but don't
like that it gets dusty.  I also have a wardrobe chest out in the hall
that I use to store yarn.  It doesn't have shelves, so if I want the yarn
at the bottom, I have to take it all out.  The desk is good for planning
projects, while a big table in the middle of the room is good for
spreading out and working on them. (ER)

We just bought new furniture for my sewing room.  We got two desks that
set at an "L" shape.  That way I just move my chair to get to the serger
or machine.  We then took off the closet bi-fold door and converted the
closet into a storage unit with built in shelves and table top.  I also
have a cutting table on one wall. Plus the best part my color tv so I can
watch my soaps and sew. It is great. (KR-W)

I use a tackle box for my notions, too.  Spools of thread and various
packages of seam binding, hem tape, and elastic fit into the flat little
nooks in the trays, and bigger items, like a pin cushion and button box,
go nicely in the larger storage space in the bottom of the box.

I use a tackle box for my rubber stamps, markers, stamp pads, etc. and a
plastic (because everything rusts in Hawaii) tool case for my paints,
ribbons, bows, etc.  It is great because one side pulls out like steps,
just like my Mom's sewing box did.  It came with smaller clear boxes
which hold beads and findings right now.  These fit in the box too. My
tool box goes on a shelf when not in use. I can just pull it out, open it
up and be ready for most of the crafts I do.

I also have another computer paper box for my needlework books, floss,
aida, needles, etc. and that goes on the shelf next to my tool box.
Again, easy to store and pull out, top off and ready to sew. (NR)


C.  Workroom floor - preferred materials

I would recommend linoleum for a sewing room floor, especially if you
have multiple machines. It is a lot easier to move between your machines
& iron if you have a rolling chair. I used to sew in a room with
carpeting & it was very difficult to move between the sewing machine &
the serger.  Also, if you're planning on pin or QuilTac basting your
quilts on the floor a hard surface works a lot better - it's next to
impossible on carpeting! (SC)

If it were my sewing room, I'd have something smooth, like linoleum,
preferably with hot-water heating tubes under it.  First off, smooth
linoleum makes it much easier to scoot about on a wheeled chair, from
machine to ironing board, and so on.  Secondly, I'm a klutz, plus I like
to work barefoot.  Klutziness means I drop pins a lot... and it seems as
if whenever pins land in a rug, they nestle themselves in with their
points up - working barefoot means you find them the hard way.  A smooth
linoleum floor is much easier to sweep clear of all the little thread
ends, etc., and because there are no cracks in it (as you would have with
tile), things can't get caught in the spaces and fester.  The heating
tubes also make it more comfortable to work barefoot in a New York State
winter.... this may or may not be a factor where you are. (LR)

D.  Best height for cutting boards/tables

To avoid back pain the surface at which you are working should be high
enough so that you can carry out the required activity (such as cutting
out quilt pieces) in your preferred position without  having to hunch
over or stretch your arms and shoulders uncomfortably high.  There is no
precise height that will be comfortable for all people nor any single
surface height that an  individual requires. Tall people work more
comfortably at high counter our table tops, short people at lower
surfaces.

As a rough guideline, however, try for a work surface which allows you to
have your arms at the side of your body with your elbows bent and your
fore arms angled slightly downwards. The surface is too high if your fore
arms are angled upwards and too low if your hands are more than a couple
of inches above the worksurface.  I am 5'4", and for me a work surface of
36 to 40 inches will do, but 39 inches is just right.
If the height is right you should be able to work comfortably for hours
if you are careful to do small shoulder and back exercises, like
shrugging your shoulders, turning your head from side to side, and
twisting from the waist  a couple of times an hour.  (DR)

The book _The_Motion-Minded_Kitchen_ by Sam Clark has a chart for
determining the best height for a kitchen counter.  Probably the best
height for a cutting table would be similar.

Stand straight, wearing your usual shoes.  Hold your arm so that your
forearm is level (parallel with the floor).  Have someone measure the
distance from your elbow to the floor.  The most comfortable height for a
counter is the measured distance minus 3" (about 8 cm for people in the
real world).  Too low a work surface causes back and neck ache.  Too high
causes arm and shoulder ache.  (Of course, if two or more people use a
kitchen, you negotiate. Cutting tables may be shared less often.)  For
reference, the Nancy's Notions catalog has a cardboard cutting table that
is available in heights of 34" and 40" (for the same price!).  Presumably
the legs could be trimmed. (CB)


E.  Workroom lighting - general

My husband and I had our house built and of course is has the mandatory
sewing room.  For lighting I had a four bulb incandescent ceiling fixture
installed in the middle of the room.  Four bulbs really lights up the
space quite nicely.  What I find annoying however is the shadow that I
sometimes get on my workspace caused by the light coming from my back.

As the saying goes "if I had it to do over again"...I would install
lighting directly over my workspace instead of in the middle of the room.
 I might even consider using fluorescent bulbs.  I am not a fan of the
harsh white light given off by fluorescent bulbs but I'm told that there
are softer fluorescent bulbs (that give off more of a pink tone).  (TC)

I am truly blessed to have 2 sewing areas:  an upstairs "design
area/quilt library/stash closet/pinning table" and a 1st floor laundry
room with built in cabinets and countertops with knee holes for sewing
and serging.  I just had track lighting put in the upstairs room with 2
canisters pointed at the fabric closet and 4 pointed at the work table.
So far I haven't encountered a problem with shadows but the lights are
movable so I'm not worried.  The laundry room had 5 recessed lights that
used standard bulbs with a glass filter flush with the ceiling -- it was
kind of dingy so I had them changed to new recessed fixtures with flood
lights.  Yo baby its bright in there now!  But I can now sew well into
the night which my tired old eyes wouldn't allow in the old lighting.  In
talking to the electrician he did mention the possibility of fluorescent
lights using "full spectrum bulbs".  He described these as the lights
that would not distort colors like the regular fluorescent bulbs. (SG)


F.  Work room lighting - safety of halogen lights

Heavy exposure to ultraviolet light triggers skin cancer -- that's why
doctors are now discouraging people from trying to get the "perfect" tan.
 This does not mean that every source of bright light will trigger skin
cancer.  If the literature that comes with the lamp doesn't mention UV
light, then you might want to write to the manufacturer and ask.  (CB)

While I can not clarify the cancer rumor I do know that these lights are
dangerous, especially around fabric, paper, etc... The ones I've seen are
self standing and are very heavy. The unit is very top heavy with all
that glass and metal. They get REAL hot and if they tumble over the can
start a fire. We had one that set dust on fire! I had cleaned the top of
a bookcase that was next to one and later on turned on the light. We
smelled smoke and hair burning. It was the dust that landed on it from my
cleaning (MB)

After reading through the medical literature (sparse)on Halogen lamps, it
appears that 1) they do emit a strong amount of UV radiation, more than
fluorescent light.  2) They cause mutations in Salmonella typhimurium and
Escherichi coli and  can contribute to keratitis in human eyes under the
right conditions.
THE GOOD NEWS IS: all the articles agreed that, as long as the lamps have
appropriate glass or plastic covers over the bulbs, the mutagenic effects
were prevented.  One article in the journal Carcinogenesis suggested that
"This emphasizes the urgent need for a compulsory shielding of halogen
and fluorescent lamps in order to prevent unnecessary exposures to
genotoxic and potentially carcinogenic UV radiations"
So, if your halogen bulbs are bare --beware!  If they are protected by a
glass or plastic shield, you can use them safely. (JD)

Per the Cancer Information Service office in Seattle, WA: a recent study
in Italy indicates that if you are more than 20" away from the halogen
bulb, that your risk is virtually eliminated.  Which means that the
halogen floor lamps that shoot the light up and towards your ceiling are
probably perfectly safe.   You might want to be a little more cautious
about long exposure to the beautiful, sleek desk lamps.  (JN)