Need a Huge Sewing Surface?
For those who sew large projects (like coats, full-length dresses, or quilts), cutting, sewing, and pressing are easier and more accurate on a large sewing surface that supports the entire project. Fabrics don't stretch from hanging over the edge of a small table, and stitches are more even without the weight of the fabric tugging on the feed dogs. Here's how I create a surface in my home when I need it.
When I'm ready to cut or press, I place a rectangular, banquet-type folding table next to a counter island in my kitchen. Because these surfaces have different heights, I made four "sleeves" from 12-in. lengths of 1-1/4-in. PVC pipe (one per leg) to raise the table's height to match the counter's (as shown at left below), which doubled my work surface. The pipe is sold for less than fifty cents per foot in plumbing departments of hardware stores. Specify the "schedule 40" variety to get the strongest pipe.
Measure from the right-angle bend on the table leg to the floor, if you use the same type of table, or wherever the sleeve would "catch." Cut the plastic to size with a hacksaw blade. To store, thread a bungee cord through the finished sleeves and hook them under the folded table.
These sleeves proved so helpful that I made a shorter, 9-in. set to raise the table's surface to the height of my machine's sewing surface. At this height, the machine's table fits over the adjacent work surface (as shown at right above), perfect for machine quilting. The height you select will vary according to the distance between the machine's attached sewing table and the surface the machine sits on.
In case you're wondering, these leg extenders are quite stable. Ever cautious where my precious sewing machine is concerned, I sat on the table with the sleeves in place, swung my feet, and wiggled to test the stability before I put my machine on it. There wasn't a wobble.
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