WHAT IS A SEW STEADY TABLE?

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​Chances are, when you purchased your sewing machine, it probably came with a small detachable work top you would allow you to expand your sewing area a bit.  (read more)

​Or, maybe you purchased your sewing machine second (or third) hand, like I did. Mine came complete with everything included in the original box, but it's no stretch to see how pieces get lost, especially if your machine is older, like mine.

Whether you’ve just purchased a machine, or it’s a hand-me-down from your beloved Grandmother, you might wish you had more space to spread out, more space to piece, more space to keep your cloth flat while you sew your blocks together. 

If so, keep reading, because I believe I've found the perfect solution.

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When I learned to piece, I did it at my friend Jenny‘s house. She’s a die hard quilter and has every gizmo and gadget under the sun. So when I got my starter kit together, I had to pick and choose. After all, I didn‘t have hundreds of dollars to drop on quilting tools. 

I actually have a post dedicated to what a new quilter really needs, and this particular item isn‘t on the list, but it is an honorable mention at the end.

Basically, if you’ve got an extra $100 or so lying around and you are serious about quilting, I’d call this table a must have.

It really does make quilting THAT much more enjoyable. 

The detachable workspace my Bernina 930 came with was approximately 15” x 8 1/2”, but the usable area (the place I could rest my material while I was sewing) was more like 6” x 8 1/2”. 

In a nutshell, it was tiny. 

I constantly had fabric scattered all over the table along with scissors, pins, a seam ripper, thread leavings, etc. It felt chaotic, haphazard, and quite frankly, it just stressed me out.

Type A personalities, I am your spirit quilter.

Jenny had a Sew Steady table, so I had that luxury when I was piecing my first quilt at her house. Going from that massive amount of workspace to such a small area included with my machine was not fun. Yes, it was doable, but it wasn‘t enjoyable.

After piecing that way for about a week, I bit the bullet and purchased a Sew Steady table of my own. 

Suddenly, I had 18” x 24” of space to work with!

Bliss!

​My table got much neater, and when my big blocks came together, I didn‘t have to worry about my seams getting wonky from the material pulling toward the ground since it had no support.

Most of all though, I could keep more of my immediate use items in close reach. Since the Sew Steady table is clear and elevated, it‘s simple to store items you‘re going to use frequently directly under the table. 

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​As you can see, I‘ve got scissors, pins, glue, a seam ripper, even my cell phone (when I’m not using it to take a picture). When I’m piecing parts of a block, I also keep a sharpie under there and the instructions for my quilt so I can mark things off as I go. 

Everything is in easy reach, clearly visible, and doesn‘t require me going in ten different directions every time I need to snip, mark, pin or rip. 

And, this might be my favorite part, if you pull the table out just a bit (I pull it out two inches or so), it makes a fantastic spot to drop your discarded thread and scraps, keeping it all in a neat little pile away from your workspace until you’re ready to sweep it into your hand and dump it in the garbage.

Here's my available work area with the table that came with my machine:

And here's the available work area that came with my custom Sew Steady table:

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That's a big difference!

The Sew Steady table will fit any machine, and they have so many sizes to choose from you're certain to find one that's perfect for your needs. All of the feet are adjustable so you can pick exactly how high your table is, and it's got a handy ruler printed on the end, perfect for double checking a block size before sewing.

​But, each table is custom made, so you'll need to order it, fill in your machine specifics in the comments category, (I believe they will also email you if you forget to do this) and then wait about four weeks for it to arrive on your doorstep.

​If you are a consistent quilter, and you‘re ready for more space, more organization, and more productive quilting sessions, investing in a Sew Steady table is a purchase you‘re not going to regret.

Happy Sewing!
Ty

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