The trouble with letting things go for a long period is not that you eventually have to catch up with everything, but that sometimes, just when you think you are gaining the upper hand something lets go on you and you are plunged back into chaos.
Monday the sewing table collapsed, strewing sewing machines, buttons, thread, and various other things I about the room in a loud clatter. This time it wasn't my fault, or I don't believe it was; I hadn't neglected anything. I had sturdy legs under the table; I had used them for years under my desk, and they had been in the basement where G thought he would use them when he rebuilt his workbench, a task he never managed to get to. They were adjustable by a large screw handle that held them in place. Apparently the threads of the screws gave way and the table collapsed, apparently worn down over the years and the locks no longer hold.
Between cleaning up the mess, making a trip to Ikea in New Jersey, and just dealing with other previously scheduled activities, it has been a busy week, but I managed to get the table back together.
I believe the new configuration is an improvement. The metal legs, Vika-Moliden have a much smaller footprint than my original table legs, which will give me much more room to work, and the other cabinet, Vika-annefors, gives me some much needed storage space and is narrow enough that I will still have room for three machines on the table.
Leg space was always an issue in the old sewing room as I had bigger cabinets under the countertop, and the table served as my desk as well. It was usually far too crowded for effective work of any kind.
As you can see in the top photograph, the unfinished end of the countertop is now exposed, as it was in the opposite corner in the old sewing room. I have a plan to a compact sewing table that fold up in that location, giving me a little more workspace and hiding the unfinished end. Two of the original cord holes are no longer functional either, but I have a gap at the back of the counter where I will run the cords so it doesn't matter. I can live with the black rubber cord holders, maybe they will work as cup holders so that the cats don't keep knocking my beverages over as they chase each other across the table.
Next I need to get the sewing machines back up on the table, and thoroughly inspect them and hope that they still function. I am a bit worried that crashing to the floor did not do them any good.
Comments
7 responses to “New (Old) Sewing Table”
If it’s not one thing, it’s another! My table top is a wood door. One side is supported by an IKEA cabinet with drawers and the other side is legs I got from them. Underneath the side with the legs is an IKEA Alex cabinet with narrow/wide drawers and caster that is wonderful and can be rolled out. That would probably fit under either side of your table.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40196241
Thank you Terri!
My previous desk and sewing table had been a wood door, but then when I set up the previous, small sewing room that did not fit, so we ordered the countertop to use as a desk along one wall. It works here as well.
I had been hoping for a rolling cart that I could slide under the table and just move out when I am working. The link you sent looks perfect and it would fit under the table very well. How exciting.
Lemons, lemonade, and all that, but still . . . what an upset that must have been! I’m looking at my desktop right now (a long piece of finished plywood, supported quite sturdily by a short filing cabinet under each end) and imagining the horror if it suddenly collapsed — a counter with sewing machines and supplies would be even worse. I do hope all the machines came through the experience unscathed.
I’ll take some photos of how I updated my sewing room with those IKEA Alex pieces and post them on flickr. Can’t believe I never did that. Oh well, sewing was more important. My husband built this cutting table that we designed together.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/terrihk/3188659649/in/photostream/
The new legs are beautiful. But I cannot imagine how it felt to see all that crashing to the ground. Meaningful, somehow, but probably best to ignore that possibility:).
Oh dear, I truly hope the machines are all ok. How upsetting!
I love the new table though and now have my eye on that Alex cabinet.
My own sewing room is all set up and is now my favorite room in the house.
I can’t tell you how many times I have had a table collapse because the legs weren’t sturdy. All I use now are metal furniture legs. They are reliable and easy to install. Good call choosing them, I am sure you won’t have to worry about another collapse for awhile.