Back when I started this blog (which feels like forever ago), I started a rather half-assed series on sewing room planning that I never gave any updates to. There’s a variety of reasons for that (the room was super small, the lighting wasn’t ideal for photos, I just forgot), but the main reason is that my sewing room was a constant work in progress. It didn’t feel complete until a few weeks before I moved out. And even then there were still some things that I wanted to change.
Luckily, I put all my concerns aside before the move and took a few photos before everything got packed up into boxes. Of course, the light wasn’t perfect and as a result, I had to shoot at the highest ISO, resulting in pictures that are grainier than usual. But seriously, that really doesn’t matter and I really really love to look back at these photos.
So here it is: A small tour of my former sewing room.
It’s actually a sewing room slash office since all my design work happened in there as well but with “Nähzimmer” (German for sewing room) being one of my favourite words, I went with that name.
Hi everyone and welcome to my former sewing room. It was my favourite place ever and it was packed with handmade stuff, fabric and beautiful colours. For the 1.5 years before january, all my sewing and design work happened here. The room is an oblong, narrow shape of 9 sqm (about 97 sqft) which is just about enough to host my desk, sewing machine table, armchair and a few shelves.
This is what it looked like most of the time. For cutting or taking blog photos, I usually had to move furniture around. Behind the desk, you can see my cutting table (the gateleg one from IKEA), which I forgot to take photos of. But whatever – it’s just a cutting table after all. Just know it’s there. I didn’t cut my fabric on the floor.
Alright, let’s close the door and turn around. The inside of my door is painted yellow. It’s my favourite thing ever! Such a happy colour! Because of the lack of space, I also installed a hook there that holds some eternal UFOs.
Here’s my gallery displaying a variety of postcards, one being a self portrait by Emil Nolde. I collected those golden frames on different flea markets and plan to extend my collection even further in the future.
That picture on the upper right didn’t make it into the first photo. It’s my favourite :-D
An honest picture of the chaos below. This is where I stored paper, gift wrapping paper and some stuff for wooden DIY projects.
Moving on to the shelf that hosted my most used sewing tools – black and white thread, stay tape, ironing accessoiries, machine needles and zippers. There are two small boxes on the bottom shelf containing most of my thread, ribbons and tape as well. On the right, you can see my mirror and tape measures.
Some favourite vintage hangers.
I’m not sure if I ever showed you my machine before, but this is her. A beautiful Singer 237 from the 1960s or 70s. She only knows straight and zig zag stitches which is enough for most of my projects. I also have an old Elna for sewing knits.
Oh, and of course, here are my handmade Honeycomb shelves.
Most of the stuff on there are just pretty things for decorative purposes, but it also holds some sewing items I always need to have on hand – like my embroidery scissors.
My sewing machine sat close to the window – an honor my desk never got. I loved my colourful curtain with the raindrop pattern (handsewn as well), the light sheer curtain (perfect for soft photography light), my plants and string lights.
I made a simple paper garland from golden cardboard circles to decorate that giant window and add some extra coziness.
Oh, those guys! And the plants you’ve seen in countless blog photos already.
Here’s that corner again in all it’s Gemütlichkeit (sorry, had to throw in a German word here).
That vintage cocktail chair is one of my favourite thrift store finds. It’s perfect for hand sewing, knitting or reading.
Opposite the sewing machine is my blog photo wall, hosting my current sewing patterns. The side table below is handmade.
I’m super proud of this one. It looks great (not at all „homemade“) and is highly functional.
Moving on to my desk. Sorry, I don’t have a more distant photo here, but it’s basically a thick wooden board (spruce, I think) with two legs on the one side and the IKEA Alex storing unit on the other (see the first pic for details). I treated it with my favourite wood oil for extra protection and a nice, subtly pink tone. Two pinboards hung above the desk, holding inspiring pictures, swatches, a Humppajugend patch and my sewing to-do-list.
It’s a bit nerdy, but I still love my visual to-sew-list. Can you spot the first idea for my 2016 Outfit-Along dress on there?
Emil Nolde again. I really like this guy’s painting, I can’t stress this enough. Also: Swatches from my Colette Dahlia dress and Sorbetto top plans.
This wooden organizer thing is at least 10 years old and was the first thing I ever bought at IKEA. I had recently painted it and love the triangle pattern.
Aaand we’re back to the yellow door again! I know you’ve been wondering for the last 20 pictures where I keep all my fabric and this is where. Those shelves are stackable units that I’ve had forever. So practical!
Left to right, top to bottom: Boxes of craft supplies and techy stuff, graphic design magazines, yarn and sewing patterns and (pretty but broken) polaroid camera, binders with printed-out sewing patterns and other stuff, sewing books, boxes of sewing stuff and some UFOs, fabric, fabric and fabric.
Also, that vintage suitcase on top holds my muslin fabric (it isn’t filled to the brim, though). And of course, there’s another hook to display my latest sewing project. This is the Carme Blouse pattern by Pauline Alice which still remains unblogged. Shame on me. This photo was taken in january!
Another photo, just for fun. Really can’t think of an intelligent caption for this one ;-)
My yarn stash, as of january 2016. I am very proud to report that it has only become smaller ever since. The beige yarn, leftovers from last year’s Outfit-Along cardigan has since been made into a scarf the blue one is about to become a cardigan right now.
Oh, yeah, and of course there’s my library of Burda Magazines and sewing books. Given its impressive size, it can hardly be called a library. I tend to only keep the books I really love and borrow the rest (our local librarys carry the most amazing selection of sewing books). My all time favourite books are Fitting and Pattern Alteration (saved my ass so many times), Tasias Sewtionary (for quick reference) and the Burda Style and Colette Sewing Handbooks (so inspiring!).
Aaand, that’s it! Thanks for walking through my old sewing room with me. What’s missing from these pictures are my cutting table (but you can see peeks of it in the first picture, behind the desk) and my ironing board (which I took out of the room for these photos).
Okay, now I’m curious: Do you have a dedicated sewing space? Have you posted a tour? I’d looove to see.
